How to Find TikTok Trends

Finding the next big TikTok trend before it peaks can feel like catching lightning in a bottle, but it's more science than luck. Participating in the right trends at the right time is one of the fastest ways to get discovered on the platform. This guide breaks down exactly where to look for emerging trends and how to pick the ones that will actually work for your brand.

Your 'For You' Page is a Goldmine

Your "For You" Page (FYP) is the most powerful trend-spotting tool you have, but you need to use it with intention. Don't just scroll mindlessly, scroll like a researcher. Your FYP is a personalized algorithm telling you what TikTok *thinks* you want to see, which is also a reflection of what's working on the platform right now.

How to Use Your FYP for Research:

• Look for Patterns: Are you seeing multiple videos using the same audio clip? Is a specific filter or effect popping up repeatedly? Is there a particular video format or joke structure you’re seeing from different creators? Take notes. When you see a sound or format three to five times in a short scrolling session, it's a strong sign it's trending.
• Engage Intentionally: Train your algorithm to show you content relevant to your niche. If you are a social media manager for a coffee shop, you should be liking, commenting on, and saving videos from other coffee shops, cafes, roasters, and local food bloggers. This tells TikTok you’re interested in that content category, and it will start showing you the top-performing videos and trends within that specific community.
• Check the Sound Details: When you stumble upon a sound that seems popular, tap on the spinning record icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. This will take you to the audio’s main page, where you can see exactly how many people have used it. If a sound has tens of thousands of videos but isn’t in the hundreds of thousands or millions yet, you might be catching it at the perfect time - popular enough to get noticed but not so saturated that you’ll get lost in the noise.

Go Straight to the Source: The TikTok Creative Center

If your FYP is for qualitative research, the TikTok Creative Center is where you get hard data. This is TikTok's official tool for marketers and creators, and it hands you trend information on a silver platter. It's completely free to use - just Google "TikTok Creative Center" and head to the "Trend Intelligence" section.

Finding Trending Hashtags

The "Hashtags" tab shows a rank-ordered list of the top hashtags over the last 7, 30, or 120 days. You can also filter by industry, making it incredibly useful for finding niche-specific trends.

Actionable Tip: Don't just look at the #1 hashtag. Scroll down to see what's breaking out. The real opportunity often lies in the hashtags that are climbing the ranks quickly. Click on a hashtag to see its analytics, including its audience demographics and related a-list content. This helps you understand who the trend is reaching and see top examples for inspiration.

Discovering Trending Songs

Under the "Songs" tab, you'll find a list of trending music. What makes this so powerful is the "Breakout" list, which tracks songs gaining popularity at the fastest rate. By the time a song is on the main "Popular" list, it might already be on its way out. The Breakout list lets you get in front of the curve.

Check the song's detail page before you use it. TikTok will show you how its popularity has changed over the past week and provide a stream of recent videos using that sound. See how other people are using it - is it a dance, a lip-sync, a comedic format? This will give you a clear idea of how to adapt it for your own content.

Analyzing Trending Videos

Perhaps the most direct tool is the "TikTok Videos" tab. Here, you can filter videos by region, industry, and objective (like reach or engagement). Find what's actually performing well in your market *right now*. Instead of guessing what content formats are connecting with your target audience, this dashboard shows you with real data.

Use it for a reality check. You might think you need elaborate, highly-produced videos, but a quick look at the top videos in your industry might reveal that simple selfie-style, point-of-view (POV) videos are getting all the engagement.

Listen for Viral Sounds - Everywhere

Audio is the backbone of TikTok trends. A viral sound can launch a thousand different video formats, from dances to educational content to product showcases. Your goal is to develop an ear for what's taking off.

How to Spot a Trending Sound Early

• It sticks in your head. If you find yourself humming a tune or replaying a line from a TikTok in your head, that's a good sign it has viral potential. Catchy, memorable audio is designed to spread.
• It's versatile. The best trending sounds can be reinterpreted in endless ways. Ask yourself: Can this sound be used for a list, a funny relatable moment, a tutorial, or an aesthetic shot? If the answer is yes, it has a longer shelf life.
• "Original Sound" is deceptive. Sometimes you'll see a video credited with an "Original Sound," but the dialogue or music is clearly from a famous movie or a popular song. This often means a creator isolated the snippet themselves. If you see an "Original" sound with thousands of videos attached to it, that's your signal - it's a massive trend in the making. Tap it and save it before it gets officially linked to a larger audio library.

Use the Search Bar and Discover Page Intelligently

The search bar is more than just a way to find a specific creator. It's a window into what the community is actively looking for.

Leveraging Search Suggestions

Start typing a keyword related to your industry into the TikTok search bar. For example, if you run a skincare brand, type "daily skincare..." and see what phrases TikTok autocompletes. It might suggest "...routine," "...tips for oily skin," or "...mistakes to avoid." These suggestions are based on high-volume, current searches. This strategy lets you create content that directly answers questions people are already asking.

Scrolling the Discover Tab

While the Discover tab has changed over time, it still highlights trending hashtags, sounds, and effects being actively promoted by TikTok. Think of it as TikTok's editorial team telling you what they think is about to get big. It's a great place to get a quick snapshot of what's currently being pushed to the masses.

How to Know Which Trend Is Right for You

Finding a trend is only half the battle. Jumping on the wrong one can make your brand look out of touch, or worse, cringey. Before you hit record, run every potential trend through this quick three-part filter:

1. Is it Relevant?

Does the trend connect to your product, audience, or brand message in a logical way? Forcing a popular dance trend onto a corporate law firm's account is probably going to feel... off. But a trend based on "five things I wish I knew earlier" could be a perfect fit. Look for a natural, authentic bridge between the trend's format and your brand's expertise.

Example: A financial advisor sees a silly lip-sync trend. Instead of doing the trend as-is, they use the sound but point to on-screen text bubbles like "When someone asks if they should empty their 401k to buy a meme stock." Same sound, relevant context.

2. Is it Timely and Actually Doable?

Trends move fast. A viral sound from last week can be ancient history today. If a trend has been circulating for more than a week or two, you've likely missed the boat. Also consider the production effort. Some trends require elaborate editing or multiple people. If you can't execute it well and quickly, it's better to pass and wait for the next one.

3. Does it Align with Your Brand Persona?

Not every trend is brand-safe. A slightly edgy or sarcastic trend might be perfect for an irreverent startup but totally wrong for a family-focused business. Does the trend feel positive, witty, educational, sarcastic, or chaotic? Make sure that feeling matches the personality you've built for your brand. Staying consistent with your voice is more important than jumping on a single trend.

Final Thoughts

Mastering TikTok trends comes from a mix of active research and creative intuition. By consistently using your 'For You' Page to spot patterns, digging into the data in the Creative Center, and carefully vetting which trends fit your brand, you move from randomly posting to strategic content creation that generates real results.

Finding the trend is just the first step - acting on it quickly is what really matters. When we built Postbase, we wanted to eliminate the friction that slows creators down. Because our platform is designed for today's video-first social media landscape, you can upload, customize, and reliably schedule your new TikTok right alongside your Reels and Shorts, ensuring your great idea goes live while the trend is still peaking, not after it's already faded away.