How To Use Trend Watchers To Get Your First Viral Video On YouTube, TikTok, And Instagram Reels 📈
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If you’ve ever wondered how creators seem to blow up overnight, this guide will show you exactly how they do it. Inside, you’ll learn how to spot viral trends before they peak, create videos people can’t stop sharing, and use Trend Watchers to stay one step ahead of everyone else. Whether you’re starting from zero or trying to revive a stagnant channel, this step by step guide will help you turn your ideas into content that takes off on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels.
Want platform-specific advice? Checkout our book series below!
How To Get Your First Viral Video On Instagram Within 90 Days 👈
How To Get Your First Viral Video On YouTube Within 90 Days 👈
How To Get Your First Viral Video On TikTok Within 90 Days 👈
Note: There are two ways to grow on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The first way is to focus on consistency by posting regularly and using trending sounds, hashtags, and formats to get steady exposure. The second way is to master the platform’s algorithm so it pushes your content to massive audiences. The first way works, but the second way is what leads to explosive growth.
Part 1 - Understanding That Going Viral Is a Numbers Game
Before I started creating content, I thought there was some secret formula or perfect strategy to getting a viral video. Fast forward a few years and I’m reaching millions of views across platforms every month.
Did my perception change? Not really. When you break it down, going viral on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube is truly a numbers game.
Each time I start a new page or channel, my first goal is always to upload at least 25 to 30 videos. With that amount of content live, I know at least one to three of them will take off within six to twelve months.
And remember, viral doesn’t always mean a million views. I define viral as any video that gets ten times more views than your usual average post (excluding any outliers).
Why Do We Want Atleast 1 Video To Go Viral?
When one of your videos goes viral on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, the platform often boosts the rest of your content too.
So if one video suddenly takes off and hits 500 views when your usual average is much lower, don’t be surprised when your other posts start gaining traction as well. The algorithm rewards momentum and visibility, meaning once you have one breakout hit, the rest of your content has a higher chance of being discovered.
Some of you reading this may have already noticed this pattern firsthand.
Why do you need to post 25 to 30 videos? This number is important for two main reasons.
1)The more videos you post, the higher your chances of one taking off by our definition of viral. Within a 6 to 12 month period, this volume gives the algorithm more opportunities to test your content and find what resonates.
2)When a video goes viral, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube will often boost your other posts as well. Having more content ready allows the platform to lift your entire page, helping you maintain momentum and grow faster.
Yes, creating 25 to 30 quality videos takes time and energy, but I’ll show you how to simplify the process by systemizing your content and using trends to your advantage.
Part 2 - Creating Your Video Series
There are two main ways to post on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. I call them traditional posting and the video series method.
What is traditional posting?
Traditional posting is the usual process most creators follow when making content. It takes a lot of energy and time, and while it can work, it’s difficult to sustain. Here’s what it typically looks like:
Brainstorming: This stage looks different for everyone. Some creators come up with ideas in minutes, while others spend days or weeks finding a concept worth filming.
Preparing: Once you have your idea, you need to plan the video. Depending on your style, this could mean setting up props, finding people to film with, or organizing your shoot location — all of which can take hours or days.
Shooting: This is the fun part — recording your video. But videos rarely go perfectly as planned. You might need several takes or extra footage to make everything come together.
Editing: Depending on your skill level and video complexity, editing can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days.
The traditional posting method works, but it becomes exhausting once you try to scale. This is why so many creators burn out.
It’s also why people often say you have to choose between quality and quantity when creating content. With traditional posting, it’s nearly impossible to maintain both at the same time without wearing yourself out.
What is a video series?
A video series is when you use the same or a similar setup for every video you create. Once you’ve developed the concept for your series, all you need to do is rotate the topic, guest, or theme for each new post.
Creating and running your first video series might feel just as challenging as traditional posting at first, but after three to five videos, the process becomes much smoother. You’ll already have your setup, style, and workflow in place, allowing you to focus more on creativity and consistency instead of starting from scratch each time.
Having systems for creating content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube is a complete game changer. Systems let you post high quality videos at scale without losing creativity or consistency.
When applying the video series model, it’s best to plan around three to five series. Running only one series can cause your audience to lose interest, but having multiple keeps your content fresh while maintaining a recognizable style.
Grab a piece of paper and write down three to five video series ideas you could create for your channel or page. To help you visualize, here are a few great examples from creators like Jubilee, who built their brand using repeatable video series that stay consistent while exploring new topics each time.
Here go more examples
Part 3 - Testing Trends
When it comes to using trending topics on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, most people take the hard route.
The hard route is asking yourself, “How can I make a video about this trend?” While that’s a productive question, it can quickly become overwhelming. There are endless ways to approach a single topic, and having too many options often leads to overthinking and indecision.
The smarter approach is to create your video series first, then use trending topics as plug-ins to test within those series. This way, you’re not reinventing your format each time — you’re simply updating your content with fresh, relevant ideas that keep your page current and engaging.
One great source you can use is Trend Watchers. We post new trends every day for content creators across more than 50 categories — and in multiple countries too.
If we don’t cover your niche yet, you can still find trending ideas to plug into your video series from a few reliable places:
– Your competition
– Forums and online communities
– News sites within your niche
Another great tool to use within Trend Watchers is our Viral Video Maker. This tool does all the hard work for you. All you have to do is type in a trending keyword or your niche and it will brainstorm x6 different video series for you.
You can also use this worksheet to write out your video series ideas, and be sure to watch this complimentary video that walks you through exactly how to fill it out step by step.
Volume Guaruntees Luck
As mentioned at the start of this guide, social media is a numbers game — and trends simply help stack the odds in your favor.
This principle applies to every platform. One phrase that kept me consistent over the years is “volume guarantees luck.” The more you post, the more chances you create for something to take off — and this is especially true when trying to go viral online.
Our recommended posting rate for short form content is two to three videos a day across all platforms. Maintaining this pace increases your chances of landing several viral videos each week.
Remember, it only takes one video to blow up. That single moment of virality can completely change your growth trajectory and open new doors for your brand.
👉 Click here to try our Viral Academy free trial and get one-on-one guidance from one of our expert coaches. We’ll help you apply these strategies to your own content and build a system that gets you consistent viral results.
