Unleashing Viral Brilliance: Mastering Trending Topics for ALL Generations

Ready to unlock the secrets of going viral?

Imagine capturing attention ACROSS GENERATIONS with your content.

Whether you’re a Millennial, Gen Z, Gen X, or a boomer ⸻ you’re reading this because going viral is a shared goal.

And in today’s ATTENTION-DRIVEN economy, trending topics hold the key to online virality. Because they ignite engagement, spark conversations, and propel your message to the masses!

Keep reading as we explore using trending topics to captivate audiences of all ages!

Crickets no more: Get EYEBALLS on you

Do you ever feel like you’re posting, but no one is paying attention? *cue the cricket sounds* 🦗

Are you struggling to get engagement (looks, likes, comments, shares, or other reactions)? 😫

Do you pray to reach more people with your message and make a bigger impact? 🙌🏽

If you answered YES to any of those questions, you’re not alone. 

I’m right here with you—which is why I invest lots of time and money in learning what works online. And it’s also why I know FIRSTHAND you can overcome these challenges. 

So the goal of this blog post is to teach you to go viral with trending topics.

@lolacabaya when THEY pretend NOT to see you…🙄🙄🙄 keep this in mind — there are MORE FOR YOU than them FEW FOLKS that pretend. 🙏🏽‼️ #thesmokingprophet #propheticaffirmation #affirmationquote #listenableaffirmations #thingsiwishiknewyesterday #listenable #inspirationwall ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

Viral influence: Boost engagement, visibility, and social clout

Trending topics are POWERFUL because so many people (ACROSS GENERATIONS) are interested, passionate, or curious about them.

Think about it…Trending topics are popular on social media, news outlets, blogs, podcasts, forums, and other platforms.

This is why one of the secrets to going viral is making content around trending topics.

What this means for you

The bottom line is if you want to go viral or grow faster online, making content around trending topics is the way to go. Because trending topics 👀attract attention,✨spark conversations, and 🔦show your expertise or personality.

This is where someone is thinking:

Oh, this is too good to be true. And it’s not.

➡️Making viral content is easier than you think.

➡️You just need a strategy.

➡️That’s why I’m here.

I’ve had so much documented and proven online success for myself and others.

So let’s step into this mini-lesson by first taking a step back.

Ride the wave or join the buzz

Here are FIVE MORE REASONS why you should make content around trending topics.

1. To CATCH the wave of attention and interest around these topics.
2. To JOIN a conversation, share your perspective, and even change the narrative. 
3. To SHOWCASE your expertise and personality, which can build trust and rapport quickly.
4. To REACH new audiences and expand your network and influence faster. 
5. To CREATE explosive growth in your engagement, visibility, and social image.

Conquering content challenges

This is where I KEEP IT REAL and talk about the challenges of creating content around trending topics.

There are a few. BUT these challenges are easy to navigate with experience and a strategy.

Thankfully, I have some experience and strategies to share with you — from pages I’ve managed.

Enough about what I do. Let’s AMPLIFY what you can do!

It’s time to unpack these challenges.

My goal here is to help you talk about trending topics in a problematic-free way.

Steer clear of stumbles: Avoid repetition, offense, and alienation

When presenting trending topics to your community in a relevant and engaging way, you want to avoid:

❌ Repeating what everyone is saying 🥱

❌ Unintentionally or purposely offending others 🚨

❌ Alienating others with your opinions 🚩

Striking a balance: Unapologetic or problematic?

Can you share your opinion and be non-problematic?

The answer is YES. You can share your opinion and be yourself while still being respectful and relevant to your audience.

Can you share your opinion without alienating others?

The answer is YES. Just ask yourself: How does this opinion affect others? And how can I craft this opinion in a way that is authentic (to me) but thoughtful of others?

You can create conversations, not controversy.

So how do you strike a balance while being yourself?

You use a TEMPLATE.

Proven playbook: Content creation made effortless

When it comes to creating content around trending topics, templates are ⏳timesavers, 🔋energy multipliers, and 💆🏽‍♂️stress reducers ⸻ which is so helpful. Because creating content around trends is so DEMANDING and time-consuming!

But what are templates?

Templates are pre-written or pre-designed formats that you can use for creating content around any topic. They help you structure your content in a way that achieves your goals.

The reason why I recommend templates:

• They’re usually built around strategies that deliver proven results. 
• They make creating fast content (with or without a team) a breeze. 
• They automate workflows and make consistency flow naturally.
• They help lower the risk of unintentionally offending others or being misunderstood.

@lolacabaya make your work easier. #thesmokingprophet #smmtipsandtricks #peptalkbeforework #bestlifelessons #listenable #inspirationalcreator #propheticcreator #setintentionsdaily ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

Trending topic templates

To give you a QUICK IDEA of what I’m talking about…

I’ve got some EXAMPLES for you.

BELOW are some TRENDING TOPIC TEMPLATES (and how to use them)!

TEMPLATE 1: PROS AND CONS

Personalize this template by inserting a trending topic in place of [ADD TOPIC].

Then share a brief list of pros and cons with it.

➡️The pros and cons of [ADD TOPIC]. 

• The goal of this template is to introduce the topic and give a balanced overview of its advantages and disadvantages.
• This template is objective. So you don’t have to share your opinion.
• Use it for a short or long video, blog title, social post, email, or more.
• It lets you inform your audience, show your expertise, and invite them to share their opinions.

YOUR TURN TO TRY.

What TRENDING TOPIC has a juicy list of pros and cons?

Share that online using my template!

TEMPLATE 2: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Personalize this template by inserting a trending topic in place of [ADD TOPIC].

Then curate a list of things to know (about the topic). You’ll need to share this too.

➡️[ADD TOPIC] and ALL you need to know.

• The goal of this template is to introduce the topic and take a deep dive into its key facts and features.
• This template is perfect for reviews.
• It lets you educate your audience, show your authority, and invite them to learn more with your resources.

YOUR TURN TO TRY.

What RISING TREND interests you?

Research it, then share ALL you learned online using my template!

TEMPLATE 3: I JUST LEARNED

Personalize this template by inserting a trending topic in place of [ADD TOPIC].

➡️I just learned [ADD TOPIC]. 

• The goal of this template is to introduce the topic and give personal commentary on it. This can be problematic, I know. But there’s a twist.
• You can also use this template to introduce the topic and give no opinion or other people’s opinions on it ⸻ by sharing social media comments, expert opinions, or naming public figures who weigh in on the topic.
• All in all, this template lets you educate or entertain your community, show your personality, and invite them to share their own experiences or insights.

YOUR TURN TO TRY.

What TRENDING NEWS did you just learn?

Share that online using my template!

(That’s so simple. You can do it right now with or without researching a topic. YAY! Just write: I just learned [ADD TOPIC]. That’s SOOOO simple!)

You can mix and match these templates too⸻or use them all together like this:

Start with the PROS AND CONS template, then move to the ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW template, and end with the I JUST LEARNED template. (FYI: That’s a great outline for a podcast or blog!)

You can even use your brilliance to come up with your own templates! YAY. 🎉

Expect different types of comments

Now that you know your stuff about using templates to create content around trending topics, let’s talk about how to handle the comments that you’ll get.

One thing I want to PREPARE YOU FOR is this—online conflict and controversy.

With the templates (shared earlier), you can minimize online controversy.

Mainly because they PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK to introduce topics, focus on objective points for each topic, and share other people’s opinions.

This means that instead of stating your opinions as facts or making judgments about the topics, you simply present them (as they are) and let your audience decide what they think (in the comments).

This way, you can avoid unnecessary internet arguments.

Because let’s face it. Does anyone really win an internet argument?

That being said, expect NEGATIVE comments.

Also, expect generic or random comments from BOTS. Yes, some of the comments aren’t real. They’re random and make no sense.

Expect comments from people surfing for attention on your VIRAL post (🙏🏽). They’re commenting to get eyeballs on them.

Expect neutral comments from people without soft skills. Maybe their comment came off as rude, but that wasn’t their intent.

Expect that some comments are there to stir controversy ⸻ or from someone lurking to find something wrong with you or what you do.

Most importantly, expect POSITIVE feedback and engagement (like increased reach and views).🚀

@lolacabaya watch out for these types of followers 👀 they show up to argue! you’ll know them by their comments 🧾🫣😆 #thesmokingprophet #socialmediapredictions #listenableaffirmations #thingsiwishiknewyesterday #listenable #intuitivecreator ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

Don’t take it personally

In most cases, these comments are about what’s popular, the news, or an opinion⸻not you personally. So don’t take it personally.

And remember, everyone has an opinion. You can’t please everyone, respond to everyone, react to everything…and you don’t have to.

You can respect their views with or without agreeing with them.

This is how you can avoid unnecessary internet arguments.

Comment combat: Handling it with finesse

Instead of taking the comments personally, let the comments be. 

The comments are where your community is…

YES, your community is in the comments—so let people talk and help people feel safe. Sometimes this looks like: 

► You hiding a comment or replying to a comment (publicly or privately). 

► It even looks like you blocking a commenter or deleting their comment. 

► You curiously acknowledging views that aren’t your own. 

Here’s an example. 

If someone says I don’t like [ADD TOPIC], you could say: 

• Thanks for sharing. I can see why you feel that way. 
• Thanks for commenting. I just realized that today. 
• I appreciate your comment, hearing other people’s views is one reason I share trending topics. 

Want some templates for positive, negative, or neutral comments?

Leave a comment and let me know.

Unearthing trending topics like a pro

Now you know WHY and HOW to make content around trending topics.

📌 WHY = it helps you go viral.

📌 HOW = use the trending topics templates.

So maybe someone is thinking ⸻ WHERE do I find the trending topics? That sounds amazing, but HOW do I turn the topics into engaging content?

Here’s the answer.

I recommend using KEYWORD RESEARCH to find trending topics and turn them into engaging content. And I even wrote a blog to help you.

In that blog post, you’ll learn:

• What keyword research is, and why it makes creating content easier.
• How to use searches to find topics that people care about and crave.
• Tools to automate finding topics so you always know what to post.

This blog post can help you take your content creation to the next level and get more clicks, views, and followers online. If I were you, I’d read it now! 

Maybe you care less about keyword research, but you need a blueprint for social media. I have another blog for you.

To create eye-catching social content that will make your content stand out even more, check out How to Create Scroll-stopping Content and Stop Getting Ignored. 

In that blog, I teach you exactly how to DELIVER undeniable value, AMP up your social presentation, and LEAD with your unique personality. 

You can also listen to that podcast episode here ⸻ The Smoking Prophet Podcast Episode 136 Scroll-stopping Content: How to Create It and Grow Your Online Presence. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Welp, that’s all for now. Remember, when creating content, it’s about YOU, your AUDIENCE, and THE WORLD around us all. So sharing trending topics can help you reach a wide audience of ALL GENERATIONS. See you on the next blog!✌🏽