If you want to stay ahead of the curve with celebrity and viral trends, then you need to know how to identify them early on. This can be a challenge, as many factors go into making a trend go viral. However, by understanding what drives viral trends and following celebrities, retailers (like us), social media, and influencers closely, you can start to get a feel for what might be about to take off.
Understand What Makes a Trend Go Viral.
In order to stay ahead of the curve, it is important to first understand what makes a trend go viral. There are many factors that contribute to why certain trends catch on while others fizzle out. To start, let's identify what constitutes as a "trend".
A trend can be defined as "a general direction in which something is developing or changing" or "a fashion", according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. In other words, a trend is something that is popular at a given moment in time and typically followed by many people.
There are two types of trends: those that come and go quickly (i.e. fads) and those with staying power (i.e. classics). Fads are usually driven by celebrities or influencers and tend to have a shorter shelf-life than classics. An example of a recent fad would be the "TikTok Challenge" where users filmed themselves doing a specific dance routine. Though this challenge was popular for some time, it eventually died down and is no longer talked about as much. On the other hand, examples of classics would be items like blue jeans or the little black dress; these items have been around for decades and show no signs of going out of style anytime soon.
Understanding What Drives Viral Trends.Now that we know what trends are, let's explore what drives them viral. There are four main factors that contribute to why certain trends take off while others do not: social media, celebrity endorsements, current events, and user-generated content (UGC).
Social media plays a big role in how fast and how far a trend can spread. With platforms like Instagram and Twitter, users can share content with their followers with just a few clicks. This sharing feature is one of the main reasons why trends go viral so quickly; if someone sees something they like on social media, they're likely to share it with their own followers which then creates a domino effect. Another reason social media contributes to viral trends is because platforms allow users to see what's trending globally in real-time; this gives users the ability to jump on board trending topics quickly which then results in more engagement/shares/likes etc., furthering propelling the trend forward
Celebrity endorsements are another key driver behind viral trends.. When celebrities or influencers post about something on social media (whether it's an endorsement or simply showing off), their large followings take notice and often times decide to try out the product/service for themselves which then starts trending upward. For example, when Kylie Jenner posted about the app Snapchat on her Twitter, the app saw a significant surge in downloads and usage.
Current events can also play a role in why certain trends go viral. This is because people are typically more interested in or curious about topics that are relevant to current events. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a surge in popularity for at-home workout videos and recipes since people were looking for ways to stay healthy and occupy their time while stuck at home.
Lastly, user-generated content (UGC) is a big factor in driving viral trends. UGC is defined as "any type of content—text, videos, images, reviews, etc.—that have been created by users of a product or service", according to Hootsuite. An example of UGC would be someone posting a review of a new restaurant on Yelp or sharing photos from their recent vacation on Instagram. UGC is so powerful because it's relatable; potential customers see that other real people have tried out the product/service and enjoyed it which then increases the likelihood of them trying it out for themselves.
Knowing What Sets A Trend Apart From Normal Popularity.Now that we understand the main drivers behind viral trends, let's explore what sets them apart from normal popularity.. There are three key characteristics that make a trend go viral: timeliness, uniqueness, and relevancy.
Timeliness refers to how quickly a trend catches on after it's first introduced to the public; if something is trending within days or weeks of being released/posted online, then it's considered timely. An example of this would be the "TikTok Challenge" mentioned earlier; this challenge went viral almost immediately after it was first posted online due to its quick dissemination across social media platforms..
Uniqueness refers to how different or novel a trend is compared to others; if something is significantly different than what's currently popular, then it has a higher chance of going viral since people will be curious about it and want to try it out for themselves . An example of this would be Crocs shoes; when they were first released, they were unique compared to other shoe styles available on the market which helped contribute to their popularity (and eventual virality).
Relevancy refers to how well a trend resonates with current events or pop culture; if something is timely and relevant to what's happening in the world, then it has a higher chance of going viral . An example of this would be during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was an increase in popularity for at-home workout videos since people were looking for ways to stay active while stuck at home .
To sum things up, these three key characteristics—timeliness, uniqueness , and relevancy —are what sets apart normal popularity from true virality.
Identifying What Constitutes a "Trend".A trend can be defined as "a general direction in which something is developing or changing" or "a fashion", according to Merriam-Webster dictionary. In other words, a trend is something that is popular at a given moment in time and typically followed by many people. There are two types of trends: those that come and go quickly (i.e. fads) and those with staying power (i.e. classics). Fads are usually driven by celebrities or influencers and tend to have a shorter shelf-life than classics. An example of a recent fad would be the "TikTok Challenge" where users filmed themselves doing a specific dance routine. Though this challenge was popular for some time, it eventually died down and is no longer talked about as much
Follow Celebs and Influencers Closely.
In order to stay ahead of the curve, you need to identify which celebrities and influencers are setting trends. You can do this by analyzing their social media platforms and looking for clues in their captions or hashtags. Additionally, many celebrities have personal stylists who post pictures of their clients on Instagram. By following these stylists, you can get an idea of what trends the celebs are wearing before they even step out in public.
Analyze What Content They Are Creating.Once you've identified which celebrities and influencers are setting trends, it's time to analyze the content they're creating. Look closely at the clothing they're wearing, the makeup they're using, and the hairstyles they're rocking. Pay attention to any new brands they're promoting, as well as any new products they're using. By understanding what content they're creating, you can get a jump on the trends they're setting.
Monitor Hashtags Associated with Celebs and Influencers.Another way to stay ahead of the curve is to monitor hashtags associated with celebs and influencers. This will help you see what trends are gaining traction among their followers and give you an idea of what trends are about to go viral. Additionally, many celebs and influencers use specific hashtags to promote their own personal brand or businesses. By monitoring these hashtags, you can stay up-to-date on all the latest news from your favorite celebs and influencers.
Utilizing Social Media Platforms.
As a business, it's important to leverage popular social media platforms to stay ahead of the curve on celebrity and viral trends. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter are excellent places to start, as they offer a wide range of users and potential customers. By analyzing conversations and interactions on these platforms, businesses can get a good understanding of what content is resonating with people and what hashtags are popular at any given time.
Analyzing Conversations and Interactions.When analyzing conversations and interactions on social media, it's important to look for patterns and commonalities. For example, if you notice that a particular hashtag is being used frequently in conjunction with negative comments, it's likely that this hashtag is associated with a negative trend. On the other hand, if you see that a hashtag is being used frequently in conjunction with positive comments, it's likely that this hashtag is associated with a positive trend.
Looking Into Popular Hashtags.One of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve on celebrity and viral trends is to simply monitor popular hashtags. By keeping an eye on what hashtags are trending, you can quickly jump on board any new trends that emerge. Additionally, many social media platforms allow users to set up alerts for specific hashtags, so you can be notified every time that hashtag is used.
Use Shop Style Shark to Stay Ahead of The Curve.
Shop Style Shark is a powerful website that can help you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to celebrity and viral trends. The shop offers a number of features and benefits that make it an invaluable resource for trend-spotters.
Shop Style Shark provides weekly new arrivals allowing you to quickly identify new trends as they emerge.
Conclusion
If you want to stay ahead of the curve with celebrity and viral trends, then there are a few things you can do. Firstly, understand what makes a trend go viral. This includes identifying what constitutes a trend, understanding what drives viral trends and knowing what sets a trend apart from normal popularity. Secondly, follow celebs and influencers closely. Identify which celebrities and influencers are setting trends, analyze the content they are creating and monitor the hashtags associated with them. Thirdly, utilize social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter to leverage conversations and interactions around popular hashtags. Finally, use Shop Style Shark to stay ahead of the curve.
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