Staying relevant as a speaker means staying on top of the latest trends in your niche. Event organizers, podcast hosts, and corporate clients are always looking for speakers who can address timely and impactful topics. But how do you consistently find trending topics that align with your expertise?

Here’s how you can uncover hot topics in your industry, position yourself as an expert, and ensure your speaking engagements stay in high demand.

1. Follow Industry Leaders and Influencers

One of the easiest ways to find trending topics is by keeping an eye on what industry leaders and influencers are talking about. These are the people who set the conversation and highlight emerging trends.

Where to Look:

• Follow top influencers on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

• Listen to industry podcasts to catch discussions on emerging trends.

• Subscribe to newsletters from thought leaders in your niche.

• Monitor TED Talks and conference keynotes from well-known speakers.

2. Use Google Trends and SEO Tools

If you want to know what’s trending right now, Google Trends and SEO tools are your best friends.

How to Use Them:

• Go to Google Trends and search for keywords related to your industry.

• Check Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest to see high-ranking search terms in your niche.

• Look for rising topics and compare which subjects are gaining traction.

Pro Tip: If a topic is trending in search engines, there’s a strong chance event organizers will be looking for speakers on that subject soon!

3. Join Speaker and Industry Forums

Networking with other speakers and industry professionals can give you direct insights into what event organizers are looking for.

Where to Connect:

• Join SpeakerHUB to see what other speakers in your niche are presenting.

• Participate in Facebook and LinkedIn groups dedicated to public speaking.

• Engage in Reddit and Quora discussions where people ask about industry challenges.

• Attend virtual summits to observe trending panel discussions.

4. Watch Conference Agendas and Call for Speakers

Major conferences often set the tone for trending topics in your industry. By reviewing conference agendas and call-for-speaker applications, you can identify which themes are in demand.

Where to Look:

• Browse websites of leading industry conferences.

• Check call-for-speakers pages to see what event organizers are requesting.

• Watch past conference recordings and note repeated topics across events.

5. Pay Attention to Social Media Conversations

Social media platforms are gold mines for finding real-time discussions and emerging trends.

How to Use Social Listening:

• Track hashtags related to your industry on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

• Use tools like Hootsuite or Brandwatch to monitor discussions in your niche.

• Read comments on popular LinkedIn posts and YouTube videos to identify audience pain points.

6. Survey Your Audience and Clients

Sometimes, the best way to find out what’s trending is to ask your audience directly. This not only helps you discover new topics but also positions you as someone who truly listens and adapts to their needs.

Ways to Gather Insights:

• Run a LinkedIn poll asking your network what they want to learn about.

• Use Instagram Stories polls and question stickers to gather real-time feedback.

• Send a short survey to past clients or event organizers.

• Ask your email list what challenges they’re currently facing.

• Review past Q&A sessions from your talks and see which questions come up repeatedly.

Final Thoughts: Stay Relevant, Stay Booked

As a speaker, keeping up with industry trends isn’t just about staying informed—it’s about staying bookable. By following influencers, leveraging SEO tools, networking with fellow speakers, and using platforms like SpeakerHUB, you can ensure your topics are always fresh and in demand.

Want to secure more speaking gigs? Create a SpeakerHUB profile today and stay ahead of industry trends!