If relevant and available, fill in the sub-topics that are trending at this present time in your subject area. These may only be relevant today, this week or this month, but they should inform your short-term content plan.

Of all the key drivers of successful content, topicality is the most powerful on social media. Being part of the most active conversations has a disproportionately beneficial effect on how the algorithms surface your account on social platforms. Be sure to leverage this with quality, value-driven, content.

In the trending section of the template, you should add in any topics related to your objective, keywords, or your organisation. For the car industry, it could be anything from campaigning against the use of fuel, change in government legislation, a new report or a new development in green tech. Brainstorm the types of topics to hit the news, or gather interest in your industry.

Very often there won’t be anything, but you have to be ready when it does.

You can put links to specific content pieces or hashtags.

Join the discussion

Do a quick online search for the most trending topics of the last week. Choose one topic which you feel could have potential for engaging social media content and explain why in the comments below. Say which brand or organisation you feel could use this topic to connect with their audience via social media and briefly describe how.

Use the discussion section below and let us know your thoughts. Once you’re happy with your contribution, click the “Mark as Complete” button to check the Step off, then you can move to the next step.