How to use Ahrefs Content Explorer to discover trending topics in your industry

If you’re tired of guessing what people in your industry care about, this one’s for you. Whether you’re writing blog posts, pitching stories, or trying to avoid content that lands with a thud, knowing what’s genuinely trending matters. But most “trend-spotting” advice is either too vague (“just listen to your audience!”) or tells you to chase whatever's blowing up on Twitter.

Let’s skip the fluff. Here’s how to actually use Ahrefs Content Explorer to find trending topics in your industry—without getting sucked into hype cycles or wasting time on stuff that doesn’t move the needle.

Step 1: Get Access to Ahrefs Content Explorer

First things first: Ahrefs Content Explorer isn’t free. You’ll need an account with access to this tool. If you’re already paying for an Ahrefs plan, you’re set. If not:

  • You can try their 7-day trial (last checked: $7) to see if it’s worth it.
  • There’s no truly “free” version, so don’t bother searching for workarounds. (You’ll just end up frustrated.)
  • If you’re on a team, see if someone else already has access before you fork over your credit card.

Pro tip: If you only need Content Explorer for a one-off project, set a reminder to cancel before the trial ends. No shame in being thrifty.

Step 2: Start with a Broad Search

Don’t overthink your first search. You want to cast a wide net, then narrow it down. Here’s how:

  1. Open Content Explorer.
  2. In the search bar, type a broad keyword related to your industry. For example:
  3. “email marketing”
  4. “sustainable fashion”
  5. “devops”
  6. Hit Enter.

You’ll get a massive list of pages mentioning your keyword, pulled from billions of articles.

What actually matters:
Ignore the urge to filter everything immediately. Let yourself see what’s out there first, even if it’s overwhelming.

Step 3: Use Filters to Cut the Noise

Here’s where the real work starts. Content Explorer can drown you in data if you let it, so use filters to make your search useful.

Key Filters to Use

  • Published date:
    Set this to “Past 30 days” or “Past 6 months” to see what’s new and actually trending—not just evergreen guides from 2017.

  • Language:
    Filter to your audience’s language. No point in finding viral French content if your readers only speak English.

  • Domain Rating (DR):
    If you care about authoritative sites, filter by DR (e.g., DR 40+). If you want scrappy up-and-comers, set a lower limit or leave this blank.

  • Exclude homepages:
    Check this box to avoid seeing company homepages or generic landing pages.

  • One article per domain:
    Keeps results diverse, not just showing you a content farm’s 27 identical posts.

Pro tip: You can combine filters. For example, show articles on “email marketing” published in the past month, in English, from sites with DR 30+, and only one article per domain. This narrows it to what’s actually getting attention now.

Step 4: Sort by Performance Metrics (But Don’t Get Fooled)

Content Explorer lets you sort results by:

  • Organic traffic
  • Social shares (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest)
  • Referring domains

Here’s how to use these metrics (and where they fall short):

  • Sort by “Social shares” to see what’s catching fire right now. But remember: social shares can be gamed or inflated by bots. Don’t assume high shares = high quality.
  • Sort by “Organic traffic” to see what’s pulling visitors from Google. These topics are likely to have staying power, but some can be old news.
  • Sort by “Referring domains” to see content people are linking to. More links = more authority, but this usually lags behind “trending” status.

What to ignore:
Don’t obsess over vanity metrics. A post with 5,000 Facebook shares might be a flash in the pan. Look for patterns across multiple articles—are a handful of posts about “cold email tools” taking off? That’s a stronger signal than one viral outlier.

Step 5: Spot Actual Trends, Not Just Spikes

Here’s where most people get it wrong. Not everything with a big number is a “trend.” You want to spot topics that are gaining interest, not just flaring up.

How to Do It

  • Look for clusters:
    Are several top-performing articles covering the same subtopic? For example, five different posts about “AI writing assistants” in the last month? That’s a trend.

  • Check the “Trend” graph:
    Click into a topic and look at the built-in graph showing publication frequency over time. Steady growth beats a single spike every time.

  • Compare with Google Trends:
    Double-check your findings by searching the topic in Google Trends. If both tools show an upward curve, you’re onto something real.

What doesn’t work:
Chasing every viral listicle or celebrity news post. Stick to topics that fit your industry and your audience. If you’re in B2B SaaS, don’t waste time on trending TikTok dances (unless you’ve got a very weird content strategy).

Step 6: Dig Deeper with Advanced Search Operators

If you want to get fancy—or just can’t stand irrelevant results—try these:

  • AND/OR:
    "email marketing" AND automation to find articles mentioning both.
  • Title only:
    title:"email marketing" to find posts with your keyword right in the title.
  • Exclude keywords:
    "email marketing" -cold to skip posts about cold emailing.
  • Site search:
    site:medium.com "email marketing" if you only want results from a specific publication.

You don’t need to learn every operator. Just play around with a few until your results feel useful.

Step 7: Build a Shortlist of Topics

Now that you’ve sifted through the noise, it’s time to make a shortlist of topics worth your attention.

  • Copy URLs and headlines into a spreadsheet.
    Include columns for performance stats (shares, links, traffic), your own notes, and why you think it’s trending.
  • Look for gaps.
    Did you spot a topic that’s getting traction, but nobody’s covered it in your voice, for your audience, or with your angle?
  • Avoid copycat syndrome.
    If all the top articles are “10 Best Email Marketing Tools,” don’t just make another one. Find a fresh angle—maybe “The Email Marketing Tactics That Actually Work in 2024.”

Step 8: Validate Before You Create

Before you jump into writing (or pitching, or building), sanity-check your shortlist:

  • Google the topic.
    Are the search results recent? Is the top content outdated or thin? That’s opportunity.
  • Ask your audience.
    Post a quick poll, tweet, or LinkedIn post. Do people care? You’ll learn fast.
  • Check for saturation.
    If every angle has been covered by giants, move on. No shame in skipping crowded fields.

What Works, What Doesn’t, and Things to Ignore

What works: - Combining filters and sorting for sharp, relevant lists. - Watching for clusters and steady growth—not just viral hits. - Using advanced search for surgical precision.

What doesn’t: - Blindly chasing social shares. - Copying what’s already been done to death. - Obsessing over metrics instead of patterns.

Ignore: - Hype cycles that don’t fit your brand or audience. - Every “hot take” from low-quality blogs. - Getting stuck in analysis paralysis—perfect data isn’t coming.

Keep It Simple. Iterate Often.

You don’t need to overcomplicate this. Start broad, filter ruthlessly, and pay attention to patterns—not just numbers. Spotting real trends is about noticing what’s bubbling up, not what’s already boiled over.

Check back every month or so, tweak your process, and don’t be afraid to trust your gut once you’ve got the data. The trick is to stay curious, not to chase every shiny object. Good luck—now get out there and find what’s actually worth talking about.