Trend research that separates real shifts from passing hype
You need to know what is actually growing in your market before you plan a product, a menu or a content calendar. This prompt has your todo.is agent scan news, forums, product launches and search interest, then rate each trend by how strong the evidence is, with links you can check.
The prompt
- Do trend research on [MARKET OR TOPIC] for [WHO IT IS FOR]. Look at the last [TIME WINDOW]: news and trade press, Reddit and niche forums, new product launches, job posts and search interest. Find 6 to 8 trends. For each one give a one-line name, what is happening, 2 to 3 sources with links, who is driving it, and a rating: strong, emerging or hype. Flag anything that looks like a fad or a single viral post. End with 3 concrete ideas for [WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH IT]. Save it as a Word report and send me the short version on [WHERE TO SEND IT].
What to change
- [MARKET OR TOPIC]: e.g. "non-alcoholic drinks in Europe", "home fitness equipment" or "B2B payroll software".
- [WHO IT IS FOR]: Who reads it, e.g. "a small café owner" or "our product team".
- [TIME WINDOW]: e.g. "6 months" or "12 months". Shorter windows catch newer signals.
- [WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH IT]: e.g. "new menu items", "blog topics" or "features for next quarter".
- [WHERE TO SEND IT]: Email, WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack or Discord.
Example result
- Trend report: non-alcoholic drinks, last 12 months
- For: a neighborhood café owner planning a spring menu.
- 1. Functional sodas go mainstream · strong
- Sodas with added fiber or botanicals moved from health stores to regular supermarket shelves. Several regional chains added their own versions.
- • Sources: trade magazine report on shelf space, two chain press releases, a long Reddit thread comparing brands
- • Driven by: people cutting sugar and alcohol at the same time
- 2. Zero-proof cocktails on everyday menus · strong
- Mid-price restaurants now list 3 to 5 alcohol-free cocktails, not just one mocktail.
- • Sources: menu round-up in a hospitality magazine, job posts asking for "zero-proof" experience
- 3. Savory and bitter flavors · emerging
- Tomato, shiso, gentian and other bitter notes show up in new launches. Forum talk is growing but still niche.
- 4. Adaptogen claims · hype, be careful
- Lots of social buzz, little independent evidence for the health claims. Some markets restrict what labels can say.
- 5. Cold brew tea · emerging
- Search interest rises every spring and peaks in summer. Easy to make in batches.
- What the evidence says
- • Strong: several independent sources, real money behind it (shelf space, hiring, menus)
- • Emerging: clear growth in a few places, not yet broad
- • Hype: mostly social posts or one brand's marketing
- 3 ideas for your spring menu
- • Two house zero-proof drinks: one bitter spritz, one citrus and ginger
- • A cold brew tea on tap from April, tested with a small batch first
- • A short "low sugar" corner on the menu board instead of health claims
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your market, your audience and what the research is for.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Your agent reads news, forums and launches, rates each trend and writes the Word report with links.
- Ask follow-ups like "dig deeper into trend 3" or make it a quarterly to-do to watch how the ratings change.
Tips for a better result
- Ask for evidence types, not just headlines. Hiring, shelf space and funding are stronger signals than social buzz.
- Give a narrow market. "Plant-based cheese in the UK" gets far better results than "food trends".
- Ask your agent to list what would prove a trend wrong. It keeps the report honest.
- Run it again in 3 months with the same prompt and ask "what changed since last time".
trend research: FAQ
- What is trend research? It is the work of spotting changes in what people buy, say or do, and checking if they are growing. Good trend research shows the evidence and separates lasting shifts from short fads.
- How do I tell a trend from a fad? Look for several independent signals over months: new products, hiring, retailers making space, steady search growth. A fad usually rests on one viral moment or one brand's marketing.
- Can the agent see Google Trends data? It can open public pages in its browser, including public search interest charts, and describe what it sees. Treat those readings as a direction, not an exact number.
- How often should I do trend research? Quarterly works for most small businesses. Fast markets like consumer tech or social media may need a monthly check.
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