How I use Pinterest and Google Trends to find startup ideas
August 23, 2024
AI Summary
5 min readHow to Mine Anti-Trends for Startup Ideas
The host of The Startup Ideas Podcast opens with a counterintuitive claim: in a world where every SaaS website and agency touts AI, positioning yourself as "AI-free" might be a stronger moat than following the herd. He cites a study showing that mentioning AI in product descriptions actually lowers purchase intent among consumers. This is the core of his method — not chasing trends, but identifying what he calls "anti-trends": the neglected opposite of whatever everyone else is racing toward.
The Anti-Trend Philosophy
The logic is straightforward. In a hyper-competitive startup landscape, everyone piles into the same hot spaces. The host argues that anti-trends offer a natural competitive advantage because you face less noise and can be first to own a positioning. He points to cultural pendulums: after "Brat Summer" came "demure" as the counter-move; after years of hustle culture, five AM wake-ups, and cold plunges, "slow living" is gaining real traction. The key insight is that anti-trends aren't fringe — they're often the inevitable correction to an overhyped trend, which means there's latent demand waiting to be served.
The Pinterest Research Workflow
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **Introduction: Why Anti-Trends Matter** - The host introduces the concept of "anti-trends" as a less competitive way to find startup ideas.
- 2 (03:12) **Tool #1: Pinterest Trends** - Using Pinterest to spot rising trends and infer anti-trends.
- 3 (04:56) **Diving Deeper with Pinterest** - How to use Pinterest Trends to explore a chosen anti-trend.
- 4 (06:50) **The Idea Bank Plug** - A brief pitch for a free database of startup ideas compiled from podcast interviews.
- 5 (07:43) **Tool #2: Google Trends + Glimpse Extension** - Using Google Trends to validate the growth of an anti-trend.
- 6 (09:58) **Social Platform Strategy from Glimpse** - Using data to decide where to build an audience.
- 7 (11:25) **Exploring the Topic Map** - Using Glimpse to get a bird's-eye view of the anti-trend space.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
In this episode, we dive deep into uncovering validated startup ideas by leveraging anti-trends on Pinterest and Google Trends. I'll walk you through my workflow, showing you exactly how to use these tools to spot emerging trends, identify key problems and solutions, and find creators and websites thriving in these niches. If you're looking for a fresh approach to finding your next big startup idea, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won't want to miss!
1) What are anti-trends and how to spot them
• Anti-trends = opposite of what's hot right now
• Example: "AI-free" products when EVERYONE is jumping on the AI bandwagon
• Why it works: Creates a unique moat + appeals to overlooked market segments
• How to spot anti-trends: Real-world observations, Social media chatter, Consumer studies (e.g. recent study shows AI mentions LOWER purchase intent)
• Pro tip: Always be on the lookout for what's NOT being talked about
2) Tool: Pinterest deep dive:
• Shows monthly/weekly changes
• Reveals related trends
• Displays popular pins
• Example: "Slow living" trend analysis gives insights into minimalism, cozy bedrooms, etc.
3) Tool: Google Trends + Glimpse hack:
• 5-year view of trend growth
• Related trends
• Social platform activity
• Topic maps
• Pro tip: Look for steady, sustainable growth rather than spikes
4) Competitive research workflow:
1. Use Claude AI to list top creators/websites in your niche
2. Analyze their traffic/backlinks with Ahrefs
3. Check creator growth on ViewStats
5) Key questions to ask:
• What products/services can I create for this anti-trend?
• Where's the audience hanging out?
• Any low-hanging fruit in terms of SEO?
• Which geographic markets are underserved?
6) Remember: Anti-trends are about serving overlooked markets
• There's often less competition and more passionate audiences in these niches
• Don't be afraid to go against the grain!
Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)
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