Trending stories are a great way to engage and build audiences, particularly on social media. They’re timely, based on what’s currently happening or about to happen and can be used to inform readers on what they should be watching for.

These types of articles are the perfect opportunity to experiment with different storytelling techniques. There’s no standard article structure to follow (like the diamond model some recommend). Instead, you can use a variety of research methods to gather unique insights and information from sources like niche subreddits, Facebook groups, TikTok comment sections and more.

To write a successful trending story, start with a strong hook to grab your reader’s attention. This could be a dramatic anecdote or an intriguing fact about the topic. From there, you’ll want to include a ‘nut graph’ that explains what the story is about, why it’s important and why your readers should care.

Then, provide more details about the topic, focusing on what’s new and what you know to be true. This is a great time to include quotes from experts or those with first-hand experience on the subject. Finally, you can wrap up with a call to action to keep your reader engaged and encourage them to continue learning about the topic.

You can find lots of examples of trending stories on BuzzFeed’s website — ranging from step-by-step guides to travel highlights. The BBC also has a great example of a recent trending piece, which shares the heart-warming story of a group of hero citizens who saved children trapped in a burning building.