So where do you find the trends to fuel your real-time content marketing initiatives?
The search engines themselves perhaps provide the best glimpse into what is occurring on the real-time Web. The Hot Trends at Google Trends provides an hourly update on the most popular searches. But when all is said and done, using the "Rising Searches" feature from Google Insights for Search will serve you much better; as it enables you to filter by the type of search (Web, Image, News and Product), the location, a time-frame - use the "last seven days" as a starting point - and categories.
Other search engine services that can be used for tracking content flowing on the real-time Web include Yahoo's Buzz Index, and Bing's xRank.
Blog Search provides another viable way to gain some understanding of what's happening in the minds of consumers on the real-time Web. Google's Blog Search features a Hot Queries section in the right-hand sidebar, but IceRocket's Trend Tool provides a valuable way for search marketers to see how specific search term trends over time (BlogPulse provides a similar service to that of IceRocket in this regard).
Twitter and Facebook are two of the most valuable resources from which to get a glimpse into the real-time Web. Twitter's Trending Topics is one example, as are third-party services like Trendistic, TwitScoop, Tweetmeme.
When it comes to what's trending on Facebook, a few up-and-coming services include Boohsaka, ItsTrending, Kurrently, Open Book and FacePinch.
The Web is also flush with hundreds of social media Web services tracking mentions and trends. Some of my favorites include the Trends feature at Social Mention, and Addict-o-matic - particularly the Popular News section, as well as popular items on Digg and Reddit. Two others which routinely secure my own attention are the Delicious Hotlist and POPURLs.
Where do you find trends for your real-time content marketing initiatives? Share your comments below.