How I Research Trends with AI in 30 Minutes

Hey there!

This morning I did a breathwork session and I had this idea: what if I showed you exactly how I use AI to research any niche in about 30 minutes?

Not the surface-level "what's trending on TikTok" research, but the kind that gives you a complete roadmap for building multiple income streams around something you actually care about.

So today I am walking you through my entire process using breathwork as the example.

Why trend research isn't what you think it is

Here's where most people get it wrong: they think trend research is about jumping on viral moments or finding the "next big thing" to exploit.

That's not what I'm talking about.

Real trend research is about understanding the landscape around something you're already interested in, then finding the gaps where you can add genuine value.

It's the difference between chasing trends and leveraging them.

When I research trends, I'm looking for three things:

Context for ideation - What's missing in this space? What are people struggling with that I could solve?

Content goldmine - What are people actually talking about? What language are they using?

SEO intelligence - What keywords are people searching for that I should be using in my product descriptions, video titles, and content?

This isn't about copying what's working—it's about finding where your authentic perspective can fill a real need.

I use Perplexity as my primary research tool (the Pro version is $20/month, but you can absolutely do this with the free version if you're researching one topic at a time).

You can also use any other LLM, but I prefer Perplexity because it the best tool to tap into the insights from the social platforms imo (and we all know the where the trends are coming from nowadays)

Here's my process:

Step 1: The surface search (5 minutes)

I start with a broad prompt like: "Can you identify main trends in [your niche] in 2025? Focus on TikTok, Instagram, online communities, Pinterest and Reddit."

For breathwork, this immediately showed me trends like:

• Breathwork as a remedy for digital overwhelm

• AI-guided breathing platforms

• Breathwork for ADHD

plus a dozen more with context why are they trending.

Step 2: Follow the rabbit holes (10 minutes)

Perplexity suggests follow-up searches like "Show me viral breathwork TikToks" or "Which Instagram creators lead breathwork conversations."

I discovered:

• The "Great Lock In 2025" challenge connecting to breathwork

• Specific hashtags that are actually performing

• The exact creators dominating this space

Step 3: Deep Research mode (15 minutes)

This is where the magic happens.

I click on Deep Research and ask: "Do deeper research on this niche and adjacent topics. Identify macro and micro trends that will be useful if I want to create digital products, print on demand products, start a membership, or create content."

What came back was basically a business plan.

Macro trends: Digital-first wellness, trauma-informed approaches, corporate wellness integration

Micro trends: Mouth taping, 4-7-8 breathing techniques, nervous system regulation

High-demand products: Online courses, guided session libraries, breathwork instruction cards (!), Instagram template packs for practitioners

Content creation trends: Educational tutorials, myth-busting content, technique demonstrations

Looking at this research, I could see at least 7 different income streams I could build around breathwork:

1. Digital journals - Breathwork tracking, reflection prompts, overwhelm management

2. Print-on-demand products - Apparel, water bottles, yoga mats for the breathwork community

3. AI-powered app - Built with tools like Lovable for guided sessions

4. YouTube channel - Monetized through AdSense + driving traffic to other streams

5. Skool membership - Daily practice sessions, community building

6. Breathwork instruction cards - Digital download for practitioners

7. Instagram template packs - For other breathwork teachers

Two years ago, this kind of comprehensive market analysis would have cost thousands of dollars.

Now it takes 30 minutes at a fraction of a cost (or entirely free!)

The pro tip

Always end your research by asking: "Help me identify untapped, non-obvious but very promising opportunities in this space. What might we have missed?"

This revealed ideas I never would have thought of:

• Corporate B2B breathwork programs

• Breathwork for neurodiverse students

• Parent-child breathwork programs

• Pet-companion breathwork (!!)

The free tools

Google Trends - Shows you search volume over time and related queries. For breathwork, I discovered it's been steadily growing worldwide with related searches for "breathwork apps" and "breathwork YouTube."

Answer The Public - Shows you exactly what questions people are asking. Questions like "Why is breathwork powerful?" and "Can breathwork heal your body?" become instant content ideas and product descriptions.

I take screenshots of these results from Answer the Public and feed them back into Perplexity with prompts like: "Based on this data, create 10 YouTube video ideas" or "Create SEO-optimized keywords for breathwork content."

Why this approach works

Most people approach trend research backwards. They see something viral and try to reverse-engineer it without understanding the deeper context.

But when you start with your genuine interests and use AI to map the landscape around them, something beautiful happens:

You're not competing—you're contributing.

You're not trying to be someone else or copy what's working. You're finding where your authentic voice and perspective can add real value to conversations that are already happening.

Your homework

Pick something you're genuinely interested in—doesn't have to be business-related, just something you enjoy learning about or practicing.

Run it through this 30-minute process and see what comes up. I guarantee you'll discover opportunities you never knew existed.

And if you try this, I'd love to hear what you discover. What niche did you research? What surprised you most about the results?

Until next week,

Your AI Solopreneur Bestie,

Elena