The Art of Spotting Trending Products on Amazon Before They Go Viral

Selling something on Amazon is simple. But to be successful, you need to be selling the right product at the right time.

Knowing how to track Amazon trends can mean the difference between a best-seller and a flop, whether you’re an experienced seller or just starting out.

So, how do you spot the next hot product before your competitors?

From Stanley cups to Ninja air fryers, the ecommerce world has seen plenty of viral products. But being among the first to find the next big thing is the real challenge.

In 2024 alone, shoppers spent a staggering $563.3 billion on Amazon, with over 19.3 billion products sold (see Similarweb data below). The opportunity for sellers is massive, but without a winning product, it’s easy to get lost in Amazon’s vast marketplace.

Let’s break down how to identify trending products, the best tools for Amazon product research, and the data-driven insights that will help you make those winning decisions.

Examples of viral Amazon trends

Using Similarweb Shopper Intelligence, we analyzed five products that have dominated Amazon in the past year, breaking down exactly why they became must-haves.

The success of each product can be attributed to brand reputation, social media virality, solving a common pain point, or strategic Amazon visibility. Take a look at what the winning formula looks like:

1. Blink Outdoor 5 camera system

🔗 View on Amazon

With 3.4M sold in the past year, Blink has positioned itself as an Amazon powerhouse, and it’s easy to see why:

✅ Amazon-owned → As part of the Amazon ecosystem, Blink benefits from brand trust and popular Amazon integrations such as Alexa

✅ High-demand niche → The growing need for affordable and user-friendly home security made this a must-have

✅ On-site search visibility → Ranking consistently on page one on Amazon means Blink doesn’t have to spend big on advertising

2. Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray

🔗 View on Amazon

Another Amazon bestseller with a yearly performance of 3.6M sales. But how did a stain remover become a viral hit? Social proof and niche targeting played a huge role:

✅ Viral on social media → Parenting blogs and TikTok raved about the product

✅ Trust through reviews → A flood of highly-rated reviews reinforced its reliability

✅ Targeted audience → The product solves a real pain point for parents

3. Stanley cup phenomenon

🔗 View on Amazon

The Stanley Cup almost literally exploded after a viral video showed a car catching fire, while the drink inside the Stanley Cup remained chilled.

This unexpected moment solidified its status as a must-have product, so it’s no surprise that 2.4M Stanley Cups were sold annually (for two consecutive years!)

Here’s what happened:

✅ Social media hype → Constant social media exposure fueled demand

✅ Brand reputation → Stanley already has over a century of trust in durable products

✅ Influencer collaborations → Partnering with lifestyle influencers kept it relevant and in high demand

4. eos Shea Better Body Lotion

🔗 View on Amazon
eos expertly mastered the beauty industry, with 2.5M body lotions sold on Amazon. It’s lotion follows a winning blueprint:

✅ Strong brand identity → Recognizable packaging + commitment to natural ingredients = consumer trust

✅ Influencer and celebrity endorsements → Social media stars helped turn eos into a viral beauty favorite

✅ Reviews → Consistently high ratings made it a go-to for skincare lovers

5. Apple AirPods

🔗 View on Amazon

Apple continues to dominate the audio market, with 2.8M AirPods sold yearly.

✅ Apple product → Comes with the Apple stamp of approval and allows for effortless use with all Apple products

✅ Top features → Noise cancellation, premium sound quality, and a sleek design

✅ Marketing → Apple’s high-profile ads, influencer unboxings, and launch events fuel demand

Finding trending products is crucial for Amazon sellers

Trends drive sales. So, knowing what’s hot (and what’s not) is key to building a successful Amazon store.

Jumping on the right trends will boost visibility, drive conversions, and help you dominate your niche. Here’s why spotting trending products is essential for Amazon success:

1. Mastering the Buy Box

The Buy Box is prime real estate on Amazon. It’s the section on a product listing where customers can click “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now”.

Winning the Buy Box means higher conversions and more sales. But Amazon doesn’t hand it out easily.

Selling a trending product helps you secure the Buy Box because:

• Higher demand → More sales → Stronger seller metrics
• Faster inventory turnover (Amazon favors sellers who move stock quickly)
• Better pricing opportunities, as Amazon rewards competitive listings

2. More ratings and reviews

Products with thousands of reviews on Amazon naturally outperform those with only a handful. But getting reviews can be tough unless you’re selling something people are already excited to discuss.

Trending products often generate reviews organically because:

• Buyers are eager to share their experiences (especially if they discover a unique or “viral” product)
• High sales volume means more review opportunities
• Amazon’s algorithm prioritizes well-rated, frequently reviewed products and pushes them higher in search rankings, leading to a positive feedback loop of sales and reviews

3. Gaining traction on Amazon search

Amazon’s search algorithm favors products that sell well and engage customers. This means if a product is trending, it’s more likely to rank on page one, where most purchases happen.

How trending products boost Amazon SEO:

• Amazon pushes high-performing products to the top
• More clicks mean more conversions, and Amazon rewards listings with strong engagement
• Instead of relying on paid ads, trending products gain cost-effective natural visibility through organic traffic

💡 Think about the Stanley Cup. Once the social media hype kicked in, searches for it skyrocketed, keeping it on page one with little advertising needed.

If you’re an Amazon seller, ignoring trends means missing out on huge opportunities. A well-timed product choice can help you win the Buy Box, rack up reviews, and rank higher in search results—all while increasing your Amazon sales.

So, how can you identify Amazon’s next trending product?

Some trends start with social media, while others emerge from growing demand with limited suppliers. But how do you stay ahead and start selling products that people actually want to buy?

Here are four proven ways to identify Amazon’s next best-sellers:

1. Monitor Amazon’s Best Sellers and Movers and Shakers lists

Guess what? Amazon does the heavy lifting for you. Check the Amazon Best Sellers and Movers and Shakers lists that offer real-time insights into what’s selling like crazy.

Movers and Shakers, and Best Sellers:

• Update hourly, giving you fresh data on fast-selling products
• Allow category-specific searches, helping you refine your niche
• Show emerging trends so you can jump on them early

👉 Pro tip: Use Similarweb Shopper Intelligence to supplement these insights with data on search trends, seasonal changes, and long-term performance.

2. Analyze search trends

If people are actively searching for a product, demand already exists. It’s up to you to satisfy it.

Using Similarweb’s Amazon keyword research tool, you can uncover what buyers are actively looking for. Here are the current top 10 trending keywords on Amazon:

3. Follow niche markets and social media trends

Many Amazon trends start outside of Amazon. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest often predict the next big product boom.

📊 Example: The Stanley Cup explosion started with a viral video of a car fire, proving its durability and leading to massive Amazon sales.

4. Benchmark against competitors

Tracking competitor best-sellers, pricing strategies, and market positioning can reveal hidden opportunities. You can spot market gaps, identify underpriced (or overpriced) products, and understand the key drivers behind top-performing listings.

📊 Example: Countertop ice maker brand Silonn can use Similarweb Shopper Intelligence to track their competitors’ pricing strategy, Amazon search traffic, and brand performance to win their market share.

How Similarweb Shopper Intelligence makes trend spotting easy

With Similarweb’s Shopper Intelligence, tracking Amazon trends doesn’t have to be a challenge. Here are the need-to-know features that can help you spot the next best-sellers before your competitors do:

Demand insights

Spot best-selling products before they peak by tracking product and category trends.

Trending keyword lists

Stop guessing what buyers want! Instantly access top Amazon search terms to identify in-demand products. Plus, optimize your product listings with the most searched keywords to boost visibility and sales.

Consumer behavior

Understand who your buyers are. Get insights into shopper demographics, behaviors, and interests to refine your product selection. This includes granular data on age, gender, education level, household income level, employment status, and household size.

Category analysis

Uncover niche trends and market leaders. Analyze top brands, fast-growing subcategories, and new product opportunities within specific Amazon categories to stay competitive.

Steps to start finding trending products on Amazon

Follow these five steps to identify and validate profitable trends before they take off:

1. Identify a category of interest (e.g., home goods, beauty, tech)

Before diving into product research, narrow down your focus to a category that aligns with market demand, your expertise or interest, and profitability.

2. Use Similarweb Shopper Intelligence to explore trending keywords and products

Once you’ve selected a category, it’s time to spot rising trends before they peak. Start by analyzing trending keywords and tracking search volume spikes to identify fast-rising products that are gaining traction but aren’t yet saturated.

3. Cross-reference with Amazon Best Sellers and Movers and Shakers lists

Check these pages regularly to see how Amazon ranks its best-performing products in real-time.

4. Analyze competitor performance and look for gaps or weak points

Successful Amazon sellers identify gaps and weak points in the competition. Key things to analyze include pricing, reviews, and branding.

5. Test the market by listing a small quantity or using Amazon Ads for trending items

Before fully committing to a new product, validate demand with a low-risk test run.

Start spotting Amazon’s next best-sellers

Success on Amazon is all about strategy, not guesswork. By following the steps above, you can identify high-demand products, analyze competition, and test the market with confidence.

With Similarweb’s Shopper Intelligence, you’ll gain real-time insights into trending products, rising search terms, and market shifts—helping you stay ahead of competitors and capitalize on trends before they peak.

FAQs

How can I tell if a trending product has long-term potential or is just a short-term fad?

To determine if a product has staying power, analyze search trends over time on Similarweb Shopper Intelligence. If demand is steadily increasing rather than spiking temporarily, it’s more likely to be a sustainable trend.

What are the risks of chasing trending products on Amazon?

The biggest risks include market saturation, supply chain issues, and short-lived demand. Some trends fade quickly, leaving sellers stuck with unsold inventory. To mitigate these risks, always test demand with a small batch before committing to a large inventory purchase.

How do I compete with established brands when selling a trending product?

Competing with big brands can be challenging, but success comes from differentiation and optimization. Instead of selling an identical product, find a unique angle such as improving the design, offering more color options, or bundling with complementary items. You can also optimize your Amazon listing and focus on building a unique marketing strategy.

How much should I invest in a trending product before scaling up?

Before scaling up, it’s best to start with a small test run of 100-500 units to gauge sales performance. Running Amazon PPC ads can help assess demand, while monitoring competitor pricing and performance will give insight into potential profitability. If the product sells well with minimal marketing, it’s a strong indicator to scale up. However, if sales are slow, reassessing your pricing, listing optimization, and marketing approach before investing more capital is essential.