The Non-Techy Way to Predict What’s Coming

How solo business owners can use trends to build trust and visibility without guessing or chasing

Photo by rc.xyz NFT gallery on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again. Your feed is full of 2025 recaps and 2026 predictions.

And while most of that content is either obvious or packed with buzzwords, this is actually a smart moment to do something useful for your visibility.

Now is the time to look ahead in your own niche. Not to sound like a futurist, but to show your clients and audience that you’re paying attention to what’s shifting. That you’re helping them prepare, not just react.

When you spot a trend and share your take, you stand out. Not because you guessed the future, but because you’re the one who helps people make sense of what’s changing.

You don’t need a data lab. You need a simple way to notice what’s gaining traction and a way to talk about it that sounds like you.

Here are 5 ways to do that…

1. Watch for patterns, not headlines

You don’t need insider access. You do need to pay attention to what you’re already seeing.

Look for repeated signals:

• A few clients ask the same question

• Two or three tools roll out the same new feature

• A phrase starts showing up in newsletters or posts

Start a simple “Trend Notes” page in a digital or physical notebook. Write down what keeps repeating. Don’t analyze it yet. Just track it.

2. Use tools that reflect what people are doing

You want signals based on behavior, not opinions, like what people are searching or sharing.

A few tools worth using:

• Google Trends – shows what people are searching for over time

• Exploding Topics – tracks topics that are just starting to rise

• AnswerThePublic – surfaces real questions people are typing into search

• Reddit – search your niche and look for repeat themes, complaints, or wins

Use one or two of these once a week or even once a month. It’s enough to keep you from guessing.

3. Filter by relevance, not popularity

Just because something’s trending doesn’t mean it fits your business.

Ask yourself:

• Is this connected to a challenge my audience already has?

• Can I tie it to something I teach, coach on, or sell?

• Is it part of a bigger shift or just noise?

You’re not trying to jump on trends. You’re looking for shifts that matter to your people.

4. Use small predictions to create visibility

Once you notice a pattern, ask:

• If this keeps going, what might change in the next 3 to 6 months?

• What could this mean for my clients?

• What would I tell them to do about it?

Then turn that into a short post, email, or podcast:

• What’s changing

• Why it matters

• What to do about it

That’s all a useful prediction needs. No charts or buzzwords required.

5. Keep it in your voice

This part matters most. You don’t need to sound like a tech analyst. You just need to sound like you.

Try this:

• “Here’s something I’ve been noticing”

• “This keeps coming up with my clients”

• “I think we’re going to see more of this next year”

Then share what you think it means. That’s how you turn observation into leadership.

Never Run Out of Ideas Again

Turn Trends Into Trust

This time of year gives you a simple, natural opening. You get to show that you’re not just following the noise. You’re paying attention. You’re thinking ahead. And you’re helping people make smart, sound decisions about what’s next.

You don’t need to predict everything. Just show your audience that you see what’s changing and that you’re still here to guide them through it.

5 AI Prompts to Spot and Shape Trends

These aren’t your usual “what’s trending in 2026” prompts. Each one is built to help you think better, not just faster. Use them with ChatGPT or Claude, or paste them into your favorite AI tool and add your own spin.