Gone are the days when big hoardings and 30 second TV spots could propel a brand towards fame and profits. Although still huge mediums of advertising, they are objectively what marketers call a 'one-way street.' People now look for a more personal connection with brands, and Social Media has done wonders to increase the interaction between brands and followers.

Nowadays, marketing exists beyond its age-old practises and has become a very integral part of people's lives. Whether people are surfing the net or scrolling through social media, they come across hundreds of ads per day. Nevertheless, consumers do sift through the omnipresent noise of modern-day marketing and pick brands to associate with and buy from. But how? By connecting with moments and brand experiences. Trends created by brands and major events have proven to be an incredible factor in swaying consumer buying decisions. As mentioned before, people want to feel a connection with a brand, and trends give brands a way to communicate with their followers. Trends are a powerful force in today's marketing sphere and some brands that have capitalised on this have often been catapulted on to the world stage. But how does a marketer track such trends and how do they get ahead of the curve? Here's how: