As you plan your content calendar for March, let these trending topics light the way!
Spring is just around the corner which means warmer weather will allow us to escape to the outdoors once more and your readers are craving themes of renewal.
We’ve identified seven major trends that we anticipate will be popular with searchers and readers in March 2021:
- Our second mid-pandemic springtime
- St. Patrick’s Day, March 17
- March Madness is back!
- The rise of the fake commute
- Trending crafts
- Feeling fiscally frisky
- Celebrating the women in our lives
P.S. Don’t forget to celebrate National Pi Day on March 14th!
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1) Our second mid-Pandemic springtime
It’s hard to believe that our lives have been marked by COVID for over a year now, with March 2020 marking the point where the pandemic became an undeniable part of everyday life in the US.
But March also heralds a brighter, new season!
This year, Daylight Savings starts March 14 and the first day of Spring is March 20. March ushers in the time of year that many take as an opportunity to reset and refresh in many areas from cleaning to personal style to gardening.
Spring cleaning
March kicks off a wave of spring cleaning, with 78% of Americans saying they engage in spring cleaning every year, according to The American Cleaning Institute (they do a survey every year and share key stats at this link).
It’s the Great American Cleanup Month and people want tips for cleaning, pruning, and sprucing up their living spaces!
Rising search queries:
- Spring cleaning checklist
- Cleaning supplies
- Carpet cleaning
- Oven cleaning hacks
- Appliance cleaning tips (coffee maker, microwave, etc.)
- Cleaning with vinegar
Spring wardrobe
Warmer weather means your readers are thinking about swapping out pieces in their closet and freshening up their wardrobe. If you cover personal style topics on your site, it’s time to hop on any early trends you’re noticing for spring and summer this year!
With people starting to dress up more at home (we covered this rising trend here), share fun ideas to spruce up their wardrobes and accessories — bonus points if they’re comfy.
And with unemployment still high, there’s an increasing number of people seeking out business attire and formal wear ideas, which might reflect the job-seeking market right now.
Share tips for looking stylish at interviews (and cover budget options) and how to transition their formal attire for the warmer weather.
Spring gardening
Spring means more time outdoors and March is when people really start to get their gardens going.
In 2020, we saw a huge surge in gardening interest as a result of the pandemic. We expect that we are likely to see another increase this year as people respond to being cooped up over the winter with renewed interest in spending time outdoors.
previous two years and continued to rise throughout April and May.
Share ideas for starting vegetable gardens, favorite gardening supplies and tools, and general gardening tips for the beginning of the season.
Additionally, people are likely to continue with a focus on updating their outdoor spaces, so share ideas for patio furniture, balcony decor, and potted plant tips.
2) St. Patrick’s Day, March 17
Searches for St. Patrick’s Day crafts for kids are already starting to gain some momentum.
Share ideas for fun activities, DIY decorations, and other fun resources for people who are excited about the upcoming holiday.
The most-searched St. Patrick’s Day recipes in March 2020:
- Corned beef
- Cabbage
- Shepherd’s pie
- Irish soda bread
Share other traditional recipes, treats, and desserts. Drink recipes — especially with beer or Irish spirits — are popular as well.
Just like with so many long-standing traditions (see how Mardi Gras became Yardi Gras this year!), 2021’s St. Patrick’s Day is adapting to new virtual and socially-distanced standards.
Many parades are canceled, but at-home and virtual celebrations can still be enjoyed! Dublin’s famous parade will be going virtual once again with six days and nights of fun. So hop on board and share at-home celebration ideas with your audience.
For more St. Patrick’s Day ideas…
Check out our in-depth look at what readers search for around St. Patrick’s Day.
3) March Madness is back!
After being canceled last year due to COVID, we expect many people will be excited to see the return of one of their favorite college series this year. March Madness will run from March 18–April 5.
This year will be a little different as sports organizations continue to adjust to the pandemic. Unlike normal years where games are played across the country, for the first time in history the entire series will be played in a single state — Indiana.
Help your readers enjoy March Madness with brackets and activities, virtual get-together ideas, team rankings and updates, schedule information, recipes to enjoy with the games, and more!
The NCAA is also introducing an initiative called Mask Madness to encourage mask wearing and social distancing in Indiana leading up to the event — but it could be a fun initiative to share and spread nationally during the games.
Alternatives to the March Madness bracket are also a fun way for non-sports enthusiasts to engage in the spirit. Hosting a recipe bracket or a school activity bracket can be a fun way to adapt the idea to your own niche.
4) The rise of the fake commute
People are missing their commutes.
Not so much the time spent in the cars, but the general routine of it — the opportunity to prepare for the day ahead or transition from work back to their home life at the end of the day. The commute sets boundaries between work and home life, which people report they are missing while working from home.
Enter the trending “fake commute” where people are replacing that pre-COVID routine with walks, biking, exercising, and more. People are setting aside time for themselves to get refreshed for the day, to relax and meditate, and to re-ground themselves in the blurred reality of remote work.
Content opportunities:
- Share ideas that help people create their fake commute.
- Share suggestions for morning and evening routines that help workers set new boundaries and carve out space for themselves.
5) Trending crafts
March is National Craft Month!
Help your readers celebrate by sharing some of your favorite DIYs. Think about combining the spring cleaning trend with crafting and share tips with your readers on how to organize and set up craft rooms in their homes.
Some popular craft queries right now:
- Craft supplies
- Easy crafts
- Holiday crafts (think about St. Patrick’s Day and Easter craft ideas you can share)
- Dollar Tree crafts
- Cute craft ideas
When looking for crafts, people are often seeking out ideas for specific age groups.
These are some of the most popular age groups related to craft searches (which can help you with SEO for your posts!):
- Toddlers
- Preschoolers
- Kids
- Adults
- Teens
6) Feeling fiscally frisky
If you’ve been following the news, you know there’s been a lot of movement in the financial markets as of late. Reddit traders have been shaking things up and Elon Musk’s vague tweets have sent the crypto world into a frenzy.
With all this news going on, there are a lot of people who want to learn about investing who haven’t really explored it before. From growing interest in cryptocurrency to day trading to socially-responsible investing, people are looking for guidance on how they can participate in the stock market.
Some popular recent searches:
- Good investing apps
- Investing in cryptocurrency
- Best investing apps for beginners
- Investing in mutual funds
- Investing for kids
- Robinhood investing
Share educational information to help people learn more about investing, suggestions for how to invest their money wisely, or recommended financial platforms.
Even prior to these latest events, finances have been an important topic as many people look for ways to stay afloat. Tips for saving money, living cheaply, and making smart, long-term savings and investment moves can be a big help for those looking to generally improve their financial health.
March is also National Credit Education Month, so share helpful resources for individuals, teachers, and parents to help improve the understanding of how credit works and the importance of it in their lives.
7) Celebrating the women in our lives
March is National Women’s History Month and March 8th is International Women’s Day.
Your readers will welcome ways to honor the special women in their lives and resources that continue to empower women.
Share ideas for how people can fight for women’s rights, and share inspiration (quotes, art, accomplishments, etc.) that celebrates women and their history this month.
