Seed Merit: How Early Trend Participation Creates Massive Traffic Growth
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Seed merit explained refers to the initial boost in visibility or traffic that social media algorithms give to content when you are among the first to engage with a trending topic. By creating content before a subject becomes widely popular, you benefit from seed merit because platforms are more likely to promote your posts as the trend gains momentum.
For instance, imagine you were one of the first creators to post a video about “portable bathtubs.” If “portable bathtubs” later became a major trend, your early content would enjoy seed merit, meaning the platform’s algorithm would prioritize your video and even favor future posts you create on the same topic.
This early advantage can result in massive exposure and rapid growth. Many successful creators and brands attribute a large part of their success to seed merit, as the initial traffic they received helped them scale quickly and efficiently.
The traffic surge from seed merit can come from multiple sources, including:
Search results (SERPs) on social media platforms and even Google
Main platform homepages and recommended feeds
Relevant hashtags tied to trending topics
Features like “original sound” recognition on TikTok and similar tools on other platforms
Understanding seed merit explained is essential for anyone looking to leverage early trend participation to grow their reach and engagement quickly.