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Reel trend documentation template (free CSV and printable log)

By Influish Editorial Team · Published 6 November 2026 · Last updated 6 November 2026

Version 1, 6 November 2026. Free to copy, adapt and share. The CSV is UTF-8 so Hindi, Tamil or other scripts in trend names display correctly. The single example row is illustrative — delete it before use.

Why keep a trend log at all?

Because a trend call is a claim about change over time, and you cannot show change without records. A log turns “I keep seeing this” into “on Monday the audio had about 2,400 Reels; on Wednesday it had about 6,100, across nine unrelated creators in three niches”. That second sentence can be checked, compared with other trends, and reviewed later to see whether your call was right.

The template is designed around the daily trend research workflow: you add rows in the logging block, update growth columns in the recheck block, and sort by status in the weekly review.

What columns does the template include?

The columns fall into five groups. The table below is a preview of the CSV with what to write in each field.

Example values are placeholders to show the format. They are not real observations.

How do you fill in the growth columns correctly?

The growth group is where most logs fall apart, so it is worth being precise.

1. At first sighting, open the audio page and copy the number of Reels shown into reuse_count_1. Use the number as displayed; if the app rounds it (for example “12.4K”), write it as shown and keep the rounding consistent next time.
2. Set next_check_date one to three days ahead and set status to watch.
3. On the recheck, record check_2_datetime and reuse_count_2.
4. Calculate relative_change. In Google Sheets or Excel, if count 1 is in K2 and count 2 in M2, the formula is =(M2-K2)/K2, formatted as a percentage.
5. If there is no audio (a format or phrase trend), leave the counts blank and rely on distinct_creators_seen at each check, noting the search terms used in notes.

Meta described its Reels Trends destination as showing top trending songs and how many times audio has been used (Meta Newsroom, April 2023). That screen is a handy source of candidates where available, but your own two dated counts are what make the log useful — and they work for any audio, not only the ones on a list.

How should you record originality and reposts?

Use example_reel_url for an original post wherever possible, not a repost page. Instagram’s creator guidance says it is less likely to recommend reposts of existing Reels, content with noticeable watermarks and accounts that regularly collect other people’s content (Tips for Improving Your Reach). Reposts also tell you little about genuine creator adoption. In originality_notes, write down the earliest example you found, any watermarks from other apps, and any signs of coordination — the same agency, the same brand tag, or paid-partnership labels.

How do you set it up in Google Sheets or Excel?

• Google Sheets: File → Import → Upload, choose the CSV, then “Replace current sheet”. Freeze the first row and the first two columns.
• Excel: open the CSV directly, then save as .xlsx so formatting is kept.
• Add data validation (drop-down lists) to trend_type, lifecycle_stage, confidence and status using the values listed in the column dictionary. Consistent values make filtering and weekly counts trivial.
• Add conditional formatting to next_check_date so overdue rechecks turn red.
• If several people share the sheet, keep one row per trend and add a note rather than duplicating rows.

When is the printable version better?

Paper is surprisingly good for the scan block of the routine: you can jot candidates without switching apps, which keeps you from wandering off into investigation mid-scan. The printable sheet has a 14-row daily sighting log on page one and two detailed trend cards on page two, laid out for A4 landscape. Transfer watch and report items to the CSV at the end of the session so the digital log stays the single source of truth.

What comes after logging?

Two more steps turn rows into recommendations. Place each trend in a lifecycle stage using the trend analysis guide, then score it with the Reel trend evaluation checklist and enter the total in checklist_score. If you are new to this, start with how to identify viral Reels, which explains each signal the columns capture.