First impressions matter. In the digital age, this axiom applies not just to people or storefronts, but to websites, streaming apps, and social platforms. When a user types in your URL for their 1st visit, you have approximately seven seconds to hook them. If you fail to deliver immediate, high-quality entertainment and trending content, that visitor is gone forever, likely clicking back to the infinite scroll of TikTok, YouTube, or Netflix.

The fusion of 1st visit entertainment and trending content is the new gold standard for user retention. Whether you are a creator launching a Patreon, a media company revamping a news portal, or a gaming streamer building a Discord community, this guide will show you how to curate a "sticky" first experience that converts curious strangers into loyal fans.

You have their attention. Now, you need to prove that today’s visit is just the beginning. Trending content is perishable. It has a shelf life measured in hours, not days.

To dominate the 1st visit experience, you must algorithmically surface what is trending right now. Here are three types of trending content that guarantee stickiness:

If your first visit is to a streaming service, the "Trending Now" row is your best friend. As of this season, here is the trending content dominating screens during first-time user onboarding.