We’ve seen it plenty of times before: ‘Teen goes viral for…’, ‘Business goes viral after…’, ‘Puppy goes viral when…’
Every other week, there seems to be a new story about someone or something going viral, whether it’s a business or an individual or a pet. So if it happens so often, surely it can happen in a way that’s beneficial to your business or brand too?
Well, yes and no. It’s true that with new social media platforms like TikTok, Threads, YouTube Shorts, it has become easier than ever to expand your reach and go viral across the Internet. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Going viral online remains an unpredictable achievement often governed by a complex blend of factors rather than a straightforward formula. The essence of virality lies in creating content that resonates deeply with a broad audience, compelling them to share it across their networks. This resonance can be sparked by humor, emotion, novelty, or even controversy.
However, the inherent unpredictability of public taste, combined with the ever-changing algorithms of social media platforms, makes it challenging to predict what will go viral.
4 Valuable Tips for Going Viral Online
Tailor Your Content for Each Platform
One of the worst things that a business can do when growing its social media presence is to treat every platform the same. TikTok is not the same platform as Instagram. Similarly, Instagram is completely different from X. Every social media platform has a different demographic that actively engages with it and different content, and therefore, different targets.
Understand Each Platform’s Unique Features and Audience: Begin by researching the demographics, popular content types, and engagement strategies that work best on each platform you intend to use. This understanding will guide you in creating content that is more likely to connect with the respective audience.
Utilize Technology to Optimize Content: If you’re adapting content from one platform for use on another, leverage technology to make the transition smoother. For instance, employing an AI video editor can help you repurpose an Instagram video for TikTok by tweaking its format, length, or style to better suit the audience preferences of the latter platform.
By tailoring your content specifically for each social media platform, you significantly increase the likelihood of engaging your target audience and achieving better overall traction with your content campaigns. This approach requires a bit more effort upfront but can pay off by enhancing your brand’s visibility and engagement across social networks.
This goes for any cross-platform content campaign. If you use the right tools to help you during the process, you’re also saving yourself some time since you don’t have to shoot the same campaign again and again for different platforms.
Stay Alert and Adapt to Trends
The other thing you need to do is ensure constant vigilance. When you see those news articles about a business or individual going viral, click on them and find out why they may have gained so much traction.
Keep a constant eye on trending content. What are people talking about on TikTok? What are the most popular hashtags on Instagram? If you’re aware of the social media ‘market’, then you’ll know how to capture its attention.
That’s not to say you should directly copy any trending content, of course. Use this insight not to mimic, but to inform your content creation, ensuring it resonates with current interests while still aligning with your brand’s identity.
Once you’ve identified a trend that aligns with your business, think about how you can engage with it in a way that’s authentic to your brand. This could mean creating content that puts a unique spin on a popular format or participating in a challenge with a twist that highlights your products or services.
Just remember, social media isn’t easy, and going viral is not something that’s guaranteed. But it can be done if you put the work in and strike it lucky.
Leverage User-Generated Content
User-generated content (UGC) is another powerful tool in your arsenal for going viral. Encouraging your followers to create content related to your brand not only provides you with free, authentic material but also increases your reach and engagement. Here’s how you can leverage UGC:
Create Hashtag Campaigns: Come up with a unique, catchy hashtag for your campaign and encourage your followers to use it when posting content related to your brand or products. This not only aggregates content in one place in a searchable manner, but also gives your followers the chance to be featured on your page.
Host Contests or Giveaways: People love free stuff, and hosting a contest or giveaway in exchange for user-generated content is a fantastic way to boost engagement. For example, you could ask participants to share a photo or video using your product in a creative way and tag your brand.
Incorporating user-generated content into your social media strategy provides you with a wealth of authentic material. It can also significantly boosts your brand’s visibility and engagement.
When done right, UGC can create a snowball effect, propelling your content to viral status through the power of community and shared experiences.
Engage Meaningfully with Your Audience
One of the most effective strategies to increase your chances of going viral is to actively engage with your audience. This doesn’t just mean responding to comments and messages—though that’s certainly part of it. It also means creating content that encourages interaction and participation.
For example, you can host live Q&A or AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions. Platforms like Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, and Facebook allow you to go live and interact with your followers in real-time. This can be a great way to answer questions, showcase your brand, and build a deeper connection with your audience.
Creating interactive content like polls, quizzes, and challenges are excellent ways to get your audience involved. Not only do these types of content encourage more engagement, but they also have the potential to be shared widely if they resonate well with your audience.
By fostering an environment that encourages dialogue and participation, you can make your audience feel valued and a part of your journey. This sense of community can be a powerful catalyst for spreading your content online across social media platforms.
