How to Create Viral Content on Social Media

Does your social media content not get the attention it deserves? Crafting viral posts is a difficult task that many struggle with. It often faces low engagement and minimal shares.

But, understanding your audience, strategic content creation, and promotion tactics can dramatically increase your chances of viral success.

This article discusses the essential elements of viral content creation on social media. We offer practical tips and actionable insights for social media marketers and content creators ready to capture their audience's attention and boost their online impact.

Understanding Your Audience Better

To connect with your audience, you need to know them well. Here are some simple ways to get a clearer view:

Advanced Analytics

Look deeper into your audience's traits with analytics tools. Understand their likes, dislikes, and habits. This helps create content that truly speaks to them, increasing its impact​.

Tools like social media insights and Google Analytics can reveal patterns in user behaviour and preferences that aren't immediately obvious. For instance, Spotify uses listeners' streaming data to create personalised playlists, enhancing user satisfaction​.

Segmentation

Break your audience into groups. Make detailed profiles for these groups. This helps you tailor your messages more precisely, making them feel more personal and effective​.

For example, Netflix segments viewers to recommend shows based on their previous watching habits, keeping them engaged and subscribed​.

Making Content More Shareable

To get your content shared more, make it stand out. Here are tips on how to go viral:

Interactive Elements

Use quizzes and polls to get people involved. When people take part in creating content, they more likely share it​. BuzzFeed, for example, uses this strategy to drive massive interaction and shares through engaging quizzes​.

Storytelling

Turn your information into stories. People remember and share stories that are good. This approach makes your content both informative and engaging.

Using techniques from classical storytelling, such as building tension, can make informative content more engaging​. Warby Parker’s story about revolutionising affordable eyewear is an excellent example of storytelling that enhances brand affinity and shareability​.

Deepening Emotional Connections

Strong emotions can make content go viral. Here's how to tap into those emotions effectively:

Nostalgia

Bring back good memories. Content that reminds people of the past can make people happy and share those feelings. Pokémon GO’s use of 1990s nostalgia effectively engaged adults who were fans during their childhood.

Curiosity and Mystery

Keep some mystery in your content. When you make people curious, they engage more. They comment and share to learn more. The "Cloverfield" movies used this approach by releasing mysterious trailers that piqued viewers' interest and encouraged sharing​.

Using Trends and Social Currency

Keep your content relevant and timely by using current trends. Here's how to stay on top of trends:

Real-Time Trends

Use tools to spot trends as they arise. Creating content that fits with current trends makes it relevant and share-worthy. For instance, many brands engage with real-time events on Twitter to boost their content’s visibility and relevance.

Exclusive Content

Give your audience something special, like sneak peeks or insider info. This will make your audience feel valued and encourage them to share. This is similar to how Patreon provides unique content for its patrons.

Optimising for Each Platform

Different platforms need different content styles. Here’s how to match content with platforms:

• For LinkedIn

Post professional insights and news here. It is a great platform for business-related content.​

• For Snapchat and Instagram Stories

These platforms are great for quick, engaging content that requires fast action. Use Instagram stories for limited-time offers or live events. The concept of a viral video in social media is prevalent in these platforms.

Promoting Your Content to Increase Viral Chances

Promotion is key to creating quality viral content. Here are social media strategies that can enhance your content’s visibility and virality:

Harness the Power of Influencers

Team up with influencers to expand your content's reach. Choose influencers whose followers fit your target audience. These influencers work their best to ensure their UGC content becomes the viral video in social media. It automatically attracts viral views.

For instance, a beauty brand might work with a famous makeup artist. This social media strategy can work better than regular ads, as the artist's followers trust their tips.

Optimise for Shareability

Make sure your content is easy to share. Add clear calls to action, encouraging people to share if they like what they see. Use tools that let people share your content easily.

For example, a "Share on Facebook" button can make it easy for users to share your content with their networks, increasing its reach and visibility.

Utilise Social Media Ads

Use social media ads to reach the appropriate people. Try A/B testing to see which Facebook ads work best.

Facebook and Instagram let you target your ads based on what users like and do. This ensures your money is well spent, maximising the number of people who see your content.

Engage with Your Audience

Talk to your audience regularly. Answer their comments and join in on discussions. This makes them feel valued and encourages them to interact more with your content.

Using automated tools for quick replies can help keep the conversation going even when you're not online. This constant interaction builds a loyal community around your brand.

Timing Your Posts for Maximum Impact

Post when your audience is most active. Use tools like Google Analytics to find the best times.

This helps your content reach the masses and allows the right people to see it. Think about different time zones, too, so you can reach people all over the world, attracting viral views.

Create Content Series

Keep your audience interested with a series of related posts. This builds excitement as they look forward to the next part.

For example, a fitness blogger might do a "Workout of the Week" series, showing a new routine each week. This keeps people coming back and can help your content go viral as excitement builds.

Feature User-Generated Content

Get your followers to send in their content related to your brand. Sharing this content makes your feed feel more real and can strengthen your community.

It also makes your followers feel part of the brand, encouraging them to share more. Running a photo contest is one way to do this: the best pictures must get featured on your page.

Following these strategies can increase your content's reach and its chances of going viral. Genuinely connect with your audience and give them content they want to share.

Wrapping Up

Creating viral content on social media involves both creative and analytical skills. It's like art because you must create engaging and unique ideas that capture people's attention. This means using the right images, words, and stories that resonate with viewers emotionally.

On the other hand, it's also like science. You need to understand how social media works, use data to see trends and plan your posts to reach as many people as possible. By combining creativity with smart strategies, you can make content that reaches a wide audience and gets them talking and sharing.

Ready to make your social media content viral? Connect with GrowthJockey today! Let our expert team help you unlock the full potential of your digital presence with tailored strategies and insights. Don’t just post; post with purpose!

FAQs

1. What role does audience analysis play in creating viral content?

Understanding your audience is crucial for viral success. It involves more than just knowing their basic demographics. Audience analysis helps you discover their behaviours, preferences, and pain points.

This information allows you to tailor content that resonates on a personal level, increases engagement, and enhances shareability.

For instance, analysing comments and interactions on previous posts can reveal what your audience finds most appealing or controversial.

2. How important is timing in the viral content strategy?

Timing can make or break the viral potential of your content. Posting when your audience is most active increases the visibility of your posts, thereby enhancing engagement opportunities.

Tools like Google Analytics and insights from social media platforms can help identify peak activity times across different regions, optimising your posts for maximum impact.

Additionally, aligning your content with current events or trending topics can significantly boost its relevance and shareability.

3. Can the type of content format affect its viral potential?

Yes, the format of your content significantly affects its shareability and engagement. Videos are more engaging than text posts, and live videos attract more comments and shares.

Interactive content like polls, quizzes, and contests can also drive high engagement, encouraging users to interact with and share the content.

Tailoring the format to suit the platform and audience preferences is key—what works on TikTok might not work on LinkedIn.

4. What are some common mistakes to avoid when creating viral content?

One common mistake is focusing too much on promotional content rather than providing value to the audience. Viral content often provides entertainment, useful information, or emotional resonance.

Another mistake is ignoring the importance of visuals and design, which is crucial in attracting attention.

Lastly, not engaging sufficiently with users who comment or share your posts can lead to missed opportunities to foster relationships and encourage further sharing.

5. How does user-generated content contribute to virality?

User-generated content (UGC) can greatly amplify the reach and authenticity of your social media efforts. When users create and share content about your brand, it provides social proof, encouraging others to engage and share due to the perceived endorsement from peers.

Featuring UGC can also make your brand seem more approachable and trustworthy, as it shows you value customer input and engagement.

Encourage UGC by running a hashtag campaign or hosting a contest where users submit their content related to your product or service.