The holy grail of the digital age is producing social media content that goes viral. Every company, brand, and person want their content to be shared and liked by millions of people. However, what actually causes a social media post to go viral? Is it luck, or can it be planned and carried out?
The truth is that coming up with social media content that goes viral takes both chance and planning. But don’t let that get you down; there are some strategies you can use to improve your chances of producing content that is widely shared and appreciated.
Creating viral-worthy social media posts is not an exact science, but there are several strategies you can use to increase the likelihood that your content will go viral.
Here are some tips.
Know Your Audience
Understanding who your target audience is and what they are interested in is crucial to creating content that resonates with them. Research your audience’s demographics, interests, and online behavior to gain insights into what they like and how they interact with social media.
Listen to what your audience is saying on social media, and join in on the conversation. Follow relevant hashtags, keywords, or topics related to your industry to understand their needs, concerns, and opinions.
Use social media analytics metrics to learn which posts perform better and which demographics interact with your content the most.
Engaging with your audience directly is another way to better understand them. Survey them, ask them questions, and get their opinions. This will provide you with important insights into what your audience wants to see on social media from your brand.
Use Attention-Grabbing Headlines
Use short, catchy headlines that grab attention and create curiosity. Consider using humor, controversy, or emotion to get people’s attention. Here are a few writing tips:
- Keep it short and sweet: Headlines should be short and to the point, ideally no longer than 10-12 words.
- Use strong verbs: Use strong action words to create a sense of excitement and urgency. For example, “Discover,” “Uncover,” “Reveal,” “Revolutionize.”
- Use numbers: Including numbers in your headlines can increase engagement by making your content feel more concrete and specific. For example, “10 ways to…” or “5 tips for…”
- Ask a question: Asking a question in your headline can encourage engagement by prompting the reader to think about their own experiences or opinions. For example, “Have you ever wondered…”
- Use emotion: Using emotive language can create a sense of excitement, urgency, or curiosity. For example, “Don’t miss out on…”, “Amazing”, “Incredible”
- Be specific: Use specific language that gives readers a clear idea of what they can expect from your content. For example, “How to…”, “The ultimate guide to…”, “Step-by-step tutorial…”
Create Visually Appealing Content
Social media is a visual platform, and creating visually appealing content is essential for grabbing attention. Use high-quality images that are clear and visually appealing. Avoid using blurry or low-quality images as they can negatively impact the overall aesthetic of your content.
Graphics, animations, and infographics to make your content more engaging and visually appealing. You can use tools such as Canva, Adobe Spark, or Piktochart to create graphics and infographics easily.
Videos are a highly engaging form of content and can help you grab your audience’s attention. Create short and informative videos to convey your message effectively.
Lastly, keep it simple. Keeping your designs clean, simple, and easy to understand will avoid cluttering your designs with too many elements or text which can make your content difficult to read and understand.
Make It Shareable
Making your content easily sharable on social media can help increase its reach and engagement.
Adding social media sharing buttons to your website, blog, or other online platforms to make it easy for people to share your content. Use visually appealing graphics or videos that are easy to share on social media platforms. Make sure your graphics are optimized for each platform and include a clear call-to-action.
Keep your content short and to the point, making it easy for people to read and share quickly. Use short, snappy headlines and bullet points to break up your content into digestible chunks.
Encourage your followers to share your content by including social media sharing prompts at the end of your content. For example, “Share this post with your friends!” or “Don’t forget to tag us in your posts!”
Using relevant hashtags in your content will make it more discoverable on social media platforms. This can increase the chances of your content being shared and seen by a wider audience.
Don’t forget to make it mobile-friendly. Make sure your content is optimized for mobile devices, as a large portion of social media users access social media on their mobile devices.
Engagement is the Key
Engaging with your audience on social media is essential for building relationships, increasing brand awareness, and driving engagement.
Respond to comments and direct messages in a timely and personalized manner. This shows your audience that you value their input and care about their experiences with your brand.
Alternatively, you can ask questions to encourage engagement and start a conversation with your audience. This can help you gain insights into their interests and preferences.
You should also share user-generated content to show your appreciation for your audience and encourage them to engage with your brand. This can also help you showcase your products or services in an authentic way.
Create valuable and informative content that your audience will find useful and shareable. This can help you establish your brand as a thought leader and increase your credibility and authority in your industry.
Don’t forget to be authentic and human in your interactions with your audience. This builds trust and establishes a strong emotional connection with your followers.
Bottom Line
It takes a combination of knowing your audience, using attention grabbing headlines, visually appealing content, being sharable and engagement to produce social media content that goes viral.
The most important thing to remember is to be original, direct, and opinionated. Keep in mind that social media is constantly changing, so it’s critical to stay current with the most recent best practices. Continue experimenting with various content types, and don’t be shy about expressing your own voice and unique perspective.
