Master the Art of Going Viral for Free: Step-by-Step Guide Inside

Going viral on social media seems to be the ultimate goal nowadays. Everyone wants their content to explode in popularity. Many marketers think going viral is just a stroke of luck, but the truth is, there are strategies you can use to increase your chances of success.

Sure, I can’t promise you’ll definitely go viral, but there’s some good news. Research has identified key elements that make a viral marketing campaign successful. I’ll discuss these elements, which any small business can use for free, provided they’re executed properly.

First off, no one shares boring content. Think about it—how many bland videos have you shared? Probably none. Certain emotions drive people to not just watch but share your content. Studies suggest that positive emotions are particularly effective in getting content shared. Viral marketing is all about creating an emotional response.

Ask yourself: “Would I share this if it wasn’t mine? Why would I share it—because it made me laugh or cry?” If your content doesn’t make you feel anything, it probably won’t go viral.

Focusing on high-quality videos and images is essential, but let’s dig into the key requirements for viral content. One crucial factor is giving people a reason to share your content. As Jonah Berger explains in his book “Contagious: Why Things Catch On,” creating Social Currency is key. People share things that make them look good, so your content should aim to achieve this.

Keeping your content current is another basic but often overlooked step. Viewers crave exclusive, fresh content that offers value. Remember when the Harlem Shake was all the rage in 2013? It was new and intriguing. Trying the same thing a year later wouldn’t have worked—it wasn’t fresh anymore.

Your content should also be relevant and easy for your target audience to understand. Think about why cat videos often go viral: they’re relatable and evoke emotions.

Understanding who your target audience is and where they hang out online is critical. Virality doesn’t happen by itself; you need to direct the right message to the right people.

Going viral involves several steps, starting with “market experts” or influencers who are familiar with trends and have a strong following. They are likely to share your content if it makes them look good and is novel. Once they start sharing, a snowball effect occurs, with their followers spreading the information even further until your content goes viral.

Novel ideas stimulate our brains, releasing dopamine and sparking interest. So, think outside the box. Traditional methods might bring in some traffic, but they won’t make you go viral. You need to do something unexpected to grab attention.

Choosing the right marketing channel is also crucial. The wrong channel means you won’t reach your target audience, won’t pique their interest, and won’t achieve virality. Timing is equally important—no one wants to watch a Christmas video in May. Launch your campaign at the right time and through the proper channels.

Lastly, this information will be useless unless you apply it. So go ahead, put these strategies into action and see how they work for you.