7 Top Tips to Help Your Marketing Posts Go Viral
While it might come as a surprise, it isn’t possible to create content that will go viral. No matter how big of an audience you have, viral content almost always happens without any input.
However, by looking at viral content as examples, marketers have found specific guidelines that can increase the chances of your content spreading fast and far.
1. Make Sure the Title Stirs Interest or Awe
Far fewer people will click on the article if the title leaves a lot to be desired. It needs to cause the reader to want to keep reading because they’re curious and wonder what’s next.
2. Tell the Reader Upfront the Article Will Be a Quick Read
Nearly everybody is busy with one thing or another, and readers can be tempted if there are words like “fast” in the title. They don’t have endless time to read, and if you promise a lot of value up front, they will be interested in learning something new fast. Just be sure to follow through.
3. Include Small Asks for Your Audience First
Don’t hesitate to make a request for your reader right away. A request at the beginning might pique their interest. Adding them in at the end can work, but only if people stick around that long.
4. Have a Worthy Cause
People want to share articles that encourage others to think higher of them. The article directly reflects many things about the sharer. Sharing specific pieces tells an audience, “I support this cause,” so craft your content with this in mind.
5. Be the First to Figure Out a Major Problem
New technology comes out several times a month. If you’re the first to figure out a solution to an issue that a lot of people are dealing with, your content can gain a lot of traction. The topic helps and can be even more popular if a lot of people had misconceptions regarding the issue.
When the content makes the person look good when they share it, the post will get shared more. “Thought leadership is important, and when people participate in it by sharing, they are helping certain movements spread much farther than they would have without the extra help,” remarked Darren Miller, partner at D. Miller & Associates.
6. Utilize the Influence of Visual Infographics and Explanatory Content
Infographics are popular because helpful ones can convey a lot of material without using the typical long descriptions that blog posts do. Still, they have to be done right. An infographic is more likely to be successful if there is a wide range of appeal that isn’t niche specific. However, niche-based content still spreads on a smaller scale.
7. Gently Tug on Their Heart Strings
Readers who make an emotional connection with your article will appreciate it even more. Facilitate this as naturally as possible, and you can count on people organically sharing your article more than they would if they didn’t make a connection with it.
In summary, even though there isn’t a specific formula that produces viral content, these tips can help you increase the chances of writing a viral piece. However, don’t forget that viral content most often occurs organically.
