Are you curious about how to make viral content? You may be under the impression that viral content is a result of good look and timing. And while you are at the whims of whatever algorithm you're posting to, there are actually ways you can create viral content on a consistent basis.
The little-known secret to viral content & rapid audience growth:
Writing for emotion.
This is how Twitter’s fastest-growing writers create content you can’t help but share. And today, you'll learn how to write viral content using tried and true principles that have worked for countless individuals. Use this new superpower wisely - because the reach you can achieve through these tactics is incredible.
First, here's why we recommend you learn how to create viral content on Twitter in particular.
Why Learn How to Make Viral Content on Twitter Specifically?
Twitter is arguably the easiest platform to build an audience on. And that's why we're going to teach you how to make viral content there specifically.
It's all because of the "retweet" button.
Every time someone retweets your content, you're accessing a new audience of readers that can retweet you again.
This is the perfect breeding ground for your content to go viral. And while no other platform has the same power as retweeting, you can create viral content on just about any platform - Facebook has a share button, Instagram allows you to share content, and so do platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, and more.
All of this is to say that you can learn how to write viral content on essentially any platform. Because really, it's not the platform itself that makes a difference: it's the strategy you use as a prolific writer. It's just a matter of creating content worthy of being shared.
How to Make Viral Content Effortlessly by Evoking Emotional Responses in Readers
So - you know that the secret behind how to create viral content requires you to create "shareable content". What is that, exactly? What is content worthy of being shared?
Simple - you must evoke an emotional response in your audience.
People only share stuff that touches them on an emotional level.
So whenever you have a content idea, slow down & ask yourself:
"What emotion do I want to elicit here?"
There are 8 universal emotions you can elicit with your content:
• NSFW: that's crazy!
• LOL: that's so funny
• OHHH: now I get it!
• WOW: that's amazing!
• AWW: that's sooo cute
• YAY: that's great news!
• WTF: that pisses me off
• FINALLY: someone said it!
Sometimes 1 idea can tap into more than 1 emotion.
But if your idea doesn't elicit any emotions, your chances of going viral are LOW.
No matter how actionable or analytical your content idea is, you can find a way to frame it in such a way that it triggers an emotional response.
Here are some great examples:
Example #1: LOL - that's so funny
Who doesn't like to be entertained?
Funny memes are a great way to add some humor to your content (and increase your chances of going viral).
You can do this regardless of your industry.
Trung's content is a case study on how to masterfully use memes in a traditionally serious & formal space:
Example #2: WTF - that pisses me off
This type of content can be a double-edged sword.
It's probably the most likely to create controversy and hate.
But it's also one of the most effective.
Use it wisely (and at your own risk):
Example #3 : AWW - that's sooo cute
For some weird biological reason, our brains can't resist cute stuff.
Depending on your niche or the type of content you create, this emotion might be hard to tap into on an ongoing basis.
But if you can, you should definitely take advantage of cute animal pics:
Example #4: WOW - that's amazing!
Everyone loves success stories.
They can be incredibly inspiring (and sometimes even teach you something).
The best part? There are tons of these in every single niche or industry:
Example #5: NSFW - that's crazy!
This is probably the hardest to recognize & tap into.
It's very similar to WOW - that's amazing! but with a (often weird) twist.
This was the best example I could find that didn't involve nudity or a creepy story:
Example #6: OHHH - *now* I get it!
In a world full of fascinating but overly complicated concepts & ideas, simplying is a superpower.
This type of content is probably the hardest to produce but also the most useful & rewarding.
Not just a great way to build an audience but also a forcing function for you to sharpen your understanding of the stuff you learn:
Example #7: FINALLY - someone said it!
There's something incredibly satisfying about reading someone say what you've been thinking (or feeling) for so long.
I think that's why this type of content works so well.
The tricky part is nailing the timing. Had Shaan put this out either 3 months earlier or 3 months later, this thread had probably gone no where:
Example #8: YAY - that's great news!
Finally, who doesn't like to hear good news?
Especially when they're about people you care about or look up to.
When you help people every day, they start caring & celebrating your wins as if they were theirs.
So if you're being helpful, don't be shy. Share your milestones:
Additional Tips on How to Create Viral Content
I'm sure at least 6 out of these 8 examples made you feel something. (If they didn't you are an AI disguised as a human.)
And that should be your goal next time you share a piece of content:
Make people feel something.
And while the advice above on how to create viral content is a great starting point, you should pair these tactics with other best practices for creating quality content online.
Use our headline templates to make sure you're hooking readers in. Use our endless content idea generator if you're struggling with writer's block and can't figure out an angle for the day.
And if you're going to try and go viral on Twitter, you need to optimize your profile beforehand. Learn how to write a twitter bio in our blog. Check out our full guide on Twitter writing - where you'll discover how to create viral tweets on autopilot. And if you've never created a thread before, you're in luck. We have a complete guide on how to write a twitter thread!
Wrapping Up Our Guide on How to Write Viral Content
As you can see, there is a very simple approach to how to write viral content on a consistent basis. It's not a result of sheer luck, or having a massive audience (although building an audience will certainly help!).
No - learning how to create viral content is just a matter of evoking an emotional response in your viewers or readers. That's it!
If you found this post valuable, I highly recommend you watch the video below.
Here Dickie, Cole, and Shaan Puri shared this framework as well as other tactics to engineer virality in detail:
Now that you know the secrets behind how to make viral content, what are you waiting for? Test these principles out yourself and see firsthand how effortless it can be to go viral.
If you want to learn more about digital writing, our blog is chock-full of in-depth resources to help you reach your full potential. You can learn how to become a freelance writer with no experience, how to start writing on Medium, how to make money on Quora, or how to write an ebook and make money. Don't keep the author within you locked up any longer!