Posted by Creating viral-worthy social media posts is the holy grail of the digital age. It’s the dream of any business, brand, or individual to have their content shared and liked by millions of people. But what makes a social media post truly go viral? Is it luck, or is it something that can be planned and executed?
The truth is, creating viral-worthy social media posts is a combination of both luck and strategy. But don’t let that discourage you, there are certain tips and tricks that can increase your chances of creating content that will be shared and liked by many.
In this blog post, we will be discussing 7 tips for creating viral-worthy social media posts. From understanding your audience to using eye-catching visuals and storytelling, these tips will help you create content that resonates with your followers and has the potential to go viral.
So, whether you’re a business looking to increase your brand awareness, or an individual looking to grow your personal brand, keep reading to learn how to create social media posts that will be shared and liked by hundreds, if not thousands.
1. Know your audience
Creating viral-worthy social media posts is not just about crafting clever captions or using the perfect filter. It’s also about understanding your audience and creating content that speaks to them. That’s why the first tip for creating viral-worthy social media posts is to know your audience.
Knowing your audience means understanding their demographics, interests, and behavior patterns. It means understanding what makes them tick and what they’re looking for on social media. By understanding your audience, you’ll be able to create content that resonates with them and is more likely to be shared.
One way to research and understand your audience is by analyzing your social media metrics. Pay attention to which posts perform the best and which demographics engage with your content the most. You can also use social media listening tools to track mentions of your brand and see what people are saying about you.
Another way to understand your audience is by engaging with them directly. Ask them questions, conduct surveys, and gather feedback. This will give you valuable insights into what your audience wants to see from your brand on social media.
For example, if you’re a fashion brand, understanding your audience could mean knowing that they’re mostly young women who are looking for inspiration on the latest trends. Therefore, creating content that showcases your latest collections with the latest fashion trends, or using models that target this specific demographic would be more likely to be successful.
In short, knowing your audience is key to creating viral-worthy social media posts. So, take the time to research and understand your audience, it’ll be worth it in the long run!
2. Use Eye-Catching Visuals
Using eye-catching visuals is one of the most important tips for creating viral-worthy social media posts. People are naturally drawn to visuals, and they can make a huge impact on engagement and virality.
One of the key things to keep in mind when creating visuals for social media is to make sure they are high-quality. This means using high-resolution images and videos that are clear and vibrant. Poor-quality visuals can turn people off and make them less likely to engage with your post.
Another important aspect of using visuals is to be creative with them. Instead of just sharing a boring photo or video, think about ways to make it stand out. This could be by using bold colors, an interesting composition, or an unexpected angle. The more unique and captivating your visuals are, the more likely people are to take notice and share them.
In addition to using high-quality and creative visuals, it’s also important to consider the context of the post. For example, if you’re promoting a product, consider including a photo or video of the product in use. If you’re sharing a motivational quote, consider creating a visually appealing graphic with the quote on it.
Using eye-catching visuals is a key strategy for creating viral-worthy social media posts.
3. Tell Great Stories
When it comes to creating viral-worthy social media posts, storytelling is a powerful tool that should not be overlooked. People love a good story, and by weaving a compelling narrative into your social media content, you can capture the attention of your audience and increase engagement.
One of the keys to effective storytelling on social media is to keep it simple. You don’t need to write a novel or create a complex plot. Instead, focus on a single message or theme that you want to convey and use visuals and captions to tell your story.
Another important aspect of storytelling on social media is to be creative. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and come up with unique ways to tell your story. Whether it’s through a video, a series of images, or even a GIF, the more creative and unique your approach is, the more likely it is to capture the attention of your audience.
For example, a clothing brand can create a story of a girl who is going on a trip and show her journey through different images or videos and showing how the brand’s products helped her throughout her journey. This will be more engaging and relatable for the audience, as they will be able to relate to the story and see the brand’s products in a more natural way.
Or…
Let’s say you are a personal brand and you want to share your journey and how you overcame some challenges in your life. This kind of story can be a great way to connect with your audience and establish yourself as a relatable and authentic figure.
For example, you can create a series of Instagram posts that tell the story of how you started your own business, the challenges you faced, and the lessons you learned along the way. You can use a combination of text, images, and videos to bring your story to life and make it more engaging.
You can start by sharing your background, your passion and your vision, then go on to share the struggles you faced in the early days of your business, such as finding funding or dealing with rejection.
As you progress through your story, you can share the lessons you learned and the successes you achieved, highlighting key milestones and achievements.
Not just on Instagram, you can do this on any social media network.
Throughout your story, you can also share tips, advice, and strategies that have helped you along the way, which can be valuable for your audience, and help them in their own journey.
By sharing your story in this way, you can build a deeper connection with your audience and establish yourself as a relatable and authentic figure.
And (hopefully) go viral with your unique story.
That’s exactly what I did on my LinkedIn. I shared how I hated my mechanical engineering apprenticeship, and how I instead fell in love with copywriting. See below:
4. Use Humor
Humor is an often-overlooked key ingredient in creating viral-worthy social media posts. A good laugh can go a long way in catching people’s attention and making them want to share your content with their friends and followers.
I actually reached out to one of the industry experts for this one and asked why humor is great for social media engagement:
“Humor is the secret sauce to creating viral content on social media. It is the game-changer that helps you stand out from the crowd and connect with your audience on a deeper level. It’s the key to breaking down barriers and building a sense of community. With humor, even the most complex ideas become relatable and easy to understand. Plus, it evokes an emotional response which is essential for engagement and sharing. And the best part? It makes your content memorable and stickier”, says Ricky Young, Senior Marketing Manager at Promotional Product Inc.
But how do you make your social media posts funny? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, but here are a few tips to get you started:
Know your audience: Just like with any type of content, it’s important to understand who you’re trying to reach. What kind of humor resonates with them? What type of jokes or puns are they likely to find funny?
Be relatable: People tend to enjoy humor that they can relate to. Share a personal story or experience that you think others will be able to relate to and add a touch of humor to it.
Keep it simple: A clever pun or a well-timed meme can be just as effective as a long-winded story. Don’t overthink it, keep it simple and to the point.
Use pop culture references: Pop culture references can be a great way to make your content relatable and funny. Just make sure you know your audience and what references they’re likely to get.
Don’t be afraid to take a risk: Sometimes the most viral-worthy posts are the ones that push the boundaries a little. Don’t be afraid to try something a little different or unexpected, you never know what might just take off! (Controversies, you know!)
Just keep it relatable, simple, and appropriate for your audience. You don’t have to force it if humor doesn’t align with you or your brand.
5. Timing is Everything
Timing is everything when it comes to creating viral-worthy social media posts. Just like in real life, timing is everything in the digital world too. Have you ever noticed how some posts seem to take off while others fall flat? Timing can be the difference between a post that gets lost in the shuffle and one that reaches thousands or even millions of people.
When it comes to timing, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is to think about when your audience is most active on social media. Are they early birds or night owls? Are they checking their feeds during their lunch breaks or on their commutes? Knowing when your audience is most active can help you time your posts for maximum engagement.
Another thing to consider is the timing of events or holidays. Is there a big event happening in your industry or a holiday coming up? These can be great opportunities to create posts that are relevant and timely. For example, if it’s Christmas time, you can create posts about gift ideas or holiday traditions that your audience can relate to.
Finally, it’s important to consider the timing of your own content. If you’re consistently posting at the same time every day or week, your audience will start to expect your posts and will be more likely to engage with them.
Plus, social media networks’ algorithms will start to pick up your posts and pump them in relevant feeds if you stay consistent with your timing.
6. Use Hashtags and Tags
When it comes to creating viral-worthy social media posts, using hashtags and tags can make all the difference. Hashtags and tags allow your post to reach a larger audience and increase its visibility on the platform. They also make it easier for users to discover and engage with your content.
But, don’t just use any hashtags or tags. Be strategic in your choices. Use hashtags that are relevant to your content and your target audience.
For example, if you’re a fashion brand posting about a new collection, use hashtags related to fashion and the specific collection. Also, consider using popular, trending hashtags that align with your content to increase the visibility of your post.
In addition to hashtags, tagging other accounts in your post can also increase engagement. Tagging influencers or other brands in your post can help increase visibility and engagement. This is because the accounts you tag will be notified of the post, and their followers will also see it.
But, don’t overdo it. Using too many hashtags and tags can make your post look spammy and decrease engagement. Stick to using a few relevant hashtags and tags that will help your post reach the right audience.
By being strategic in your choices and using them in moderation, you can increase visibility and engagement on your posts, and take your content to the next level.
7. Engage, Engage, Engage
I can’t stress this enough. Engaging with your audience is one of the most important aspects of creating viral-worthy social media posts. After all, a post that receives hundreds or even thousands of likes and shares is only truly successful if it also generates meaningful engagement and conversation.
One way to increase engagement on your social media posts is to ask open-ended questions. This can be as simple as asking your followers their opinion on a particular topic or sharing a thought-provoking quote and asking for their thoughts.
That encourages your audience to share their own perspectives and experiences, creating a sense of community and encouraging further engagement.
Another effective engagement strategy is to hold social media contests or giveaways. This can be a fun and interactive way to encourage engagement and increase brand awareness.
For example, you could ask your followers to share a post, tag friends, or use a specific hashtag for a chance to win a prize.
Creativity is also key when it comes to engaging with your audience. Think outside the box and come up with unique and interesting ways to interact with your followers.
For example, you could create a social media scavenger hunt, share behind-the-scenes content, or host a virtual event. The possibilities are endless, and the more creative and unique your approach, the more likely it is to generate engagement and go viral.
Remember, a post that receives thousands of likes and shares is only truly successful if it also generates meaningful engagement and conversation.
The Takeaway
Creating viral-worthy social media posts requires a combination of understanding your audience, using eye-catching visuals, storytelling, humor, timing, hashtags, tags, and engagement.
The most important takeaway is to be creative, simple, and opinionist.
Remember that social media is constantly evolving and it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest best practices. Keep experimenting with different types of content, and don’t be afraid to express your own unique voice and perspective.