What Does It Mean To Go Viral?
In today’s digital world, it seems like everyone is talking about “going viral.” From YouTube video stars to celebrities and entrepreneurs, it has become a buzzword for both everyday and prominent people who try to build their personal brands and networks. But what does it truly mean to go viral? This article explains the meaning behind the phrase, the process involved and what you should keep in mind if you are trying to make your content reach a large audience.
What is Going Viral?
Going viral is a broad term used to describe the sudden, unexpected popularity or widespread sharing of an image, video or piece of content. This can happen in various formats including blogs, social media, or email and is typically done without any payment or advertising involved. It is all about users voluntarily spreading a particular item among their networks and friends.
The driving force of going viral is usually due to a witty comment, clever visual or creative concept that other users want to share. When someone “goes viral,” it is because their content has spread beyond their own network and has been picked up and shared by others. It implies the content is popular, interesting and generally accepted, leading to a broad reach of potential viewers.
Why Go Viral?
There are many reasons a person may want to “go viral.” Whether it’s personal or business-related, the concept of having an instant, wide-reaching audience can be incredibly appealing. It is often used as a form of marketing, as a well-designed website, post or video could be shared by thousands of people in a mere matter of minutes.
For businesses, one of the primary benefits of going viral is the potential to draw attention to a product, service or company. Being able to reach a larger audience and make a defining visual statement not only increases the visibility of a business, but also appeals to a wider demographic. In addition, if the content becomes well-known and recognizable, business owners can incorporate it into their own logos and branding campaigns to remind viewers of their quality.
On a personal level, millions of people dream of going viral because it instantly validates them and even launches them into a totally new level of popularity. For example, many online personalities, such as YouTube stars and Instagram influencers, were able to turn their viral moments into business ventures, interviews and award shows. In this case, their popularity is not just momentary but more of a steady rise in fame due to the determined use of their newfound attention.
How To Go Viral
These days, just about anyone with access to a laptop or smartphone can create content and post it online. While it may sound easy to become the next viral sensation, succeeding in that objective is much more complicated than it looks. Going viral requires careful planning and a precise strategy.
The first step is to create content that is visually appealing, entertains or educates viewers and catches on quickly. This can range from comedic videos, to informative infographics, to tutorials, and so on. The key is to find the right balance of creative and informative that will connect to viewers and help them share it with their own networks.
Once content is created, it needs to be posted on the right platforms. For example, if you are sharing a funny video, choose outlets such as YouTube or TikTok. Companies should consider using LinkedIn or Facebook to post industry-related content, while Instagram and Pinterest can be used for more visual posts and stories.
In addition, it is important to remember the basics when aiming for “virality.” Be sure to craft headlines that will make people want to click, use relevant keywords, create catchy visuals and use interactive elements whenever possible.
7 Tips to Increase Your Chances of Going Viral
Now that you know what it means to go viral, it’s time to maximize your chances of achieving this meaningful milestone. Here are 7 tips to help reach that goal:
-
Take your time: Before posting anything online, be confident that your message and content are clear, compelling and worthwhile. The last thing you want to do is toss up something with no thought behind it – that will likely not get shared by your followers.
-
Connect with influencers: Rather than simply blasting out your message to your network, use influencers to get the word out. Influencers are people who have a wide variety of followers and can help by promoting your message, product or service across their network.
-
Leverage your networks: Networking is key to increasing chances of going viral. Leverage all the contacts in your list and share as much as you can with them.
-
Make a great first impression: Make sure first-time users are engaged and encouraged to share the content. Add clear calls to action, interactivity, strong visuals and interesting narratives.
-
Utilize social media: Utilize different social media channels according to their capabilities. For example, promotes with dynamic visual on Instagram, create informative content on Twitter and increase connections on LinkedIn.
-
Advertise strategically: Advertising should be done strategically, taking into consideration variables such as audience, budget and the platform. Use social media ads, search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, and link building to make your content more visible.
-
Monitor results: When going viral, it is important to track the progress of your content. Measure impressions, shares and how many users converted from viewers to customers. This data can help you continue to optimize your content and make improvements for future viral content.
Trying to achieve “viral” status can be a daunting task. While it is not easy and certainly not guaranteed, understanding the process and keeping in mind the steps to increase your chances can be beneficial in the long run. Crafting worthwhile content that people want to share, leveraging your contacts and influencers, monitoring results, and profiling your options on the right platforms and through the right strategies will all help to build a successful campaign and maybe even go viral.