Creating Content that Goes Viral

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When it comes to the content that you post, the best that you can hope for (and it certainly doesn’t happen all of the time) is that the content goes viral. Of course, you need to figure out what makes one piece of content go viral and another not. If you know the formula, you can make it work every time.

The many benefits of viral content

If your content goes viral, you will reap many benefits from that. One of them, of course, is a financial benefit. In that case, you will have done very little work and gotten tremendous benefits. Although “viral” used to have a negative connotation, it certainly means something positive (resoundingly positive) nowadays.

Which types of content go viral?

You may be wondering if your content fits into the criteria of viral content. There is a factor of unpredictability to that. The formula is certainly not set in stone, which makes the viral concept pretty elusive. However, you should still bear in mind that it is far from impossible. The simplistic approach is probably the most effective one in this case.

Getting people to “like” your content

People like or don’t like your content based on personal opinion. Of course, not all people have the same opinion. It is just a matter of your posting content that appeals to that particular individual. If your content really resonates with that person, there is a good chance that he or she will want to sing the praises of your content to another person, and then another person, etc. It starts with one person “liking” your content. It is strictly on a volunteer basis. One may seem like a really small number but before you know it, that one has turned into a significantly greater number.

If you do it right, the sky is the limit. You need to be aware; however, that promoting your content will most likely not lead to it going viral. Just as is the case with telling others how great you and your brand are, you are the only person who has no control over that. The power is in the hands of other people.

Your approach to getting your content to go viral

In this situation, the more simplistic your approach, the better your results will be. Of course, you need to start with content that is interesting (and as compelling as possible). It is all about how it resonates with others.

Humor is a really powerful element in content and if you are able to inject some of that into your content, it will get people to pay attention to what you are trying to share with them. If people find value in what you are saying, they will be very happy to share that value with other people who they know and trust.

Another important element in your content is genuineness. People really appreciate it if you are showing them who you really are and letting them know that you have their best interests at heart. The last thing your readers want or need if for you to sell them a bill of goods. They need to be able to connect with you on a human/emotional level. If you don’t feel that you are being genuine, they will never be able to buy into what you are saying.

Basically, you need to approach that relationship in the same way that you approach all of your other meaningful relationships. Just be yourself and make them feel like they are your top priority at all times. There is no doubt that you, in turn, will also get what you need from them.

Conclusion

It is a good idea to look at the content that you want to share from this new (viral) perspective and determine if your content has what it needs to go viral. There are several ways to get people to pay attention to your content, including using humor, appealing to other people’s egos, using powerful images, using controversial topics, and using really credible sources. If it doesn’t help, you can incorporate the concepts that were discussed here and hopefully, you will get the results that you are hoping for.

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Author

  • Michael Cohn

    Michael Cohn is the founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of CompuKol Communications. He has decades of experience in IT and web technologies. Michael founded CompuKol Communications to help small businesses and entrepreneurs increase their visibility and reputation. CompuKol consults, creates, and implements communication strategies for small businesses to monopolize their markets with a unique business voice, vision, and visibility. Mr. Cohn earned a Master’s degree in project management from George Washington University in Washington, DC; and a Master’s degree in computer science and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ.