Some tips to go viral on social media in 2023

Going viral on social media could seem impossible. Although, it doesn’t mean that you cannot do it. Okay, it takes time, effort, and willingness to experiment but believe us, unless you’re extremely lucky and achieve overnight success, you’ll need to put the work in. Thus, you’ll have a breakdown of what going viral means and still more important, how to go viral with some current tips that you should know. Let’s dive in!

What does going viral mean?

First of all, it’s important to highlight that “how to go viral” is a very different thing in 2023 than it was around the birth of social media. You see, back in the mid-2000s, going viral meant showing something funny (even dumb) and random on YouTube.

However, nowadyas, becoming famous on the internet means a video (sometimes a picture or story) spreading across the internet. Actually, nine times out of ten, it does so via social media platforms.

Moreover, viral content can be relatable, taboo, myth-busting, or just downright weird; basically, if it connects with people and gets them to spread it, it stands a chance of going viral.

How to go viral: 4 top tips

With a bit of context, it’s time to check out which are the most relevant tips for going viral. Keep reading to discover them!

1. Research the best kinds of video formats 

You always have to keep in mind that it’s fundamental to provide your audience with interesting content. That’s why there are certain video formats which are more likely to go viral than others. Here are some examples:

• How-to videos: These are the most common. In fact, how-tos and tutorials crush it on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and anywhere else you can think of. Why? People want to learn stuff. This can be anything from makeup hacks to woodwork walkthroughs.
• “What happens next” videos: We all scroll. You can grab viewers’ attention with a neat transformation video – hook them in with a before-and-after video of your home decor, food, crazy haircut or something equally intriguing.

Other formats you can try are “Did you know?” videos and those you can’t script, like coincidences, unfortunate timing, crazy natural events.

2. Keep on top of trends

At this point you should already know that keeping on top of it all is half the battle! Furthermore, the “Trending” sections on social media platforms are super useful, helping you keep your finger on the pulse and deliver your hot take before anyone else.

In order not to miss out on the latest news, you should onsider setting up Google Alerts or something similar. While it’s important to keep an eye out for trends, this goes beyond, as once you look at new memes, popular songs and more, you’ll have to be ready to deliver the best content before anyone else! 

3. Focus on a specific niche

This is perhaps the most important piece of advice we can give you. We know that the more general the content is, the more difficult it is to achieve a real impact. 

Therefore, before even thinking about going viral, you should find a specific niche to which you will offer your content. 

You’ll discover dedicated fanbases in every corner of these platforms. There’s BookTok, Metal Twitter, #fitnessjouney… tapping into these passionate communities and going viral there is somewhat easier, as you have an audience to work with.