How to Make Your Post Go Viral

Want to know how to make your posts go viral? It’s no secret that making it big on social media can be lucrative, especially if you’re publishing content about what people want and need. But to get the most out of your online presence, it’s important to connect with your audience in a way that fosters engagement and feelings of closeness—in other words, virality  Read on to learn how to set up your social media accounts so that users are more likely to share your posts, and how you can design content that makes them want to keep coming back for more.

Capture the right audience

If you want your content to go viral, you need a large, active base of followers. If you don’t have one yet, start by focusing on one social network and engaging with people who seem genuinely interested in what you have to say. When people respond positively and share your posts, keep replying, retweeting them,  and building relationships so that when it comes time for your content to go viral, they are ready and willing. It will not happen overnight; don’t expect instant results. Instead, work consistently over a long period so that when an opportunity arises where your message can gain momentum quickly through word-of-mouth or by being shared organically by others on their own pages or websites with their own audiences—you are ready.

Create a great headline

One reason why a post fails is due to a poor headline. It’s like writing your paper in such a way that it ends up being thrown in the bin by your professor. A poor headline will completely kill any chances of it going viral. And with more than 1 billion pieces of content published online every day, having something that stands out from all of those other pieces is crucial. Be sure you spend some time thinking about what you want people to take away from your piece and then use that as a starting point for coming up with an attention-grabbing title that gets people clicking.

Choose your social media platform wisely

Think about your target audience and where they hang out online. For example, if you’re writing finance or business-related post, your first stop should be Twitter. If you’re looking for eyeballs on a new gaming product, start with Reddit. If you want to grow an existing client base or create brand awareness, LinkedIn is perfect for distributing content over time—and when it’s ready. There are no hard and fast rules here, but don't spread yourself too thin—or risk diluting your message and giving readers a reason not to pay attention in the first place.

Use linkable assets

Linkable assets are things like images, infographics, videos, or audio. Incorporating any of these into your post means that someone who reads it can click through and get more information on their own. They may even decide to share your post with others after finding additional value in it. Try adding relevant videos and infographics in addition to links to other posts or articles within your content.

Write an amazing post

If you want people to spread your post far and wide, it needs to be good. Really good. Yes, that’s subjective—but getting as many eyes on your post as possible is about maximizing engagement, which you can only do if your content connects with people. It’s okay if some people don’t like it (criticism can be a healthy thing), but you should strive for a piece of content that inspires debate while at least maintaining interest.

Leverage your existing assets

Focus on what you already have and use it. In particular, look for opportunities where your current assets can help you in different areas. For example, if you already have a website, try writing a press release or promoting something you’ve written with related websites. If your business has a physical location, consider hosting an event or promotion to draw in new customers who might be interested in your business. This approach is great because it doesn’t take much time or money but could really impact your overall growth.

Get people talking about your blog post

Start a conversation on Twitter, Facebook,, or Reddit with a link to your post. Try asking questions that get people’s opinions and insight on your post topic. People love sharing their opinions, and they’ll be happy to do it in your comments section. Once you start generating a buzz on social media, others will be inspired to share your content with friends and followers.

Announce your new blog post on social media platforms

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ are good places to start. Include a short excerpt of your post in each update (as well as a link). Be sure that these excerpts are clickable so that interested readers can find their way directly to your post. Also, don’t forget blogging communities like Twitter chats and Google+ hangouts where you can announce your new post.