How to Create Viral Content for Maximum Engagement

Pascalle van Sprundel
Apr 15
5 min read

Information in this blog post was obtained from https://neilpatel.com, https://hubspot.com, https://sproutsocial.com.

A computer with a magnet attracting likes — Image Courtesy of Google Images

You’ve just launched one of your BEST social media campaigns (in your opinion), and you’re hoping to capture the attention of thousands and potentially grow the social media account(s). You’ve poured in a lot of hard work, used all your creativity, and spent time researching, yet your content doesn’t get the engagement you hoped for.

What went wrong? And how can you avoid this from happening again? But more importantly, how can you ensure your next post creates maximum engagement? Whether you’re a student or a digital marketing strategist aiming to create a winning social media strategy, understanding how to create viral content is essential.

In this blog post, I’ll share the key strategies behind viral content. First, I’ll discuss the critical elements that make content shareable. Next, I’ll dive into expert insights from industry leaders on proven viral content strategies. Finally, I’ll provide actionable tips to help you craft your next viral campaign.

What Makes Content Go Viral?

Going viral isn’t just about “pure luck”. It’s a science. According to Neil Patel in his article "How to Create Viral Content That Generates 2,500 Visitors Per Day", viral content often follows a pattern of high emotional impact, relatability, and strong storytelling. Patel highlights three essential components of viral content:

Emotionally Charged Content 😭: Posts that evoke strong emotions such as joy, surprise, or even anger are more likely to be shared.
Relatable & Shareable Messaging📲: Content that resonates with the audience’s personal experiences has a higher chance of being shared.
Strategic Promotion 🤓: Leveraging influencers, partnerships, and multiple platforms increases the likelihood of virality.

Similarly, Sprout Social’s article, "How to Go Viral: 9 Steps to Increase Your Audience Reach", emphasizes the importance of audience analysis. Understanding your audience’s preferences, posting at optimal times, and leveraging trending topics significantly boost engagement.

Analyzing audience engagement data can provide valuable insights into what type of content works best. Social media platforms offer analytics tools that help track interaction rates, peak engagement times, and audience demographics.

Timing is another factor that directly influences engagement and shareability. Posting when an audience is most active increases the chances of immediate interaction, which signals algorithms to promote the content further. But remember, different platforms have varying peak times. For example: LinkedIn audiences engage during work hours, while Instagram and TikTok users are typically more active in the evenings.

Keeping up with trending content is equally important. Topics of content that tap into current discussions, viral challenges, or industry trends are more likely to gain traction. Even if they are time dependant, these can create great in the moment engagement for your platform. Social listening tools can help identify emerging trends, allowing content creators to craft timely posts that align with what audiences are already talking about.

Let me recap that for you in a short list that you can have on you at all times when creating your next piece of (viral) content:

Consistently analyzing audience engagement data.
Post during your audience’s ‘active hours’.
Keep up with trendy content.

A phone with people sitting around spreading messages — Image Courtesy of Google Images

Viral Content Posting: Insights from Experts

The Role of Timing & Distribution

Larry Kim, in his HubSpot article "10 Tips I Learned About Creating Viral Campaigns", stresses the significance of timing and distribution. He explains that even the best content can go unnoticed without a strong distribution plan. Basically saying that after spending hours researching and creating that one piece of content, there is a bit more research to be done. Where and when are you going to be posting your content? Larry Kim shared that figuring out when and where your target audience is consuming content is key. Here are some more of his key takeaways:

Post When Your Audience is Active 📈: Identify peak engagement times using analytics tools. Make sure to analyze every platform you are posting your content on. Timing differs on every platform.
Engage with Industry Publications 📰: Connecting with high-traffic websites can give your content more visibility. It’s kind of like making new friends. Simply showing up doesn’t often lead to a blooming friendship. Step up, connect with others in your industry.
Build an Email List 📧: Direct outreach through email marketing can significantly amplify reach. Even if this is not directly related to social media content, your email list can be built using social media platforms.

If you are a (senior) marketing student balancing coursework and internships, and wanting to build your personal brand, these strategies can be applied by focusing on concise, high-quality content that aligns with academic and career interests. But if you are a digital marketing strategist, and you are looking to boost your business engagement, you can use these insights to refine company campaigns and enhance engagement metrics.

Actionable Tips for Viral Social Media Content

After analyzing different strategies and tips from various experts, it is time to figure out how you can put these strategies into action. There are numerous articles to be found on creating the perfect viral content strategy for maximum engagement, yet not all are as easy to put into place. If you’re looking to boost social media reach and engagement, here are some tried-and-tested (and easily applicable) techniques:

Craft a Compelling Hook – The first few seconds determine whether someone engages or scrolls past your content. When creating your content, think “would I stop and watch or would I keep scrolling?”. And if you can, make it as emotional as possible to catch their attention.
Use High-Quality Visuals – Posts with eye-catching images or videos perform significantly better.
Leverage User-Generated Content – Encourage your audience to share their experiences using a branded hashtag. It can be difficult to create amounts of content by yourself (or with your team), so don’t hesitate to use what is already there!
Collaborate with Influencers – Partnering with micro-influencers can help reach niche audiences. One great way to partner with influencers is creating content surrounding a giveaway. This creates a ton of engagement and brand awareness.
Encourage Engagement – Ask questions, run polls, and create interactive content. Don’t just post your content and expect for engagement to magically happen. Make your followers and viewers feel as though they are of high importance to you or your brand.

A girl sitting on a beanbag and scrolling through social media platforms — Image Courtesy of Google Images

Conclusion

Now that we’ve explored the key strategies behind viral content, remember that understanding how to create viral content is essential for businesses and individuals alike, whether you're looking to boost engagement or simply connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Creating viral content isn’t about guesswork or luck, it’s about strategy. By understanding emotional triggers, optimizing content timing, and using expert strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of going viral and increasing engagement. Now that I have discussed the key ingredients to curating viral content, explored different strategies from leading marketers, and provided actionable tips for your next campaign, it’s time for you to take action.

Whether you’re eager to break into the marketing industry or looking to refine your company’s content strategy, these insights will help you take your social media game to the next level. Now it’s time to put these tips into action and watch your engagement numbers skyrocket!