How to Go viral Overnight on Social media: 11 top tips
Imagine this: Millions of people watching your video online, sharing it with their friends, and making you an internet superstar! That’s the power of going viral.
But let’s face it, going viral can feel like a puzzle. How do you even get started? Well, don’t worry anymore!
Ever wondered what it takes for a video to explode online? This post will give you the inside scoop! We’ll explain what going viral means and share some awesome tips to turn your videos into viral sensations.
What exactly does “going viral” mean?
Remember those funny cat videos that took over the internet back in the day? Those were some of the first viral sensations! Today, going viral isn’t just about silly stuff anymore. It can be a video, a picture, or even a story that explodes online, shared millions of times across social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
Here’s the cool part: Viral content can be anything! It could be something you can totally relate to, something a little shocking, or even something that busts a myth you always thought was true. Basically, if it grabs people’s attention and they just have to share it with their friends, it has a shot at going viral.
Keep reading to discover how YOU can create videos (or pictures, or stories!) that have people hitting that share button like crazy!
How many views is viral?
That said, many folks (and even social media platforms) consider a video viral if it gets over 5 million views in a week. Think about it – that’s millions of people watching your video in just a short time!
But here’s another way to look at it: Imagine someone sees your video, cracks up laughing (or cries happy tears, or anything else that makes them feel strongly!), and just has to share it with a friend. Then that friend shares it with someone else, and so on. If that snowball keeps rolling, that’s also a kind of viral success!
So, the key takeaway is this: The more views you get early on, especially from people who love your video and share it with others, the better your chances of exploding in popularity.
Now you might be wondering, “How do I create a video so awesome people have to share it?” Don’t worry, we’ll get to that next! Keep reading to discover creative tips and tricks to make your videos super engaging and share-worthy.
How do you make a post go viral?
There’s not one watertight method for going viral. Some of the biggest hits are the results of pure luck, while others are carefully crafted. Keep reading for our top tips on how to go viral, tying everything together with some advice from seasoned content creator Los Vídeos de Félix.
How to go viral: 11 top tips
- Research the best kinds of video formats
- Keep on top of trends
- Focus on a specific niche
- Use keywords in your captions, hashtags, and descriptions
- Get help from established influencers
- Create relatable content
- Keep it short and sweet
- Post content regularly and consistently
- Spread yourself across all platforms
- Consider platforms like Reddit
- Don’t forget the music
1. Research the best kinds of video formats
Certain video formats are more likely to go viral than others. Check out the below for some inspiration.
- How-to videos: 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.
- ‘Did you know?’ videos: Similar to how-to videos, these little gems give viewers something new. It could be the origin of a popular dish, a long-mispronounced word, or even a little-known fact about a celebrity. These bite-sized truth parcels work a treat on platforms like TikTok, where almost half of all content discovery is driven by the need to ‘learn something new.’
- ‘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, wild haircut, or something equally intriguing.
- Videos you can’t script: Coincidences, unfortunate timing, strange natural events – it’s all got viral potential. If you’ve got content on your mind, keep your phone handy and be prepared to shoot at a second’s notice. Otherwise, you’ll miss moments like this.
2. Keep on top of trends
Newsworthy trends, TikTok challenges, hashtags that are popping off. Anything and everything – keeping on top of it all is half the battle.
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. These trends often get swamped with opinions and quality content – consider setting up Google Alerts or something similar, so you never miss the boat.
Trend-watching goes beyond the news agenda, though. The first step is keeping an eye out for content trends, new memes, popular son, and more. The real work comes afterward – you’ve got to jump on those trends early and deliver the best content before anyone else.
3. Focus on a specific niche
If someone says, ‘Make me go viral,’ they’re probably talking about the biggest of the big. They’re thinking of Charlie Bit My Finger. Keyboard Cat. The touchstones of early viral culture that appealed to everyone.
The trouble with blowing up like that is the success rate is so random and hard to nail down – the more ‘general’ content is, the more difficult it is to make an impact.
For that reason, it can help to find a specific niche. 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. You know what they like!
4. Use keywords in your captions, hashtags, and descriptions
Search engines and social media platforms use keywords to figure out what viewers want to watch. You can browse manually to get a feel, or use a sophisticated keyword explorer like Ahrefs. Here’s how to use keywords in:
- Captions: This is less to do with search engines and more with scrolling. Using the relevant keywords in your captions will give viewers an instant snapshot of what you’re offering.
- Hashtags: Trending and community hashtags can boost your content. Research hashtags wisely and don’t get spammy with them – only the relevant phrases should make the cut.
- Descriptions: Include relevant keywords in the title and description, but again, avoid falling down the spam hole. Don’t squeeze unconnected words in for the sake of it.
5. Get help from established influencers
This is easier said than done – you can’t just make influencers like Zach King give you a shoutout. However, features like Instagram’s Remix and TikTok’s Duets and Stitches allow you to repurpose bigger creators’ content within the context of your video.
You can use these tools to pique larger audiences’ interests, or even the creators themselves. If you manage to strike up a conversation with one of the big dogs, perhaps don’t ask for a collab straight away. Treat it like a regular online friendship – when you do ask them for a helping hand, they’ll be more likely to agree.
6. Create relatable content
Plan your content but don’t sound scripted. It’s a tough one to balance. Viral content often needs a structure, even if it’s something like a person walking across the hallway, slipping on a banana peel, and Mario Kart music starts playing.
Tell stories and appeal to people’s emotions. Talk to your friends or colleagues. What makes them laugh, click, share, feel, and follow? You can create random spurts of content and hope for the best, but if you want to know how to go viral, figure out the why.
One of many factors that help draw people in is music. If the soundtrack’s banging and fits the mood, the content’s more likely to resonate with an audience. At Epidemic Sound, we have more than 40,000 tracks to choose from – we’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.
7. Keep it short and sweet
Stick to the sacred rule: ‘Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.’ Keep it snappy. Some of the algorithms used by social media platforms boost clips that have a high completion rate – after all, it’s in their best interests to push content that people will actually watch all the way through.
Experiment with video editing, grab the viewer with a hook early on and don’t lose their attention. Try sticking between fifteen and thirty seconds if you’re aiming for a time limit – it’s short enough to sit through, but long enough to build a narrative.
8. Post content regularly and consistently
Social media platforms’ algorithms often reward creators who post regularly and consistently. Set yourself a schedule – or even start a content calendar – and let the algorithm know you’re active. Engage with viewers. Like their comments, reply to their feedback, and take their criticism on board.
9. Spread yourself across all platforms
Something might go viral on Snapchat, but it just doesn’t land on Instagram. Learning how to go viral on TikTok or Lemon8 will have different nuances and results than, say, if you’re working out how to go viral on YouTube.
And that’s fine. It’s a learning curve, constantly battling with an ebb and flow of trends from platform to platform. But make sure you cover all bases – reposting your content on each platform means you’ll have a solid opportunity.
10. Consider platforms like Reddit
Content often goes viral after being featured on Reddit’s front page. Be careful, though. You can’t just turn up on Reddit and post your video on day one – people won’t take kindly to it, as they may think you’re taking advantage of the community.
Join different subreddits, get a handle on what the people there like, and become an active part of that group. When the time comes to share your content, you’ll be seen as a valued member posting something cool rather than someone looking for fifteen minutes of fame.
11. Don’t forget the music
Viral clips often feature a song or soundbite – think of your favorite clips from the last few years, and nine times out of ten, it’s soundtracked. Keep on top of trending sounds with features like the TikTok Trending Music tool, which tracks popular and breakout songs based on location and timeframe. If you find a song that’s already doing numbers, you could jump on that popularity.
If you need more great music to elevate your content, try Epidemic Sound. Our catalog’s bursting with more than 40,000 tracks and 90,000 sound effects, all ready to use in your next TikTok video.
Ever wonder how YouTubers like Los Vídeos de Félix (who’s been around since 2006!) rack up hundreds of thousands of subscribers? We asked him how to go viral, and his answer is surprisingly simple: make awesome videos!
Félix says the key isn’t some secret trick, but creating content that viewers ACTUALLY enjoy. Whether it’s funny, educational, or just plain interesting, your video needs to provide value. Think of it like a super cool gift for your viewers!
But that gift needs fancy wrapping paper, right? A boring video will get skipped faster than a bad song. So make sure your editing and presentation are engaging and keep viewers hooked. There’s always a bit of luck involved (the YouTube algorithm can be a fickle beast!), but with these tips and some creativity, you’re well on your way to YouTube fame.
So, are you ready to be the next big YouTuber? Even if you’re a total beginner, there are resources out there to help. Check out the Epidemic Sound for YouTube page to see how they can supercharge your channel!
