How to Write a Post That Will Go Viral

 

Every writer’s goal is to craft memorable posts that reel people in and leave them feeling like what they wrote made a difference. But, if you are ready to go beyond impacting your current audience by creating something that goes viral, we have pulled together some tips that can help you!

Great Content
It’s true, content is king. Think about the most recent post that you actually shared, versus those you didn’t read (or deleted as soon as it was in your inbox). What was it all about and what enabled that specific post to make the cut? Mashable noted, that people want to share things that make them look smart, while also honing in on “triggers” — stimuli like sounds and sights that remind people of related products and ideas. According to Upworthy, quality content is being delivered if you can answer yes to these three things:

1. Is the content substantive, engaging and maybe even entertaining?
2. If 1 million people saw it, would the world be a better place?
3. Does the content actually deliver on the promise of the headline?

 

So, as you begin mulling over your next post, apply those learnings to your idea. Make sure it’s fully developed and will resonate with your audience. Let these things guide you as you formulate your post.

Compelling Imagery
Even if your content is great, if it greets people as a huge block of text, they might be deterred. Break up the copy with relevant images, like this post about the history of the Mustang, where they placed pictures throughout their post. Whether it’s a stock image or an infographic you develop in correlation with the post, if it helps tell the story, it’s a huge value add. Sometimes, a picture truly is worth a million words!

Improved Writing Style
While what you are doing now might be working, think about how you can improve your writing style. Copy that is concise and easy to digest is powerful copy. Get to the heart of what you are trying to say faster by using examples, which also makes the piece more relatable. Do you have some key facts you want to drive home? Use bullet points to draw attention to them.

Attention-Grabbing Headlines
Don’t underestimate the power of a strong headline. Neil Patel of Quicksprout.com has some criteria that can help. Develop a headline that is four things all at once: useful, unique, specific and urgent. Carefully consider every word you choose and piece it together to make a headline that quickly conveys what the reader will gain by reading your story.

Time to Advertise
Once you have a headline to accompany your post, it’s time to promote it. Whether it is through Facebook ads or simply sharing the link via social media, every avenue used helps to increase visibility. Posting it on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is a given, but also submit it to sites like Reddit, Digg and StumbleUpon.

Blast it out to your friends, who will also help you in your effort. Have you thought about issuing a press release or asking other bloggers to help promote the post? Think outside the box to get the ball rolling.

Remember, the word “viral” is all relevant. If you are accustomed to getting 200 “likes” per post and you get 1,200 on your next one, consider yourself a success. If you don’t succeed at first, try again. Applying the guidelines listed above to get people’s attention and entice them to share, will put you well on your way toward viral fame, which will make a bigger impact in your readers’ lives.

Have you created some great content that went viral? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Photo Credit: Tim