In the age of the internet, it has never been easier to become famous around the world overnight. A funny moment, recorded on a video, is enough to be flushed into the timelines of billions of people. A share here, a like there, a link here and bang:
A spontaneous video, photo or word becomes a new internet hit overnight - a laugh or a stir that is forgotten again in two weeks or circulates as a meme on the internet for years to come.
But even if viral hits are often simply created and distributed in the right place at the right time, it is possible to initiate such hype on social networks such as TikTok, Instagram & Co. yourself with a little flair and creativity.
In this article, we would like to explain to you what going viral actually means and what tips you can use to go viral yourself.
As fast as a virus: the meaning of "going viral"
Going viral means that content such as videos, images or articles spread extremely quickly and widely.
Since the coronavirus at the latest, we all know how quickly a pathogen can spread - so it's no wonder that "going viral" has its origins right here: Content reaches a large number of people online in a very short space of time - usually because it triggers a strong reaction.
But what exactly does going viral mean? Can something be viral if it is not known worldwide? Is "going viral" subjective or are there fixed KPIs for calling something viral?
The answer to this is double-edged: on the one hand, going viral is subjective - what is viral for one person may not seem so for another, already wide-reaching internet personality. On the other hand, there are fixed indicators (KPIs) that show that something has gone viral, for example the number of:
- Views(Impressions)
- Likes / Upvotes / Reactions
- Shares
- Comments / Interactions
The decisive factor here is not only the reach, but also the speed of distribution. Content that reaches one million views or impressions within 24 hours is generally considered viral. In addition, viral content can usually be found across platforms once it has been distributed.
The importance of modern media for going viral: Faster, further, louder
With the advent of the internet and social media in particular, going viral has taken on a whole new dimension. Before the digital age, information and trends spread more slowly; word of mouth or traditional media were often the means of choice to build reach.
The term "going viral" as it exists today didn't really exist back then. Instead, people talked about popular phenomena or trends.
Today, going viral through social media has taken on a very fast-moving dynamic. Social networks such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube make it easy to publish and distribute content. But how do you manage not to get lost in the crowd, but to generate viral content?
With the social media TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, we would like to introduce you to the 3 most important online platforms for going viral and give you 3 tips for more and faster reach on each of these channels - of course you can also go viral on business platforms such as LinkedIn or on traditional platforms such as Facebook.
However, the platforms presented offer most users faster, more modern and more versatile options for achieving greater reach.
How to go viral on TikTok: The 3 best tips
If you want to go viral on social media, you should know the algorithms of the individual platforms and follow certain rules when creating content.
A well-made video on TikTok can reach millions of views in just a few hours and appeal to users all over the world. We would like to explain exactly how this works in our 3 TikTok tips.
TikTok tip 1: Trends - but authentic, please!
To go viral on TikTok, it's important to utilize current trends and popular hashtags. Trends on TikTok are constantly changing and joining in on a new trend can significantly increase your visibility.
Just think of successful challenges such as the #IceBucketChallenge, which reached millions of people. The so-called TikTok dances to current chart songs are also particularly popular.
But if you just chase a trend, you may improve your reach, but you won't become a viral hit. For this, it is important to stand out; for example, with an unusual location, a particularly funny, entertaining variation or by inventing a new trend.
As is so often the case, authenticity is the key to success here. Users on TikTok appreciate real and unposed content. So show your personality and be yourself to build a connection with your audience.
TikTok tip 2: Short and crisp - but high quality!
The maximum length of videos on TikTok is 3 minutes - that's not much, but it is precisely this fast pace that the platform thrives on. All content is played in the shortest possible time and therefore only requires an extremely short attention span from the user. Standing out here is therefore much more difficult due to the flood of information.
However, don't try to achieve a unique selling point with TikTok videos that are as long as possible, but instead focus on the greatest possible entertainment factor. Short, concise videos work particularly well on TikTok, as users want to scroll through the content quickly. So provide the most important information and entertainment elements immediately.
Also make sure the video quality is good. A video script and good technical equipment with cameras and lighting will make your videos stand out! You should also not forget subtitles, as many users watch videos without sound. Of course, make sure you use correct spelling and grammar. It is best to carry out a quick spell check.
TikTok tip 3: Interactions & views
TikTok is a platform that thrives on social interaction. However, due to the fast pace, you should not forget to remind your viewers to like and share before they continue scrolling. Ask for opinions and involve your community, e.g. by letting them decide on your next video.
The duet function is also a popular way to get more reach. Especially if you interact with well-known TikTok users, you increase your chances of going viral on social networks yourself.
As with all other social media platforms, the regularity of your posts is also crucial. You can't expect to go viral with your first video. Instead, find a category and post videos regularly to stay or become relevant in the algorithm.
3 tips for landing an internet hit on Instagram
Instagram is an extremely popular social media platform with a very broad target group. This is precisely why companies can hardly imagine life without this platform. It offers enormous opportunities for social media marketing and, with the necessary know-how and a pinch of luck, it's not that difficult to go viral on Instagram.
Here are our 3 top tips for getting as much attention as possible on Instagram as quickly as possible:
Instagram tip 1: Content for the eye
Just like TikTok, Instagram is also a visual platform - content in the form of longer text passages is of secondary importance here and can be published in addition to the photo, reel or story.
To stand out on Instagram, you can be a little wilder - because the competition doesn't sleep here either! As a content creator, you develop creative concepts and unique, entertaining content that stands out from the crowd.
Just like on TikTok, your photos and videos should also look good on Instagram. Visual quality plays a major role, as high-quality and aesthetically pleasing content is more likely to be shared. Invest in good lighting and make sure you have professional image and sound technology. Keep your reels as short as possible and choose appealing cover images that immediately stand out on the Explore page and in your feed.
Also make sure that you choose a consistent style or color palette for all your content that ensures recognition value. In this context, it is also important to always position yourself or your profile as the author, for example by using watermarks or links. This way, your viral posts can also be traced back to you!
Instagram tip 2: Trendy and relevant hashtags
Hashtags are an important tool on almost every social platform for quickly searching through content for specific search terms. That's why you shouldn't forget these short #keywords on Instagram when uploading content to the platform. If you trend under a well-known hashtag, you increase your chances of going viral.
But how do you find trending hashtags?
In addition to permanently trending hashtags such as #love, #instagood or #outfitoftheday, you can of course also use hashtags that match current events and are therefore frequently searched for, e.g. #germanysnexttopmodel. However, to avoid disappointing users who search for this hashtag, they should at least match your upload to some extent.
Instagram tip 3: Strengthen engagement
Instagram offers countless opportunities to interact with users; for example through direct messages, story replies or the comment columns under the uploads. Interact with your community and post stories regularly to create more interactions and increase your overall visibility; regular interactions with the community also improve brand perception for companies.
To go viral on Instagram, you can use the hashtag function, for example, to find posts similar to yours. Interact with these profiles, who in turn can repost your videos or even collaborate with you.
The more presence you have outside of your own feed, the more likely it is that your content will be seen and shared by more people.
How to go viral on YouTube: 3 tips
YouTube may not be a classic social media platform for many people. Nevertheless, the video platform is very well suited to going viral within a very short space of time. This is also due to the fact that YouTube is a Google service. YouTube videos can therefore even be displayed in the search engine results of the Google Search Console!
YouTube tip 1: Create attractive & captivating content
The quality of your videos is crucial for attracting and retaining the attention of viewers. To do this, your video should be well structured: start your video strongly and begin with a hook in the first few seconds that arouses curiosity and motivates your viewers to stay tuned.
Now tell an interesting story and choose a topical, controversial or little-discussed subject; build your video logically without losing the entertainment factor. Thoughtful content will keep your audience engaged for longer, while good editing, high-quality cameras, lighting and clear sound will convey professionalism.
YouTube tip 2: SEO & appealing thumbnails
Good findability and the visual appeal of your videos and thumbnails are essential for generating clicks and appearing in search results and YouTube suggestions. Research relevant keywords for the title, description and in the tags of your video to improve your visibility in YouTube search and on Google.
Nevertheless, the title of your YouTube videos should not just be a bunch of keywords. It is more important to have an informative title that arouses curiosity and motivates users to click!
Also design eye-catching, click-friendly thumbnails. They should be clearly understandable, visually appealing and at the same time match the content and context of your video. Added text overlays can be very helpful here.
YouTube tip 3: Regularity for the algorithm
Approximately 8.5 hours of video material are uploaded to YouTube every second (!) - no wonder you quickly disappear into oblivion on this platform. In order to remain relevant for the algorithm and to be displayed with your videos to both existing and potential new fans, a certain upload regularity is extremely important.
But don't worry: of course you don't have to upload a video every day. The most important thing is that you maintain an established frequency - be it once a week or once a month. To really go viral on YouTube in the end, more frequent videos are of course more promising.
Going viral via traditional media: known through TV, radio & print
So far, we have only talked about going viral in the online and social media sector. But did this fast way of becoming known really only come about with the Internet or can you also go viral via analog or traditional media?
In short: Yes, you can also go viral through radio, TV & co: Achieve a large reach in a very short time. Here are 3 typical tips and ways to go viral via the classic media of TV, radio and print:
These 3 options will help you achieve greater reach on TV:
- PR stunts: Extraordinary, media-effective actions can persuade TV stations to report on you.
- Interviews: Participating in popular talk shows or news programs will increase your visibility.
- Commercials: Creative and humorous commercials are memorable and can go viral.
You can go viral on the radio with these 3 tips:
- Interactive shows: Participation in interactive radio programs in which listeners are actively involved.
- Music and jingles: Catchy music and jingles played on the radio can quickly become popular.
- Sweepstakes: Organizing radio contests generates attention and spreads quickly.
You can also quickly increase your reach via the print channel. Here are 3 possibilities:
- Guest articles: Write guest articles in well-known newspapers or magazines.
- Press releases: Write interesting, well-worded press releases.
- Ad campaigns: Creative and eye-catching print ads can go viral.
Conclusion
Going viral is an art that is possible both on the World Wide Web and in traditional media. It requires creativity, authenticity and a good understanding of the platform on which you are operating. With the right strategies and a little luck, your content can also go viral and achieve an enormous reach.
At Timo Specht, we know the measures and have the tools you need to create viral content for your website. We offer tailor-made solutions and develop marketing strategies to make your content a success through search engine optimization.
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