How Many Views is Viral? Strategies for High Visibility

Wouldn’t it be nice if you woke up tomorrow and your wildest dreams had come true?

Yes, it really happened. You created an ah-mazing product, made yourself entirely too #available online, and finally went viral.

The next thing you know, your orders are too overwhelming to even keep in stock, let alone ship out on time. Oh, what a great problem to have.

Poor you, with too much fame and too much money. Whatever will you do?

ERT ERT ERT. 

Oh, sorry, that was just a dream. Head on back to reality town with me, friend. We’re here to talk about viral content. What it is, how to do it, and to ask the existential question of… do you even want it?

Splash some chilled water on your face. It’s time to learn all about virality.

What you’ll learn in this article:

• What is Considered “Viral” Content?
• Do You Need To Go Viral? Benefits of Viral Content For Your Business
• How to Go Viral: 11 Qualities of Viral Content
• Visibility Beyond Viral Content

What is Considered “Viral” Content?

Virality is subjective. A viral video to you could be a lower engagement video for a prominent content creator. 

Consider the average view ratio instead of looking at a specific number. For example, let’s say you currently have 300K followers, and your average views are around 4K. However, your latest post had more video views than your average (let’s say 100K). That would be considered a viral video. 

Conversely, if you usually hit 100K views, your “viral” threshold is probably closer to millions of views or more. 

Thinking about virality in terms of averages vs “hundreds of thousands” can help you make better strategic decisions. It can help you focus on metrics that matter (like profile visits, revenue, conversions, etc.) more than the final view number. 

For example, if your average views are at 10K, but you have 1 video that is at 500K and climbing, that’s your viral video. 

Knowing which videos are performing best can help you examine why that particular post was successful and how you can replicate that in the future.

Do You Need To Go Viral? Benefits of Viral Content For Your Business

Firstly – do you even need to go viral? I ask because making your goal “go viral” is almost like asking to never, ever go viral. 

Content often goes viral either by accident – usually from a creator who was “just posting without thinking” – or from a brand account that has worked hard at not working so hard. 

That’s not to say there’s no strategy for going viral; there absolutely is, of course. But I would caution against trying to go viral for the sake of it. 

From a strategic standpoint, you should always have business-centered goals at the heart of what you’re doing. Often, that includes something along the lines of “building authentic connections with your customers.” 

By shifting from “go viral” to “connect with customers,” your odds of virality increase. Why? Because viral videos connect groups of people together. 

Viral videos often connect people by: 

• Educating about a topic.
• Sharing something relatable.
• Entertaining with humor, art, storytelling, etc. 

Again, ask yourself if you need to “go viral” or if your bigger goal is to connect with customers, establish the brand, and ultimately increase your revenue. 

That said, here are some viral benefits to consider:

Brand Awareness and Credibility

Going viral can create an influx of new followers, helping build your target audience over time, establish credibility, and increase the likelihood that more people are entering your conversion funnel.

Remember, virality is part of a long-term game, and every post you create should serve the bigger picture of improving your growth and revenue. 

If you post without a strategy, your viral moments will be like one-hit wonders. Everyone will remember the video, but no one will remember the band – I mean – brand. 

Conversions: Big and Small

Viral videos are a great way to boost a sale or sell out of a product. When you develop a sales launch for a new product, you’ll want to consider how a viral video might potentially be helpful by driving users to that product. 

For example, influencer videos are fantastic for showcasing how something looks or works in real life, especially as people are researching whether your products are as good as you say. 

That said, make sure your profile is optimized to convert users to an email list or your website to get them into your funnel. You don’t want a viral moment to go to waste, so be prepared. 

Audience Research

Viral moments are fantastic for understanding your audience – old and new. That’s why it’s important to make sure your content is always relevant to your target customers and to use the best content to help you create even more great content. 

While it’s easy to say, “This service is for everyone,” I assure you it is not. There is always a person or two who could use your services more than anyone else. 

Use your viral content moments to see which content resonates with the most people, and then keep that momentum going by creating content for your target audience to keep your new fans engaged (which will help you go viral again in the future).

How to Go Viral: 11 Qualities of Viral Content

As you develop your overall content strategy, consider where your audience will benefit. 

If they’re interested in a topic, if they ask questions about the products or services you’re selling, or if they prefer one post type compared to another, always consider how you can genuinely give your customers a win. 

A win can be: 

• A laugh. 
• A nugget of facts. 
• A relevant, factually-based opinion you’d like to share.
• An update about the business or product your working on. 

Remember, there must always be something in it for your target audience.

What do viral videos have in common? By examining which pieces often go viral, you can use these tips to develop great content. 

1. Relatable

Viral videos are often relatable. They say something about a shared human experience. For example, your favorite Chik-Fil-A order or the nostalgia of Blockbuster nights. 

To use a relatable hook for your business, consider how people experience your product or service.

For example, every year, parents, college students, and Type-A personalities shop for new agendas. A relatable post for Blue Sky or Day Designer might look like choosing a new calendar, opening up a new calendar, or adding stickers to a new calendar. 

Telling stories – especially real ones like forgetting to check your agenda for an entire month – can resonate with people because they’re honest. 

Think about where your product can connect with your audience about truly relatable moments. 

Your goal is to create shareable content that will grow quickly and widely, so creating relatable content can be a great way to improve and grow your potential reach to a larger audience.

2. Humor

Not every funny video will go viral, but a lot of viral videos are funny. However, I would caution against trying to be funny if you’re not actually funny (I don’t consider myself funny, and it’s okay if you aren’t, either) or if your brand isn’t really “funny.” 

You can still be humorous and “on brand,” just try not to behave like a clown unless you want to attract an audience that’s always expecting a circus. 

Humor doesn’t always mean silly or goofy. You can still create humorous content that aligns with your brand without veering off into the “cringe” category. 

3. Unpolished

Viral videos are usually unpolished. Heavy editing or overly choreographed content can leave viewers feeling like the creator or brand is “trying too hard.” 

Instead, opt for a video style that feels a bit “unpolished,” as if you created it without too much thought. 

Sometimes, overly producing a video can leave viewers feeling like the content itself was created to go viral rather than the content of the video being valuable or “real.”

However, if your target audience does respond to a polished style, given the context of your brand, you should continue to create that content. This style is usually better for brands where aesthetics have become part of the brand’s signature, such as Anthropologie or other aspiring home decor accounts. 

Use your best judgment when it comes to how “polished” your posts look, and consider testing a different look or feel depending on the platform. 

4. Trendy

As they say, “Timing is of the essence.” (Who are “they,” and what do they know anyway?)

The most popular method for trying to make a video go viral is by following current trends, especially because they can help you reach a wider audience than you might typically. Brands and creators believe that by following a trend, they will potentially go viral, and that is certainly true, but with some caveats.

First, to go viral with a trend, you have to post the video as early as possible. If your turnaround time for content approvals is 1-2 weeks, you’re already behind, and trends are likely not the right tactic for you. 

To maximize on trends, post within 1-3 days, but preferably within hours. If you can get ahead of the trend, that’s even better. How? By using a trending app like TrendTok or ReelsTrends. 

5. Consistent

Viral content comes from accounts that consistently post content and use the platform for two reasons. 

First, those accounts have a warm audience and a warm algorithm. TikTok and Reels both favor active accounts, so you’ll see better results and viral content more often if you keep a consistent publishing schedule. 

In fact, most platforms favor active accounts, even Google (Google always favors consistent, fresh content over static sites). 

Second, consistent accounts mean engaged content creators and brands, and the more engaged you are, the quicker you can understand your audience and what content they favor. 

To increase the likelihood you’ll go viral, stick to a consistent creation and posting schedule. A content calendar is a great companion for planning content designed especially for your target customers. 

6. Aspirational

People want what they don’t have. Those viral videos of snack trays and meal prep videos you and I binge-watch despite ordering takeout? We love them because they look pretty and make the mundane look attainable. 

Aspirational videos are a great way to create content showcasing a product many times in similar ways and “feeding” the algorithm with consistent, relevant, and satisfying content. 

If your product or service has a deliverable or format that people regularly use, you can turn that into a consistent content type and deliver it regularly. If your content is good, people will engage and share your posts, and then, eventually, your posts could go viral. 

(Remember: engagement rate is one of the top factors rewarded by algorithms, so consistently good content with high engagement rates is key).

One more thing – it’s important to test this format before implementing it as your entire strategy. If what you’re doing isn’t engaging or “aspirational,” give it up in favor of what works best. 

7. Entertaining

What makes a post entertaining (and engaging)? Entertainment posts are usually a combination of the other viral content qualities mentioned in this list: trendy, relevant, humorous, and unpolished. 

Simply put, entertaining viral content is content that was created to entertain. 

When you’re considering what content to create to “entertain” a broader audience, think about what your current followers typically respond to, even if that content doesn’t directly showcase your product or service. 

Sometimes, you need an entertaining subject that’s brand-adjacent. This means that it’s not directly about your products or services but is relevant to your followers and their friends.

8. Message

Many viral posts have strong messages, which is how they go viral in the first place. Because they tell the viewer something “valuable.” 

For example, “This is how to do this exercise,” “This is a meal plan that works great for families,” or “This is how to annoy your dad.” From silly to serious, viral content often has a message you can quickly understand. 

What makes a post entertaining? Entertainment posts are usually a combination of the other viral content qualities mentioned in this list: trendy, relevant, humorous, and unpolished. 

9. Strong Hook

Similar to “messages,” viral posts often have strong hooks, which leads viewers to watch until the very end (which is where they get the message). Think of “hooks” as a promise. If you watch this video, I’ll tell you what I mean. 

• “Dermatologists have been lying to you about sunscreen.”
• “The next time your kid says no, do this.”
• “Is the weather really getting worse? Here’s what to know.”

These are all “hooks,” or the point of the video and the promise you will deliver to the viewer. 

Often, adding a great hook can take a boring video from meh to a-meh-zing. Think about why you’re creating content and what you want your audience or customers to take away from your content.

10. Transformative

A transformation video involves a journey from start to finish, like a home remodel, hair makeover, or workout transformation, for example. 

Showcasing a project or service from point A to point B (like ingredients to a cooked meal) can be a powerful viral format that many businesses can adopt for their unique purposes. 

These can be long-form content or short-form content as long as the payoff is worth it for the viewer. This means that you delivered what you promised. Nothing irritates a customer more than a transformation video that doesn’t show the final results. 

11. Optimized

Finally, viral content is well-optimized, meaning it uses the right contextual signals to help millions of people find it on TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts, or any other platform. 

Most social platforms include keyword-rich (but not stuffed) captions, popular hashtags (potentially), and sometimes text on the video content itself. 

Remember, some social media platforms have adopted search engine qualities, which is where you might have heard the term “Instagram SEO” or “TikTok SEO.” These terms just mean you’re using the right “metadata” to give the algorithm context as to what your content is about. 

For example, product review content should name the product name, brand, content type, etc. “Let’s try on the new Nike Air Max 47 in pastel pink.”

Another example is a recipe video, like “This Mojo-marinated air-fried steak is perfect for your next taco night.”

These captions (whether in the caption, on-video text, or in the audio), can be helpful for appearing in search engine results as well as in the TikTok or Reels search bar results, increasing the long-term life of your viral content. 

In fact, you might already have previously posted content that has viral potential and that you can quickly re-cut and optimize to test for better results. 

Visibility Beyond Viral Content

Now that you’ve made viral content, using that momentum to help you achieve your long-term goals is essential. 

Here’s what to remember:

1. Grow a loyal audience through authentic connections, serving people the content that entertains, inspires, and educates within your chosen niche.
2. Have a place for your followers to go next. Let them sign up for your emails, subscribe for new content, or make a purchase from your store. 
3. Stay consistent in your high-quality content and customer experience. It’s easier to keep the audience you have than to get new audiences, so every touchpoint in the buying journey matters. 

If you need more help with creating amazing content, get in touch with Socialhart. We specialize in SEO, content strategy, and content marketing for B2B and D2C brands across health, wellness, skincare, ecommerce, home, and lifestyle. 

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