What Is Viral Content?

Viral content spreads exponentially across the internet and social media in a short amount of time. Its impact is so strong that people share it massively, reaching a much larger audience than expected. But what exactly does it mean for content to be viral, and how can you make a post go viral to boost your brand or business?

What Does It Mean for Content to Be Viral?

Content is considered viral when it achieves a high number of interactions in a short period, far exceeding its usual audience. According to various sources, viral content on social media can achieve a 500% or greater increase in reach and engagement compared to regular posts.

On TikTok or Instagram, viral videos can rack up millions of views in just a few hours.

Key indicators that determine the virality of content include:

• Share ratio: The more it’s shared, the higher its viral potential.

• Engagement: Comments, likes, and reactions increase its visibility.

• Watch time: Especially important for videos on YouTube or TikTok.

• Rapid growth in impressions: An explosive increase in the first few hours signals virality.

Examples of Viral Content

To better understand how to make something go viral, here are some real-world cases:

• The blue and black (or white and gold) dress: An image posted on Tumblr in 2015 sparked a global debate about its color, generating over 10 million tweets in just 48 hours.

• Ibai Llanos’ New Year’s Eve Stream (2021): The Spanish streamer broke records with 2.2 million simultaneous viewers on Twitch.

• Old Spice’s Strategy: Their campaign "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" generated millions of views on YouTube and social media.

• The Ice Bucket Challenge: A viral campaign to raise ALS awareness that generated over $220 million in donations.

• Coca-Cola’s "Share a Coke" Campaign: Personalizing bottles with names created millions of interactions on social networks.

How to Make Content or a Post Go Viral

There’s no magic formula for virality, but if you want to know how to make a post go viral, these tips can help:

1. Create Emotional Content

Viral content evokes strong emotions—surprise, laughter, nostalgia, outrage. Studies show emotional content greatly increases the chances of sharing.

2. Leverage Trends and Popular Formats

Posting about current topics or using attractive formats like short videos, memes, or challenges boosts the chances of virality. Tools like Google Trends and TikTok Trends can help find opportunities.

3. Use Clear Calls to Action

Phrases like "share if this happened to you" or "tag someone in the comments" encourage users to engage and share the content—but only if the content is good enough.

4. Optimize for Each Platform

Each social network has its own best practices. What goes viral on Twitter might not work on Instagram. Adapt the format and tone to each platform.

5. Post at the Right Time

Timing is crucial. Publishing during peak activity times for your audience improves visibility and reach, no matter the platform.

6. Collaborate with Influencers or Key Accounts

Leveraging the reach of influencers in your industry can massively amplify your content’s exposure—what we call investing in influencers.

7. Use Storytelling

Well-told stories grab attention and generate more interaction. Good storytelling can make your content memorable and shareable.

8. Create Interactive Content

Polls, challenges, filters, and other interactive formats encourage higher participation, leading to greater reach.

In conclusion, understanding what viral content is and how to make something go viral will enhance your digital marketing strategy. By applying the essentials and analyzing viral content examples, you’ll boost your brand’s reach.

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