Do you really want to go viral? Let’s talk about the Unicorn of Social Media: Going Viral”

Welcome to the Small and Supercharged podcast! In this solo episode, I explore the concept of social media virality, talk about what it means to go viral, why people are obsessed with it, and whether it should be the aim of our content.

 

I was recently on the radio discussing the topic of going viral, and did a dive into the pros of reaching the right audience versus any audience. Because that’s the think. When content goes viral, it can extend way beyond your audience, beyond your audience’s audience, and out to thousands and thousands (or even millions) of people who aren’t ‘your people’. This can apply to various forms of viral content, including videos, memes, and photographs.

Is going viral predictable?

In this episode, chat about the importance of understanding the unpredictability of virality and how it often hinges on the shareability and uniqueness of the content. I also discuss the challenges of defining what constitutes a viral post and whether there are different levels of virality based on individual account metrics (spoiler alert, I’d say there are!)

Why do people want to go viral?

The podcast touches on the reasons why people desire to go viral, including increased exposure, potential opportunities, and positive impacts on personal branding. I do understand the excitement of content taking on a life of its own and spreading rapidly, I really do- this podcast isn’t a negative one about the subject, it just ‘unpacks’ it in. more detail.

The discussion also covers the difficulty in predicting what will go viral and the lack of a foolproof formula for achieving virality. I also talk about what I advise content creators to do, and that’s to focus on putting out their best content, staying true to their brand, and analysing previous successful content to understand audience preferences.

Due to the unpredictable nature of going viral, if you do create a piece of unicorn content, then I’d definitely look to enjoy the ride. That said, see content going viral as a nice to have, the aligns with your account and purpose, but the overriding objective being to build your brand and increase your reach through engaging with your fans and followers via quality engagement.

Shameless plug!

If you’re interested in social media tips and building your brand on a budget, don’t forget to check out my book, “Small and Supercharge: Small Steps to Supercharge Your Brand on a Budget,” available on Amazon.