What Does Going Viral Mean? [ + How To]

Viral

What does viral mean?

For content to go viral, it means it has achieved widespread popularity very quickly across the internet, particularly on social media platforms.

Viral content typically experiences a rapid and exponential increase in views, shares, and engagement, surpassing ordinary content by a significant margin. This high level of engagement prompts social media algorithms to further promote the content, making it visible to an even broader audience.

How does content become viral?

Going viral is when an online piece of content reaches a large number of viewers in a relatively short time. Content becomes viral primarily through high engagement, including shares, likes, and comments from viewers.

Social media algorithms certainly play a role by recognizing these engagement signals and promoting the content to more users, often placing it in featured or recommended sections like YouTube's Trending section, Instagram's Explore section or TikTok’s For You Page.

What qualifies as going viral?

The view count thresholds for viral content can vary significantly by platform and we don't really know when videos are considered viral or when a platform recognizes its virality. That being said, here are some (very) rough numbers:

TikTok: A video may be considered viral if it garners around 1 million views in a few days, with top viral hits reaching 3–5 million views within a week.
YouTube: Viral status on YouTube often starts at around 5 million views within the first week.
Instagram: On Instagram, viral content typically reaches around 1 million views in a few days, though high engagement can make even lower-viewed posts go viral.
Facebook: A Facebook video can be deemed viral if it hits 3–5 million views within a week.

Is it possible to predict virality?

While predicting virality is challenging due to the unpredictable nature of user engagement and interest, creators can improve their odds by analyzing trends, understanding their audience, and continuously adapting their content strategies based on feedback and performance metrics.

How to go viral on social media

Going viral on social media is often seen as the holy grail of digital marketing, but it's a complex process that combines art, science, and a dash of serendipity. While there's no guaranteed formula for virality, you can significantly improve your chances by following these strategies:

Understand your audience deeply: Before crafting content, dive deep into your audience's preferences, pain points, and interests. Use analytics tools to gather insights about their behavior and engagement patterns. This knowledge will help you create content that resonates strongly with your target demographic.
Tap into emotional triggers: Content that evokes strong emotions - whether it's joy, surprise, or even controversy - is more likely to be shared. Aim to create posts that spark feelings of inspiration, amusement, or curiosity. Remember, positive emotions often drive more engagement than negative ones.
Ride the wave of trends, but add your unique twist: Stay alert to current trends, popular hashtags, and viral challenges. However, don't just copy what others are doing. Put your own creative spin on trending topics to stand out from the crowd. This approach allows you to leverage existing interest while showcasing your brand's personality.
Optimize for shareability: Make it effortless for users to share your content. Use eye-catching visuals, craft compelling headlines, and ensure your posts are easily digestible. Experiment with popular audio tracks on platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels to boost discoverability.
Collaborate strategically: Partner with influencers or other brands whose audience overlaps with yours. These collaborations can exponentially increase your reach and expose your content to new potential followers. Choose partners whose values align with your brand for authenticity.
Perfect your timing: Posting at the right time can make a huge difference. Study your analytics to understand when your audience is most active and receptive. Additionally, be ready to capitalize on real-time events or breaking news that relates to your niche.
Encourage engagement: Create content that invites interaction. Ask questions, run polls, or challenge your audience to participate in some way. The more engagement your post receives, the more likely it is to be boosted by platform algorithms.
Analyze and iterate: Pay close attention to which of your posts perform well and why. Use these insights to refine your strategy continually. Don't be afraid to experiment with different content types, formats, and styles to find what resonates best with your audience.

Remember, going viral isn't just about a single post - it's about consistently creating high-quality, engaging content that provides value to your audience.