9 Ways to Go Viral on Social Media (Tips + Examples)

You’re scrolling through social media when suddenly – a post grabs your attention. It’s everywhere. Likes, shares, comments, and reactions are flooding. And it hits you – “How did this go viral?” Virality often feels like enchantment, but there’s a formula behind it. Whether it’s a laugh-out-loud meme, a life-changing topic, or a trending dance, successful content creators didn’t just get lucky—they use proven strategies that work.

In a world where social media is in the spotlight, every creator, brand, and business tends to outshine.

According to Statista, music videos have the most extensive global reach among all content categories, so the potential to go viral is massive.

But here’s the catch—many brands chase viral moments without proper planning to keep their audience engaged or hooked.

The key to imperishable success? A balanced approach that connects viral-worthy content with brilliant strategies to build steady engagement and brand loyalty.

By creating content that’s shareable, relatable, and packed with value, you can utilize any viewers into an engaged community – no gimmicks, just strategy!

This blog unpacks the ways to go viral on social media – breaking down proven tips, examples, and other secrets to help you skyrocket your engagement. Let’s get started!

1. Understand the Science Behind Virality

Virality refers to content that rapidly spreads across social media, engaging millions and billions quickly. It prospers on capturing attention and motivating audiences to share with their network. Virality isn’t random—it’s rooted in concepts like emotional appeal, relatability, and punctuality.

Why Does It Matter?

Understanding the science behind virality is crucial because it gives you a blueprint for crafting shareable content. When you understand what triggers engagement, you can craft posts that connect emotionally, get shared widely, and amplify your brand’s transparency.

Viral Example

The “Wednesday Addams Dance Trend” on YouTube Shorts, inspired by the Netflix series Wednesday, is an outstanding example of virality. The dance, performed by Jenna Ortega in the series, became a cultural event due to its nostalgic inclination to ’80s music (Goo Goo Muck by The Cramps), its quirky and identifiable dance moves, and its shareability.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Massive Participation: Millions recreated the dance on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.
• Branding: Fashion, music, and entertainment brands dived in, creating their own versions to boost engagement.
• Cultural Recognition: The trend became so viral that Netflix had to officially launch BTS footage to encourage the hype.
• Memes & Remixing: Viewers remixed the clip with music and edits to keep the trend alive for weeks.
• Interest in the show: Wednesday became one of Netflix’s most-watched Series, proving how virality can drive content success.

Actionable Insights:

• Define Virality for Your Niche: Identify what virality looks like in your industry. Is it high engagement, shares, or a surge in traffic?
• Tap into the Psychology of Sharing:
• Leverage emotions like joy, surprise, or nostalgia to connect with viewers.
• Ensure content feels relatable, giving people a reason to say, “This is so me!”
• Build social currency—create content that makes your audience look reasonable or informed when they share it.
• Keep It Short and Focused: With shrinking attention spans, concise, visually appealing content performs best.
• Encourage Easy Sharing: Add clear CTAs like “Tag a friend” or “Share this if you agree.”

2. Create Emotionally Resonant Content

Emotionally resonant content summons strong human emotions like joy, surprise, nostalgia, empathy, or even curiosity. These human emotions trigger not only fascinate audiences but also persuade them to capture the content by liking, commenting, and sharing. It’s about making a bond that leaves a lasting impact.

Why Does It Matter?

Humans are wired to associate with storytelling and emotions, and content that evokes these feelings spreads steadily. According to our social media experts, content that evokes high-arousal emotions, like excitement or awe, is more likely to be shared. This is particularly effective as comparable and heartfelt stories ignite conversations and drive community engagement.

Viral Example

One such example is Budweiser’s Super Bowl ad, “A Clydesdale’s Journey.” The ad flaunted a Clydesdale horse overcoming challenges with the help of its owner, personifying resilience and the power of friendship. Set against a backdrop of uplifting audio, the ad sparked emotions of perseverance and hope.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Massive Reach: The ad racked up millions of views across platforms, proving the power of storytelling.
• High Engagement: Viewers flooded the comments, sharing personal stories, etc.
• Emotional Branding Success: Budweiser strengthened its brand identity including these themes like loyalty, perseverance, and Americana.
• PR & Media recognition: Multiple media outlets like Adweek and Forbes mentioned it as a masterpiece ad.

Actionable Insights:

• Pinpoint Key Emotions: Based on your audience and brand message, identify the emotion you want to elicit. Joy, nostalgia, or empathy often work well with family-oriented content, while curiosity suits innovative products.
• Master Storytelling: Use compelling narratives with clear conflict and resolution to make your content relatable and memorable.
• Use Impactful Visuals: Pair your message with visuals or music that amplify the emotional tone of your content.
• Stay Authentic: Share genuine stories or behind-the-scenes moments to strengthen trust with your audience.
• Engage User Stories: Highlight testimonials or personal experiences from your community to build deeper emotional ties.

3. Leverage Current Trends

Anchoring current trends involves recognizing and engaging with popular topics, challenges, or hashtags that are gaining traction on social media. It’s about aligning your content with what’s already buzzing to elevate observability and engagement.

Why Does It Matter?

Trends act as cultural reference points, making it simple for your content to connect with viewers. By leveraging into a trend, your content is more likely to pop up in searches and feeds, gaining a share of the mutual attention.

Viral Example

An excellent example is Ryanair’s use of funny trends to promote its brand. By creatively embracing trending audio and humorous takes on airline experiences, Ryanair transformed its social media account into a relatable, engaging hub.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Enhanced Engagement: On Instagram, Ryanair has 1.6 Million followers and a spike engagement rate over a period of time, showcasing the effectiveness of humor and trend-aligned content.
• Increased Brand Visibility: This airline’s TikTok and other social media engagement rates have been recognized as the most effective with its videos consistently going viral due to their creative usage of music and audios.
• Audience Growth: The Twitter account has surpassed great spike with the brand’s witty and trend-responsive tweets leading to their sizable audience.

Actionable Insights:

• Monitor Trend Platforms: Stay updated on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter to spot emerging trends in real time.
• Customize Trends for Your Brand: Adapt the trend to align with your product or message while keeping it authentic.
• Use Relevant Hashtags: Instead of stuffing too many hashtags, focus on 1-2 niche-specific hashtags to boost engagement. Our Instagram Trends Report 2025 found that posts with fewer, targeted hashtags lead more interactions.
• Capitalize on Trending Formats: Use viral audio clips, memes, or challenges to make your content fit the trend’s narrative.
• Be Quick: Act fast before the trend fades to maximize impact and relevance.

4. Optimize Content for Each Platform

Optimizing content for each platform means modifying your content to match the required features, audience choices, and algorithms of different social media channels. This includes using relevant keyword/s in captions, strategic hashtags, engaging visuals, and even optimizing your social media bio for discoverability.

You can do it easily with our Guide’s help!

Why Does It Matter?

Every platform serves distinct audience behaviors and presumptions. Say for example, TikTok users anticipate short, snappy videos, while LinkedIn approves professional, thought-provoking posts. Understanding and redesigning to these gradations ensures your key message rolls effectively with the intended viewers.

Viral Example

A notable recent example is MoonPie’s “MoonPieToTheMoon2024 campaign”. The brand leveraged the buzz around NASA‘s SpaceX launch by wittily proposing to send a MoonPie to the moon. They leveraged Twitter to share witty, engaging content, humorous updates on Facebook, and carousels on Instagram that resonated with their audience.

This platform-specific proven strategy usher notable increases in visibility and engagement, exhibiting the effectiveness of customizing content to the distinctive dynamics of each social media platform.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Timely Engagement: They posted in sync with NASA’s launch updates, keeping the conversations relevant and meaningful.
• Relevant Keywords: Keywords played a role for enhanced discoverability.
• Conversational Tone: The brand leaned into preferred witty, humorous brand voice.
• Viral Format Adaption: They crafted short and meme-driven tweets – formats for alignment.

Actionable Insights:

• Know the Platform’s Purpose: Understand why users come to a platform (e.g., entertainment for TikTok, networking for LinkedIn).
• Customize Content Format: Use vertical videos for TikTok and Instagram Reels, carousel posts for Instagram, and in-depth articles for LinkedIn.
• Leverage Platform Features: Take advantage of Stories, Threads, Live videos, or polls depending on the platform’s tools.
• Follow Posting Guidelines: Align with each platform’s optimal video length, text character limits, and aspect ratios.
• Analyze Performance Metrics: Use insights from each platform to refine your content strategy.

5. Create Relatable and Shareable Content

Relatable and shareable content focuses on universal themes, emotions, or circumstances that resonate strongly with audiences. These posts are easy to digest and impel viewers to share them within their networks, amplifying reach and visibility.

Why Does It Matter?

Content that feels personal yet universal adheres to a sense of community. When audiences see themselves or their experiences mirrored in your post, they feel validated and are more likely to share. This operates virality, deepens audience trust, and nourishes emotional bonds with your brand.

Viral Example

One recent standout example is Spotify Wrapped. Every year, Spotify makes personalized, shareable synopsis of users’ listening habits. By utilizing individual experiences while fostering a collective honoring of music, Spotify Wrapped encourages widespread sharing across platforms like Instagram and Twitter, guaranteeing maximum reach and engagement.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Massive Engagement Surge: In 2024, #SpotifyWrapped2024 trends globally within hours of release, with millions of social media content featuring wrapped insights.
• Brand & Influencer Amplification: Celebrities & Brands grabbed the trend with increased social reach.
• Cross-Platform Domination: All the social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter become Wrapped’s playground.

Actionable Insights:

• Understand Your Audience: Research their preferences, pain points, and cultural references to ensure your content feels authentic and relatable.
• Use Universal Themes: Focus on topics like humor, family, milestones, or challenges that resonate across demographics.
• Incorporate User-Generated Content: Share real-life stories, testimonials, or images from your audience to create a sense of belonging.
• Keep It Simple and Visual: Use straightforward messaging with striking visuals or graphics for better engagement.
• Encourage Interaction: Add prompts like “Tag someone who relates!” or “Share this if you’ve experienced this too” to spark conversations and shares.

6. Collaborate With Influencers

Influencer collaboration involves affiliating with content creators whose followers are similar to your target audience. Influencers increase your message, impart credibility, and help build trust by authentically validating your brand within their niche.

Why Does It Matter?

People rely on recommendations from influencers more than direct advertising. Collaborating with influencers can outshine your reach, drive meaningful visibility, and create relatability.

Viral Example

A standout recent example is Aerie’s collaboration with micro-influencers for their #AerieREAL campaign. The brand collaborated with influencers of various body types to promote inclusivity and self-love, crafting relatable content. This proven strategy not only led to millions of impressions but also braced Aerie’s reputation as a brand that conquers authenticity.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Massive Community Engagement: Aeries created a relatable and empowering movement, sparking millions of conversations online.
• Sales Impact: Aerie’s sales soared up to 75% following the campaign, indicating direct connection between influencer trust and customer purchasing decisions.
• Demographic Dominance: Micro-influencers shared unfiltered contents on social media, making the campaign a viral hit among this generation.

Actionable Insights:

• Choose the Right Influencers: Identify influencers whose audience aligns with your brand values and demographic. Knowing where to find the right influencer can make all the difference.
• Foster Authentic Partnerships: Allow influencers creative freedom to promote your brand in their authentic style for better impact.
• Focus On Micro-Influencers: Collaborate with influencers with smaller but highly engaged audiences for cost-effective and meaningful interactions.
• Utilize Multiple Platforms: Leverage influencers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to cater to diverse audience segments.
• Track Results: Monitor metrics like engagement rate, click-throughs, and sales conversions to evaluate the success of your campaigns.

7. Maintain Consistency in Posting

Maintaining consistency in posting requires regularly sharing content across your social media platforms to keep your viewers engaged and informed. It’s about building a dependable presence that your audiences can foresee and depend on.

Why Does It Matter?

Consistent posting helps build brand identification and trust. It ensures your content remains clear in your audience’s feeds, keeping your brand top-of-mind.

Viral Example

A remarkable example is Crumbl Cookies, a U.S.- based bakery chain that has utilized consistent social media posting to gauze its rapid growth. By sharing engaging content, such as weekly flavor shoutouts and behind-the-scenes bakery footage, Crumbl has maintained a steady presence on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Follower Growth: Crumbl’s TikTok following reached 1.6 million within six weeks in February 2021, and as of 2024, they have over 14 million combined followers between TikTok and Instagram.
• Increased CA: By leveraging audience data and consistent social media engagement, Crumbl increased its new customer numbers from an average of 80,000 per week to around 130,000 weekly new customers.
• Revenue Growth: The company’s consistent social media presence contributed to generating more than $1 billion in annual sales.

Actionable Insights:

• Develop a Content Calendar: Plan your posts ahead of time to ensure a balanced mix of content types and topics.
• Utilize Scheduling Tools: Employ platforms like SocialPilot to automate postings, ensuring timely delivery even during off-hours.
• Analyze Audience Engagement: Monitor when your audience is most active and schedule posts during these peak times for maximum reach.
• Maintain Brand Voice and Aesthetics: Ensure all posts align with your brand’s voice and visual guidelines to create a cohesive experience.
• Monitor and Adjust: Review performance metrics regularly to understand what resonates with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

8. Focus On Visual and Audio Quality

Prioritizing high-quality visuals and audio in your content entails using clear, professional imagery and audio to enhance the viewer’s experience. This approach ensures your message is transported effectively and leaves a lasting impression.

Why Does It Matter?

High production quality captures attention and delivers credibility. Consumers are habituated to polished media, content that looks and sounds professional is more likely to engage audiences and encourage sharing.

Viral Example

Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” campaign symbolizes the power of high-quality visuals and audio in content creation. By displaying the iPhone’s advanced camera abilities, Apple has consistently illustrated that professional-grade content can be produced using their phones.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Brand Trust & Camera Superiority: The campaign reinforced Apple’s reputation for top-tier camera quality. A study by YouGov found that 39% of prospective smartphone buyers considered iPhone’s high-resolution camera as a key factor in their purchase decision, proving that showcasing high-quality content influences buying behavior.
• Global Virality: Apple’s campaign wasn’t just confined to social media—it made its way onto billboards, TV ads, and even feature films, making it one of the most recognizable brand campaigns worldwide.
• Massive Social Media Engagement: Apple’s Shot on iPhone campaign has generated millions of interactions across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. Apple encouraged participation, leading to over 30+ million posts under the hashtag #ShotOniPhone on Instagram alone.

Actionable Insights:

• Invest in Quality Equipment:Use high-resolution cameras and reliable microphones to capture clear visuals and audio.
• Utilize Professional Editing Software: Employ tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for video editing and Adobe Audition for audio refinement.
• Maintain Consistent Branding: Ensure that colors, fonts, and audio elements align with your brand identity across all content.
• Test Before Publishing: Review content on multiple devices to ensure quality and consistency.
• Stay Updated With Trends: Incorporate current visual and audio trends to keep your content relevant and engaging.

9. Include Clear CTAs

A Call-to-Action (CTA) is a reminder that encourages your audience to take particular actions, like liking, sharing, commenting, or visiting a site. Effective CTAs direct customer behavior and amplify content engagement, boosting visibility and conversions.

Why Does It Matter?

Without CTAs, even the most engaging content may fail to drive meaningful outcomes. CTAs provide clarity and purpose, guiding users on what to do next. They also align audience actions with your goals, building engagement or driving sales.

Viral Example

An excellent example of effective CTAs comes from “Starbucks’ Red Cup Day 2023” campaign. Starbucks invited users to visit stores for limited-edition reusable cups. Most of the posts included CTAs like “Sounds like the Holidays are back!” The strategy successfully paired excitement with clear actions, resulting in a trending topic across social media platforms.

How Did This Take Over Social Media?

• Increase in Foot Traffic: On Red Cup Day, Starbucks experienced a 42.4% surge in visits compared to the average Thursday, highlighting the campaign’s effectiveness in drawing customers.
• Social Media Engagement: The campaign’s hashtag, #starbucksredcup, garnered over 45,200 posts on Instagram, demonstrating substantial user-generated content and online buzz.
• Cultural Significance: The red cup has become a symbol of the holiday season, with consumers associating it with festive moments and increased spending, thereby strengthening emotional connections with the brand.

Actionable Insights:

• Make It Specific and Direct: Use clear, concise language like “Tag a friend who needs this!” or “Shop now for 20% off.”
• Align With User Intent: Tailor CTAs based on the content type—encourage shares for educational posts and purchases for product showcases.
• Create a Sense of Urgency: Use phrases like “Limited time only” or “Offer ends tonight” to motivate immediate action.
• Embed CTAs Naturally: Integrate them seamlessly into captions or stories to maintain authenticity.
• Test and Measure Effectiveness: Experiment with different CTA placements, formats, and language to find what resonates most with your audience.

Learn From Case-Studies

Case studies are like your under-the-table pass to viral success stories. They show you what worked, what didn’t, and why it matched with audiences. Think of them as a treasure trove of insights to help you decode the secrets behind impactful content.

Case Study 1: Mrbeast’s YouTube Giveaway

MrBeast has mastered the art of creating viral content on YouTube by blending generosity, creativity, and suspense. His large-scale giveaways, like buying everything in a store or giving away cars, create an emotional connection and drive massive engagement. These videos resonate because they’re aspirational and heartwarming.

Lessons for Your Brand:

• Emotional Appeal: People are drawn to content that ignites awe, excitement, or inspiration. Whether it’s generosity or an unforeseen twist, bringing strong emotions encourages sharing.
• Make Your Content Share-Worthy: MrBeast’s videos go viral because they’re highly relatable, engaging, and entertaining. Make content that has value, entertainment, or inspiration to your audience.
• Hook Audience With Suspense: His videos often start with a captivating question or challenge, keeping viewers hooked until the very end. Creating a sense of anticipation can improve watch time.
• Consistency Is Key: MrBeast consistently presents high-quality, engaging content, keeping his audience returning for more. Organizing a strong content schedule builds loyalty and visibility.

Tip:Incorporate elements of surprise and generosity in your campaigns. Even small giveaways or acts of kindness can spark engagement and encourage viewers to share your content.

Case Study 2: Fenty Beauty “50 Foundation Shade”

Fenty Beauty revolutionized the beauty industry by embracing inclusivity with its launch of 50 foundation shades, catering to a wide range of skin tones. The brand showcased real customers and influencers of various backgrounds using the products on different platforms, creating an authentic connection.

Lessons for Your Brand:

• It’s All About Authenticity: Audiences connect with brands that reflect real-life experiences. Whether it’s inclusivity, sustainability, or a strong cause, representing authenticity that fosters trust and loyalty.
• UGC Content for Reach: Fenty Beauty utilized real customers and influencers of all backgrounds, making the campaign feel more personal and community-driven. Encourage your audience to share their experiences with your product.
• Diversification Matters: Fenty’s campaign is relatable because it solved a real problem—people of all skin tones felt seen. Identifying gaps in your niche brand and positioning yourself as a solution can be a game-changer.

Tip:Highlight authenticity and inclusivity in your campaigns. Use multiple platforms like Instagram and YouTube to share user-generated content and practical tutorials that reinforce your brand values.

What’s Next?

You’ve gone through the proven strategies and best practices for creating content that has the potential to go viral. From understanding the science of virality and leveraging emotional resonance to optimizing for platforms and collaborating with influencers, these tips equip you to craft impactful, shareable content.

But remember, virality is not a one-size-fits-all formula. What works for one brand might not work for another. The key is to experiment with different strategies, adapt based on your audience’s preferences, and stay authentic to your brand’s voice. Every post is a chance to learn, refine, and grow.

So, what’s next? Start creating. Dive into trends, spark emotions, and analyze your performance. Stay consistent, keep testing new ideas, and stop thinking outside the box. The digital stage is yours—step up and make your mark!