How to Create Shareable Content That Goes Viral: The Ultimate Guide for Social Media Managers

Going viral isn’t about luck—it’s about strategy. If you’ve ever wondered why some posts blow up while others flop, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down the exact formula for creating content your audience can’t help but share.

I’ll never forget the first time one of my posts went viral. It wasn’t the perfectly crafted campaign I’d spent weeks developing—it was a simple behind-the-scenes story about a marketing fail that resonated with thousands of people. That moment taught me something crucial: viral content isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection.

After 20+ years in marketing communications, I’ve analyzed hundreds of viral posts, created content that’s reached millions, and helped countless clients crack the code of shareable content. The truth? Going viral follows predictable patterns, and once you understand the psychology behind what makes people hit that share button, you can create content that consistently performs.

What Makes Content Go Viral?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s understand the why. People don’t share content randomly—they share content that serves a purpose for them.

Think about the last post you shared. Did it make you laugh? Inspire you? Teach you something new? Help you express your identity? That’s the secret—viral content taps into universal emotions and needs.

The psychology of sharing breaks down into three core motivations:

1. Self-expression: “This represents who I am or what I believe”
2. Social currency: “Sharing this makes me look informed/funny/caring”
3. Value addition: “This will help or entertain my followers”

Understanding this psychology is the foundation of everything that follows.

Step 1: Start with Emotional Resonance

Posts that evoke a strong emotional response are 2x more likely to be shared. The emotion doesn’t have to be positive—content that sparks frustration, surprise, or even righteous anger can go viral too.

The Primary Viral Emotions:

Joy/Humor: Memes, funny observations, lighthearted takes on industry topics Inspiration: Success stories, motivational insights, transformation content Surprise: Unexpected statistics, contrarian viewpoints, plot twists Anger/Frustration: Calling out bad practices, addressing injustices, debunking myths Fear/Urgency: Limited-time insights, warnings, “what you need to know now”

How to Create Emotional Resonance:

Use storytelling: Share personal experiences, client stories (with permission), or industry anecdotes that illustrate your point.

Make bold statements: Don’t be afraid to take a stand on industry issues or challenge conventional wisdom.

Leverage powerful visuals: Use images, videos, or graphics that evoke immediate emotional responses.

Ask provocative questions: Questions that make people stop and think often get shared because they spark conversation.

Example: Instead of “5 Tips for Better Engagement,” try “The Engagement Strategy Everyone’s Using That’s Actually Killing Your Reach.”

Step 2: Make It Relatable

Relatable content is the “this is so me” moment your audience loves. When people see themselves in your content, they’re much more likely to share it because it feels personal and authentic.

The Relatability Formula:

Common struggles: Address the pain points your audience faces daily Shared experiences: Highlight universal moments in your industry Behind-the-scenes reality: Show the unglamorous truth behind the polished exterior Industry inside jokes: Reference experiences that only your niche understands

Relatable Content Types That Work:

“When you…” posts: “When you finally nail a campaign but the client wants ‘just one tiny change'” Day-in-the-life content: Real, unfiltered looks at your work process Expectation vs. Reality: What clients think you do vs. what you actually do Before/after mindsets: How you used to think vs. how you think now

Example: A carousel titled “Things No One Tells You About Being a Social Media Manager” with relatable truths like “You’ll become an expert in every random topic” or “Your friends will expect you to make their posts go viral.”

Step 3: Keep It Simple + Shareable

The easier it is to consume and share your content, the more likely it is to go viral. Complexity kills virality because people won’t share what they don’t immediately understand.

The Simplicity Checklist:

Clear message: Can someone understand your main point in 3 seconds? Easy to consume: Is your content scannable and digestible? Simple to share: Does your content work well when shared out of context? Memorable hook: Will people remember your main point after scrolling past?

Make Your Content Shareable:

Use strong headlines: Your first line should grab attention and summarize the value Break up text: Use bullet points, emojis, and white space for easy reading Create quotable moments: Include sentences that feel like they’re meant to be shared Add visual interest: Use contrasting colors, bold fonts, or eye-catching graphics

Example: Instead of a long paragraph explaining algorithm changes, create a simple graphic with “3 Algorithm Updates You Missed This Month” with clear, concise bullet points.

Step 4: Leverage Trends + Timeliness

Jumping on a trend can skyrocket your reach—but only if it aligns with your brand and adds your unique perspective.

How to Ride Trends Strategically:

Monitor trend sources: TikTok’s Discover page, Twitter trending topics, Google Trends, Pinterest Trends Add your angle: Don’t just copy the trend—bring your industry expertise to it Move quickly: Trends have short lifespans, so act fast when you spot one that fits Stay authentic: Only jump on trends that genuinely align with your brand voice

Trending Content Opportunities:

Viral audios: Use popular sounds with your own educational content Meme formats: Apply trending meme templates to industry-specific situations Challenge participation: Join relevant challenges with your professional twist News reactions: Provide expert commentary on industry news or platform updates

Example: When a new social media platform launches, create content like “Marketing Manager Tries [New Platform] for 24 Hours – Here’s What I Learned.”

Step 5: Optimize for the Algorithm

The algorithm loves engagement, and engagement drives virality. Understanding platform-specific optimization can significantly increase your content’s reach potential.

Universal Algorithm Boosters:

Post timing: Share when your audience is most active (check your analytics) Engagement hooks: Ask questions, create polls, encourage comments Fast response: Reply to comments quickly to maintain momentum Cross-promotion: Share across multiple platforms with platform-specific adaptations

Platform-Specific Tips:

Instagram:

• Use trending audio in Reels
• Include 3-5 relevant keywords (naturally) in your captions
• Post Stories to increase overall account engagement
• Save your best content as Highlights

TikTok:

• Hook viewers in the first 3 seconds
• Use trending sounds and effects
• Include text overlay for accessibility
• Engage with comments through video responses

LinkedIn:

• Start with a strong personal story
• Use line breaks for readability
• Tag relevant people when appropriate
• Share in LinkedIn groups

Pinterest:

• Use keyword-rich descriptions
• Create vertical, text-overlay images
• Pin to relevant boards immediately
• Include your website link

Step 6: Test, Analyze, and Repeat

Virality isn’t a one-time thing—it’s a process. The most successful content creators are constantly testing, learning, and iterating based on their results.

Your Viral Content Analysis Process:

Track the right metrics: Shares, saves, and comments matter more than likes Look for patterns: What do your top-performing posts have in common? Study your duds: What didn’t work and why? Document insights: Keep a record of what resonates with your audience

Tools for Analysis:

Native platform analytics: Instagram Insights, TikTok Analytics, LinkedIn Analytics Cross-platform tools: Metricool, Sprout Social, Hootsuite Analytics Google Analytics: Track website traffic from social media Social listening tools: Monitor mentions and sentiment

Questions to Ask:

• What emotion did my viral content evoke?
• What format performed best (video, carousel, single image)?
• What time of day/week got the most engagement?
• Which hashtags or keywords drove discovery?
• What call-to-action generated the most response?

The Viral Content Framework in Action

Let me break down how these elements work together:

Step 1: Choose an emotion (frustration with algorithm changes) Step 2: Make it relatable (“When Instagram changes the algorithm again…”) Step 3: Keep it simple (clear, visual format with minimal text) Step 4: Use trending format (popular meme template) Step 5: Optimize (post at peak time, use relevant hashtags) Step 6: Analyze results and create similar content that performed well

Common Viral Content Mistakes to Avoid

Chasing every trend: Not every trend fits your brand—be selective Ignoring your niche: Viral content should still serve your ideal audience Over-complicating the message: Simple usually wins Forgetting the follow-up: Going viral is great, but what’s your next move? Focusing only on reach: Engagement quality matters more than quantity

Your Viral Content Action Plan

Ready to create content that gets shared like crazy? Here’s your step-by-step plan:

This Week:

1. Audit your top 10 performing posts from the past 3 months
2. Identify common emotional triggers in your successful content
3. List 5 relatable struggles your audience faces

Next Week:

1. Create 3 pieces of content using the emotional resonance framework
2. Test different formats (carousel, video, single image) with similar messages
3. Monitor trending topics in your industry

This Month:

1. Analyze your results and identify your viral content patterns
2. Create content series around your best-performing themes
3. Engage consistently with your audience to build community

The Truth About Going Viral

Here’s what I want you to remember: viral content isn’t about creating something perfect—it’s about creating something that connects. Some of my most successful posts have been simple observations about industry frustrations or behind-the-scenes moments that showed my human side.

The goal isn’t just to go viral once. It’s to understand your audience so well that you can consistently create content they can’t help but share.

Ready to create content that gets shared like crazy? Download my free Glow + Go: AI-Powered Social Media Content Planner to start planning posts that resonate with your audience and drive real engagement. And if you’re ready to master the full strategy for creating consistently shareable content, join me inside The Signature Social Glow/Up.

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[Download your free Glow + Go Content Planner here] and start creating content your audience can’t help but share.