Going viral on social media requires a good amount of luck. However, if your posts are not optimised to become highly popular, no amount of luck will bring you a viral post.

Optimising what you can will ensure that viral-worthy content comes in viral-worthy packaging.

You don't have to follow all of the best practices in order for a post to go viral. Incorporating even a few simple techniques will already increase your chances of success.

 

Participate in Trends — Your Way

Participating in trends is a surefire way to gain some engagement. However, that's not what makes a post go viral. Going viral through trends happens when you can incorporate a unique or unexpected element into the trend. Bonus points if it reflects your personal brand!

 

Utilise Your Captions

Captions are not just there for the fun of it. A caption serves as a space to include relevant keywords and hashtags. Think of it as SEO for your social media post. Not using your caption space wisely means missing out on reaching many potential followers.

 

Tap Into People's Emotions

When your post can tap into people’s emotions, like sadness, happiness, laughter, or nostalgia, it makes people more likely to share it with their mutuals. The more a post gets shared, the more it gets promoted by different social media algorithms, which contributes to it going viral.

 

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Are you chasing social media success? Read How to Become an Influencer: A 2025 Guide.

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