28 Apr How to Create Viral Instagram Posts
How to Create Viral Instagram Posts
Imagine getting 100,000+ likes, massive views, comments, and followers, people sharing your post like crazy, and brands approaching to collaborate.
That’s how big it is when I say the word “viral.”
Dreaming is good, but going viral on a platform with over 500 million daily users isn’t quite as easy as dreaming.
With over 95 million photos and videos shared daily, the chances of going viral are pretty rare – but not impossible.
There’s no doubt that you’ll have to drive a lot of different things in your favour to get “Instagram famous” – but what if we spilled all the secrets?
In this article, we’ll explore six powerful ways to increase your chances of going viral on Instagram sooner than you expect. Let’s dive in!
1 – Create original and unique content
I’m sure you don’t want to get lost in an ocean of mainstream Instagram posts.
Creating unique and original content sets you apart from the crowd and doubles your chances of going viral.
Now, you must be wondering how?
The best answer to this is by being you. Everyone is creating similar content on their Instagram pages and profiles because originality and authenticity get lost.
As long as you reflect your personality and create original content- you’re on the radar to go viral.
There’s a blurry line between seeking content inspiration and creating something of your own, like no one else. Once you achieve the latter, you’ll be surprised to see the kind of traction it gets.
So, if you have a post built from your own experiences but you’re doubtful, post it right away!
Because it can be a turning point for your brand and take it to a whole new level.
2 – Use storytelling to humanise your content
For a while, forget that Instagram is a business platform and consider it your canvas and paint a story.
Create something that connects you with your viewers because it will humanise your brand.
Be authentic and draw emotions to put your story out there and give your audience something to relate with you.
You can share your work routine, a day in your life, an empowering message, or anything that tells a story about you.
Humans are emotional beings – we connect with emotion more than logic, so use it to your advantage to tell an original and inspiring story.
Interesting stories enhance audience engagement. Being a visual platform, Instagram boosts images and videos, so use them to tell bite-sized, snackable stories with a purpose.
It might take you a while to figure out a purposeful story, but it’s worth the effort.
Now, you must be wondering how can this make you go viral?
Once people find your story inspiring and relatable, they’ll start sharing it, drawing more eyes to your content.
3 – Use a hashtag strategy to amplify the reach
Using relevant hashtags makes your content discoverable, amplifies your reach, and encourages audience engagement – converting followers into customers.
A post with at least one Instagram hashtag gets an average of 12.6% more engagement than posts without a hashtag.
Since the primary purpose of using hashtags is to get more eyes on your post, the right strategy can position your content in front of your target audience.
For example, a travel blogger might post an image of a beach in Bali and use hashtags like #traveldiaries #balibeach #balihotel when uploading to Instagram.
So, other Instagram users with similar interests can find your post easily.
Now, you have a fair understanding of hashtags and how they work, but does your brand have a hashtag strategy to reap its benefits?
When it comes to an optimal hashtag strategy, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.
To understand which hashtags work best for your profile, you need to experiment and analyse their future use based on the results.
One popular hashtag strategy is the “ladder strategy,” which involves using a combination of high and low traffic hashtags. Here’s what a hashtag strategy looks like:
4 – Collaborate with influencers
Working with Instagram influencers with a significant number of followers in the same niche and target audience can boost your brand awareness and engagement.
They can endorse your profile, products, or brand via sponsored posts and stories like in this post from @zoesugg. This will encourage their audience to engage with your content thus, building your brand’s credibility.
Take some time to search for influencers that align with your target audience, brand goals, and vision. Form a strong relationship with them and agree on mutually benefiting terms to sign the deal.
You can also collaborate with nano-influencers to target a small yet specific audience to help with the reach.
There are a lot of good influencer marketing tools that make finding influencers easy. Finding the right ones shouldn’t be a problem.
5 – Hop on trends
There’s a new Instagram trend every day, and new ones are being created as we move forward.
People love following these trends- it’s one of the most significant content sources going viral on the platforms.
So, hopping on trends as soon as possible can work in a fantastic way for your brand.
Taking action on rising trends can display a flexible and informed reputation skyrocketing your reach, leading to an increase in following and the posts going viral.
I’m sure that all Instagram enthusiasts are aware of the popular baked feta pasta trend that started on TikTok and eventually took over Instagram by storm.
Here’s one of the posts from @natashaskitchen.
Hopping on trends doesn’t mean following them. You can have a varied opinion or your unique way to depict it.
Uniqueness can help with massive exposure and can increase your chances to go viral. You can also design your own challenges.
Don’t wait until the trend goes extinct. Get early in the game if you want to see the results.
Creating shareable and saveable content is no longer like stealing candy from a baby. The Instagram algorithm has reduced the reach for organic content- but it’s still crackable.
A post that relates with the audience and has an excellent combination of creativity and intent has high chances of getting shared.
The easiest way to understand your user requirements is by analysing your Instagram metrics.
Identify the posts with the most saves and shares. And that’s the content you should create more often.
Shareable and saveable content has the potential to go viral and turn your followers into customers – so if your post can trigger either of them, you can go viral with the right idea.
Also, think about how you can use your viral content to bring leads into your marketing funnel.
You can include custom discount codes in your post content, run limited-time offers, and even create QR codes to link to your product pages, ebooks, or other promotional content, thus using your viral content on Instagram to grow your business.
Creating beautiful content is a piece of cake these days as there are so many image and video creation tools such as Stencil or PlayPlay that make it easy. You can use the data and create several pieces of content in a few minutes.
7 – Publish at the best time
The time you publish your post matters a lot. If you publish when more people are only, you will naturally generate more engagement.
So, either used a study that shows you the best time to post on Instagram or use an analytics tool that finds your unique best time.
Then schedule your post in advance to go out at this best time.
Also, make sure you pay attention to notifications after the post goes live, as responding to comments can boost engagement further.
Final thoughts
Always remember that it’s your voice that brings out the best version of you, not someone else’s.
Ideating a potential viral piece is challenging, but it can indeed be rewarding for a brand with the right mix of personality and originality.
Nobody can guarantee that your content will go viral. Your goal should be to create juicy and creative posts that hook your audience’s attention and stop them from scrolling.
Use these six best practices to increase your chances of going viral and enjoy the results. Happy posting!
