If you’re a blogger, you probably have many different blogging goals and blog ideas. Making an income, making a difference, having your voice heard, and putting your efforts into something you love are all common ones. Just as common, though, is the desire to have a blog post go viral.
Wanting a viral blog post is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s highly validating to have something you’ve written or created become popular, and it’s true that a viral blog post can be a great source of unexpected income.
More than that, though, it’s a good feeling to know that something you wrote resonates with others, that’s a big reason people become bloggers in the first place, after all.
For the record, though, there is no set number of likes/shares/comments, etc. that determines whether or not a post has gone viral. In short, a post that is considered to have gone viral is just one that spreads rapidly throughout a population. It gets lots of engagement, and is shared often.
If a post has gone viral, it’s not just your readers who are seeing it; a viral post gives your post, video etc. lots of new eyeballs as it’s shared across social media.
I’ve been blogging for almost 10 years, and I can count on two hands the number of posts that have gone viral. This flower pillow post was one of my first viral posts, this Fixer Upper post is a recent viral post, as is this post on the benefits of floor beds for toddlers.
There isn’t a set formula for exactly how to get your blog ideas and posts to go viral, but there are some key factors that will definitely impede your post’s chances of reaching that goal.
Today, I’m sharing 5 reasons your blog post didn’t go viral. This pertains not just to blog posts, of course, but videos, social media posts, etc. Read through them, and let me know your thoughts in the comments!
It’s too niche. Viral posts tend to be relatable to a large portion of the population. You probably won’t share something that isn’t of interest to you, after all.
Your post on your favorite fly fishing gear may be fantastic, and may make the rounds in certain circles, but is less likely to spread rapidly through the general population.
Think about broad topics and blog ideas that a lot of people can relate to. Look at what’s trending and what people are talking about to get a good idea of what’s likely to be popular. Find the intersection of what’s trending and where your passion and expertise are. This is where to start.
It’s difficult to share. This is an obvious one, but it’s all too often overlooked. Make sure that your posts have social sharing buttons so that it can be shared with a click of the mouse. Make sure your tweets don’t contain obvious spelling errors; make sure that your FB settings allow folks to share your posts.
On Pinterest, ensure that you have a styled vertical image with GREAT pictures. The easier it is for people to share your work, the higher the possibility that they will!
The timing is all wrong. If you’re a blogger, this is where an editorial calendar comes in. Publishing your fantastic organizing post in January will probably give it a better chance of doing well than publishing it in summer.
Holiday content does the best right before the holiday; it’ll probably not go viral months beforehand. Think about what’s on people’s mind and what people are prepping for. This will give you a good idea of content that has the best chance of reaching the most people.
You’re not spending enough time promoting your content. In the second part of this blogging series, I emphasize the importance of spending approximately 10% of your time creating content, and 90% of your time promoting your content.
This is a lesson that most bloggers don’t realize right away, but unless your content is seen by as many eyes as possible, it probably won’t make the impact you’re looking for. Well-promoted content, via social media, syndication and sharing site is the best way to reach as many people as possible.
It doesn’t hit the right chord with readers. Viral content always hits a chord with readers. Most often, it garners an emotional reaction from folks, which makes them more likely to like/comment/share it.
Viral content tends to be inspirational, moving, interesting, or just plain useful. Viral content makes the reader glad that he or she came across it.
While there’s no set list of things to definitely do or don’t do to make your post go viral, these 5 tips are a good place to start! Above all, create content that resonates with people, and that you believe in, and you’ll (hopefully) have that elusive viral post in no time!
Want more blogging tips and blog ideas? These posts may help:
16 Pinterest Tips That Grew My Traffic by 450%
5 Tips to Get Free Press for Your Blog or Online Shop
Mediavine Network – An Honest Review
Thanks for reading all about Blog Ideas: 5 Reasons Your Blog Post Didn’t Go Viral. Have a fantastic day!