10 tips on how to create viral articles

Art. no. 216462735 24 Apr 2025

Let's face it, getting your target audience's attention is not easy in today's marketing environment. As a content creator, the ultimate goal is to produce articles that will achieve a high level of shares and exposure. With so much content being published daily, how can you make your content unique and appealing enough to stand out, let alone go viral?

If you want to create viral content, you need to understand why content goes viral in the first place.

They appeal to the emotional side of the reader (evoking laughter, amusement, awe, etc.)
They are formatted as either lists or infographics (which are easier and more appealing to share than plain text)
They were authoritative and knowledgeable sources

Presenting these elements is just one step in creating highly shareable content. There are no voodoo tricks or luck involved, it's mostly hard science. There have been a number of studies analysing the behavior of internet users, and we have summarized them in this article.

Identify your target audience before you start

Start with this simple rule: Before you even choose a topic, determine at least five places where you can share the content. Then make sure those five places have a lot of potential readers. Your topic should be specific, so you can easily determine which audience would appreciate and engage with your content. Similarly, if you want to write about your favorite summer memory, you might find that the topic is too generic to find an audience.

Deliver practical value

For your content to go viral, it needs to contain information that is valuable and useful to your readers. You need to create content that offers practical value, whatever that may be. By delivering value, you organically inspire users to share and promote your content.

Use numbers in your headline

Headlines with numbers are much more likely to be clicked on average. Numbers give people a concrete reference that they can relate to. Make sure the headline and the description of your article match if you want readers to click. The bounce rate tells you if your content is reaching users. Use relevant Google Adwords to get better results.
Use short URLs

Short URLs are 2.5 times more likely to be clicked than long URLs. This is mostly because a short URL gives a much clearer overview of the content of the article is SEO friendly as they focus on the most important keywords.

Write content that evokes emotion in your readers

Research shows that emotional excitement was found to be the single biggest determinant of whether content goes viral. Creating content that inspires an emotional reaction or connection is more likely to be shared by your readers. Whether it's joy, surprise, nostalgia or outrage, content that triggers an emotional response resonates strongly with readers. This may be why emotion-driven digital PR campaigns do well.

Readers prefer articles with large, colorful images

Make sure to use images that directly relate to the article's text and headline. Moreover, an article with at least 1 image almost doubles the likelihood of being shared on social media. Using images increases the credibility of your text by 75%. A/B tests showing the same article once with an image and once without have clearly shown this effect. Only use professional-looking images; they increase your chances of being shared on Facebook.

React to popular topics

Think it's impossible to create unique content on a popular topic? Think again. Although trending topics are covered widely, it is possible to put a unique spin on the story and make it timely to have your content go viral.

Be an authoritative source of information

People tend to share content that looks trustworthy or comes from an authoritative source. Users become more careful about what they like and share in the wake of disinformation and 'fake news'. This is especially true when viral content is based on practical advice, as people are much more likely to trust a piece of content if it comes from a credible and authoritative source.

Structure your articles well

Articles containing over 1500 words are shared more often than shorter articles. Length means more substance and information, which means they will also be ranked higher by Google. Also, make sure the share button is easy to find and not hidden at the bottom of the article.
Write an engaging title

While books and magazine articles are often more creative and artistic titles, the Internet is a dynamic place. Your article is just a glance at someone's timeline as they scroll down. You need to grab their attention quickly, and the best way to do that is to be clear, concise, enticing and relatable.

You are ready! Don't forget to ask friends and colleagues to share your content. Not to mention that articles that go viral have been shared by "influencers", that is, people who are popular or relevant within the online community so you can loop them too.