10 Best Viral Content Ideas for Social Media Platforms

Joanna Kelleigh
5 minutes
read
Marketing
January 29, 2024

There is no doubt that social media platforms are a powerful tool for spreading information and engaging with others. However, when it comes to viral content ideas, many people often fall short in terms of creating quality content that will resonate with their audience and be shared widely.

With so many social media platforms available, it can be hard to decide which content is the best to share with a large audience. But with the right digital marketing training you can identify the most relevant platform and segment your audience. Viral content is the perfect example of something that can be both interesting and entertaining, while also being informative and helpful. But what is the viral content? What are the best viral content ideas and examples?

In this guide, we’ll share some of the best viral content ideas that will help people to create quality content for their audience. We’ll also share some of the best tips to get more organic reach on social media platforms. Finally, if you’re a social media user and have any of the following questions:

  • What are the best viral content ideas?
  • How to design social media posts that can go viral?
  • How to schedule posts as a social media manager?
  • Which is the best tool to create and schedule social media posts?

Then, this is a must-read guide for you. Stay tuned!

What is Viral Content?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the term "viral content" can mean different things to different people. Generally speaking, however, viral content is any piece of online content that is so interesting, entertaining, or informative that it prompts people to share it with their friends and contacts.

In some cases, virality can be engineered by using certain strategies to increase the likelihood that a piece of content will be shared. But in other cases, virality happens organically, simply because the content is compelling and worth talking about.

Why Use it?

There are many reasons to use viral content in your marketing strategy. First, it's a great way to get your message out there. By sharing content that is interesting and engaging, you can increase awareness of your brand or product and reach a larger audience.

Second, viral content is a great way to create engagement with your customers. When people share or comment on your content, they are more likely to become engaged with your brand or product. This can lead to increased loyalty and customer satisfaction.

Finally, viral content is a great way to boost SEO results. By including keywords and links in your viral content, you can improve your search engine rankings and attract more visitors to your website.

10 Best Viral Content Ideas

In order to create viral content, it is important to understand what makes something go viral. There are many factors that can contribute, but often it is a combination of humor, information, emotion, and relatability that catches on and spreads like wildfire.

Here are the 10 best viral content ideas or types for all social media platforms that you can use.

(All the images below were created on Ocoya!)

1. Infographics

When it comes to creating viral content, infographics are one of the best options. They’re easy to share on social media, and they quickly communicate a lot of information. Plus, they can be really fun and engaging to look at.

If you want to create an infographic that will go viral, start by coming up with a topic that is both interesting and relevant. Then, use data and statistics to back up your points. Be sure to design your infographic in a visually appealing way, and make sure it’s easy to share online.

Infographic viral content

2. Run a Giveaway

Contests and giveaways are always popular on social media, and for good reason. They're a great way to get people engaged with your brand and to generate some buzz. But if you want your contest or giveaway to go viral, you need to make sure you do it the right way. Here are a few tips:

Keep it simple: The easier it is for people to enter, the more likely they are to do so.

Make it fun: People love contests and giveaways that are fun and exciting.

Promote, promote, promote! Be sure to promote your contest or giveaway as much as possible on social media, and don't forget to use hashtags so that everyone can find it.

Tag others: Ask your audience to tag their friends for more reach.

Use Ocoya: You can create a giveaway post with Ocoya and schedule it with a single click.

Giveaway viral content

3. Puzzles

If you want your social media account to go viral, then consider posting puzzles. Puzzles are a great way to engage your followers and get them to share your content with their friends. There are many different types of puzzles that you can post, from word searches to crosswords.

Make sure that the puzzles are relevant to your audience. If you are targeting millennials, then consider posting puzzles that are related to pop culture or current events. If you are targeting baby boomers, then consider puzzles that are related to history or classical literature.

In order to make your puzzles more interactive, consider adding a contest element. For example, ask followers to submit their solutions as a comment for a chance to win a prize.

Contest viral content

4. Memes

If you're looking for a great and most popular way to create viral content for your social media channels, consider creating memes. Memes can be a great way to connect with your audience and get them engaged with your brand. They're also a fun way to show off your personality and create a connection with your followers.

To create successful memes, make sure they are funny, relevant, and easy to share. You should also make sure that you use creative fonts and images that will stand out in people's feeds.

Meme viral content

5. Listicles

If you're looking to create some viral content, listicles are always a great option. Listicles are articles that consist of a series of lists. For example, "5 best tools for writers”. They're easy to read, and people love sharing lists on social media.

To make your listicle even more shareable, make sure it's relevant to your audience and includes eye-catching visuals. You can also add a bit of humor to make it more entertaining. Also, don’t forget to add a catchy headline to attract the reader's attention.

List viral content

6. Motivational Content

One of the best content ideas for social media is motivational content. This could be in the form of quotes, videos, or articles that inspire people to reach their goals. When shared on social media, this type of content can go viral very quickly because it resonates with people and inspires them to take action.

To come up with ideas for your next motivational post, look at what's trending on social media. Pay attention to current events and hot topics, and try to find a way to tie them into your message.

Motivational viral content

7. Host a Challenge

Social media platforms are a great way to create challenges that can go viral. By creating a challenge that is unique and interesting, you can increase the chances that it will be shared online.

When choosing a challenge, make sure that it is something that people will want to participate in. You also need to make sure that the rules are clear and easy to follow.

As the challenge creator, you should be prepared to monitor the progress of the challenge and answer any questions from participants. When the challenge is over, be sure to announce the winner and give them a prize. So, they will be interested and will participate again when you host the next challenge.

Challenge viral content

8. How-to Tutorials

If you want your content to go viral, consider using AI writers for creating how-to tutorials. People love learning new things, and if you can teach them something that will make their life easier, they’re likely to share your content with their friends. Plus, how-to tutorials are easy to produce – all you need is a good idea, some helpful tips, and a camera or phone to record your tutorial.

How to viral content

9. Quizzes

Quizzes are the perfect way to create viral content for social media. They’re interactive, engaging, and can be tailored to fit any brand or topic. Plus, there are countless quiz tools and platforms available online, making it easy to create and share your quizzes with your audience.

To create a successful quiz, start by brainstorming some good questions that will engage your audience. Then, use a quiz tool or platform to design your quiz and add your branding. Also, be sure to promote your quiz not just on social media but also on other channels, and watch how it is going!

Quizzes viral content

10. Do a Poll

One of the most popular and successful types of viral content is the “This or That” poll.

This type of poll is easy to create and can be shared on social media very easily. And because people love to vote and share their opinions, it’s likely that your poll will get a lot of engagement online.

To create a successful “This or That” poll, make sure you choose two interesting topics that people will have strong opinions about. You can also ask questions that are relevant to your audience or that are fun and interesting.

Poll viral content

3 Tips to Increase the Organic Reach of Viral Content on Social Media

1. Use Hashtags

The first way to increase the reach of your content on social media is by using hashtags. Hashtags are a great way to get your content in front of more people, as they help your posts show up in more search results. When creating your posts, be sure to use relevant hashtags that will attract the attention of your target audience.

2. Post Regularly

If you want your content to reach more people on social media, post regularly. Studies have shown that if you post something new at least once a day, you’re more likely to see a higher reach and engagement.

This is because your followers will see your posts more often in their timelines, and they’re also more likely to share them with their friends if they’re engaging.

3. Timing Matters

When you post content on social media, it’s important to consider when your followers will be most likely to see it. If you post at the wrong time, your content may not reach as many people as you would like.

To maximize the reach of your content, consider posting it when most of your followers are active on social media. For example, if you have a majority of US-based followers, post during the morning or evening hours in the US.

We understand that waking up early in the morning and logging in at different timings to publish posts may be a big challenge for you. To save time and increase productivity, the best practice is to schedule posts with Ocoya. So, you will never forget or miss some important content for your audience again.

How to Create Viral Content & Schedule with Ocoya

Ocoya is a great tool that allows people to create stunning social media posts and schedule them with a single click. With some creativity and determination, you can create your next viral post within 5 minutes.

For just $15 per month, you can get the following features:

  • An amazing tool for social media post design.
  • Don’t know how to find hashtags? Don’t worry! With Ocoya, you can generate trendy and relevant hashtags with just a single click.
  • Find it difficult to write social media post captions? Ocoya offers an AI writing tool that allows people to generate social media post captions, blog intro paragraphs, ad copies, and so on.
  • It allows users to integrate their social profiles and schedule the social media posts for a specific time and date to publish. You can also check the analytics for your social media profile.

The features list does not stop here. Check out Ocoya features to get more information.

The following screenshots show you how you can create attractive and engaging viral content with just a few clicks.

Create Content:

Step 1: Click on “Create”.

Create

Step 2: Next, select the size of your post. You can also set a custom size. Once you set the size, a new window will pop up.

Step 3: Now, you can see the menu and templates on the left side. Choose the one that meets your needs.

Step 4: After designing your post, click on the “Export” button.

Integrate Social Media Profiles:

Step 1: Click on “Integrations”.

Step 2: You can see all the available social media accounts that you can integrate with. The process is quick and easy. Just select the platform you want to integrate, log in your details, and it's done.

Schedule Posts:

Step 1: When you export the photos, you will see a “Publish” button. Once you click on that, you’ll be prompted to the scheduling page. However, if you missed that, you can still schedule the post by first clicking on “My Content”, and then clicking on “Publish” after moving your cursor on the post.

Step 2: After scheduling a post, you can confirm it by visiting the “Calendar” and there you will see the timeline. You can also edit the scheduling.

Here’s our Viral Post!

Ocoyan viral content

How do you feel about our “Viral Post”? Let us know!

Can you make a better post that can go viral? Show us! Try Ocoya for free today and subscribe to any plan later!

In conclusion, social media platforms will continue to grow and change. It will be important for businesses to stay up-to-date with the latest trends to ensure their content is seen by as many people as possible. By having viral content ideas and creating them with tools like Ocoya, businesses can reach a larger audience and create a connection with potential customers.

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