Create Viral Content……..So here’s the thing—I’ve been low-key obsessed with figuring out why some random video of a hamster eating a Dorito gets 20 million views, while my carefully edited “funny skit” of me pretending to be a lost tourist in Times Square got… 87 views. (And like half of those were my mom replaying it, trying to figure out what the joke was.)
Point is, viral content is weird. But it’s not impossible. Over time (and yeah, after too many late nights scrolling TikTok when I should’ve been sleeping), I’ve noticed there are some tricks people use to get stuff shared like wildfire.
And I’m not talking “post every day, be consistent” blah blah blah. Nah. I mean the sneaky, slightly chaotic tricks that make people stop scrolling, laugh, and then immediately text your video to their cousin.
So here’s my very unpolished, very real list of 10 tricks for creating content that goes viral fast.
1. Start with the punchline.
You ever watch a video that takes, like, 15 seconds to “set up” the joke? Yeah, no one makes it that far. People are impatient. I’m impatient.
The trick? Put the best, weirdest, most shocking part right at the start. Then let the rest explain itself.
Example: I once filmed my cat knocking over a whole box of cereal. Instead of showing her walking around for 20 seconds first, I cut straight to the CRASH. Views went way up. (Also RIP to my Frosted Flakes.)
2. Use captions—but not boring ones.
Everyone scrolls with sound off. I do it on the subway, pretending I’m “reading” but really watching some chaotic cooking hack.
So yeah, captions matter. But here’s the trick: don’t just caption what’s said. Add commentary. Be petty. Be sarcastic.
Like:
“Me: trying to cook dinner like a normal person”
Instantly funnier.
3. Make it loop.
This one’s sneaky. If your video loops seamlessly, people rewatch it without realizing. More watch time = more shares = algorithm says “bless this content.”
Think: video ends where it starts. A friend of mine did a clip of him sipping coffee and sighing, then boom—it cuts back to the same sip. I watched it three times before my brain caught on.
4. Shock factor—but make it wholesome.
Listen, you don’t need to fake a car crash to go viral. (Please don’t.) What you need is something unexpected but safe-for-work enough that people can share it with grandma.
Like: giant dog trying to sit in a toddler chair. Or a grandma absolutely destroying everyone at beer pong. Those are the moments people love to pass around.
5. Hop on trends—but twist them.
Yeah, I know, trends are over in like 48 hours. But if you jump in with a weird spin, you stand out.
For example, remember that “Wednesday Addams dance” trend? Everyone was doing the same thing, so my cousin filmed himself doing it in a laundromat next to a washing machine. Guess what? That video popped off because it was so random.
So don’t just copy—add your own flavor. Even if that flavor is “awkward Queens guy holding pizza while dancing.”
6. Relatability = gold.
You know why memes work? Because people go: “Wait. That’s me.”
So instead of aiming for perfect comedy, just show the dumb, relatable stuff. Like me accidentally hitting “Reply All” at work and immediately regretting it. Or running into your ex at Target while holding toilet paper.
Relatable = shareable.
7. Use sound effects like seasoning.
The “vine boom”? Funny. Record scratch? Classic. Random goat scream? Always works.
I once edited a clip of my cousin missing a basketball shot and added the Mario falling off the map sound. Went from “meh” to “I’m crying laughing.”
Don’t overdo it though. Sprinkle, don’t smother.
8. Keep it short. Like, really short.
You think people are sticking around for your 2-minute monologue? Nah.
15–30 seconds is the sweet spot. Long enough to tell a joke, short enough that people don’t scroll away.
And if you do have a long story, chop it into parts. People love a good “wait for part 2” cliffhanger.
9. Make yourself the joke (but don’t force it).
Self-deprecating humor is undefeated. People like when you’re willing to clown yourself a little.
Case in point: I once posted a video of me trying to do a “cool transition” edit… and completely failing. Like, the phone fell mid-shot and caught my face in the dumbest expression. That’s the clip people shared. Not the polished one.
So yeah, sometimes your bloopers are the real content.
10. Don’t chase viral—chase fun.
Okay, I know this sounds cheesy, but hear me out. If you’re only making content to “go viral,” it shows. And people scroll right past.
But when you’re genuinely having fun? Messing around, laughing, not caring if your hair looks crazy? That’s when magic happens.
Like the guy who went viral just skateboarding while drinking cranberry juice. Pure vibes.
So yeah—have fun. Worst case, you make something your friends laugh at. Best case, millions of strangers laugh with them.
Quick Storytime about Create Viral Content
Back in college, I tried to go viral with this “epic prank video.” I thought it was brilliant—I pretended to be stuck in an elevator, panicking, until the door opened and it turned out I was in a supply closet.
Guess how many views it got? 42.
But later, I randomly posted a clip of me trying to make pancakes at 2 a.m. and accidentally flipping the pan onto the floor. Boom—thousands of views. People commenting “this is my life” and tagging friends.
So yeah, sometimes viral success isn’t in the plan. It’s in the mess.
A Few Bonus Nuggets about Create Viral Content
- Use weird thumbnails. A goofy face makes people curious.
- Reply to comments with videos. Easy content, people love it.
- Collaborate. Even just a cameo of a friend adds spice.
