How to Make Viral Videos………Alright, let me get this out of the way: I don’t have a magic wand to make you TikTok famous overnight.
If I did, trust me, I’d already be rich enough to buy a coffee that isn’t watery from the bodega on the corner.
But listen—over the years, I’ve messed around with making videos, from dumb dance attempts in my kitchen (RIP to my ceiling fan) to filming my dog literally eating my Wi-Fi router (that one did go viral—don’t ask). And somewhere in the chaos, I accidentally picked up some actual tips that work if you’re trying to figure out how to make viral videos without losing your mind.
So yeah, grab your iced coffee, sit down, and let’s talk about it.
Step One: Don’t Overthink (Seriously, Don’t)
You ever notice how the videos people spend zero effort on somehow blow up, while the carefully planned ones flop harder than me trying to parallel park in Astoria?
Like one time, I filmed my cousin yelling at a pigeon for stealing his bagel (yes, a real New York moment), posted it, and it got thousands of views in a day. Meanwhile, the video I edited for hours with music transitions, captions, all that jazz? Yeah. 42 views. Half of them were probably me checking if it uploaded right.
The internet’s weird. The more natural, the better.
👉 Tip: Film real moments. Don’t rehearse too much, just capture the chaos as it happens.
Step Two: The Hook Is Everything
Okay, if you get nothing else from me today, remember this: the first three seconds matter more than the rest of the video.
If your video doesn’t make someone pause their doomscrolling within 2–3 seconds, it’s gone. Done. Dead.
Think of it like this:
- You’re not making a video.
- You’re fighting a million other people for that tiny sliver of attention.
Say something shocking, funny, or just plain weird right away. Even something like, “So this raccoon stole my pizza slice…” That’s enough.
Pro move: Add on-screen text at the very start. Because people watch on mute. (Why? Who knows. Maybe they’re at work pretending to type emails.)
Step Three: Relatability > Perfection
Here’s the thing: nobody cares if your lighting’s bad or if your hair’s sticking out. Sometimes that helps. People want to feel like you’re human.
I once filmed a video at 2 a.m. ranting about how autocorrect keeps changing “lol” to “LOL.” Like who actually types LOL in all caps?? Anyway, that dumb rant somehow hit 50k views. Not because it was smart or beautiful, but because apparently everyone else was mad at autocorrect too.
👉 Tip: Share frustrations, awkward moments, inside jokes. Viral videos often come from stuff people whisper about but don’t post.
Step Four: Ride the Trends (But Add Your Flavor)
Yes, trends are your friend. But you can’t just copy-paste what everyone else is doing. Nobody needs the 4,000th identical lip-sync.
Add a twist. For example:
- Everyone’s doing the latest TikTok dance? Do it badly. On purpose. While holding a slice of pizza.
- There’s a trending audio about breakups? Use it to complain about your Wi-Fi dropping during Netflix.
Trends are like… costumes. You wear the same thing as everyone else, but if you accessorize differently, suddenly you stand out.
Step Five: Short and Snackable Wins
We live in a world where people get bored halfway through reheating leftovers in the microwave. Don’t expect them to watch your 2-minute masterpiece.
Keep it short. Punchy. Snackable.
I’ve found 15–25 seconds is usually the sweet spot for platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels. Just enough time to tell a joke, not enough time for people to get distracted by their group chat blowing up.
Step Six: Comments and Chaos
You ever see those videos where the comments section becomes the actual entertainment? Yeah, lean into that.
Encourage people to argue, laugh, or share their own version of your story. For example:
- Ask a dumb poll. (“What’s worse: stepping on Legos or hearing your upstairs neighbor drag furniture at 3 a.m.?”)
- Invite people to roast you. (Dangerous but hilarious.)
- Reply to comments with follow-up videos.
That’s how you create loops—people keep coming back to see what happens next.
Step Seven: Consistency Beats Luck
I know, I know. Everyone hates hearing “just be consistent.” But honestly, it works. Not every video will blow up, but the more you post, the higher your chances.
Think of it like fishing. Some days you catch nothing. Some days, you catch a shark. (Or in my case, a video of a raccoon eating pizza.)
Set a low bar for yourself. One video every day or two. Don’t wait for perfection—just post.
Side Tangent: My Weirdest Viral Moment
So, back in 2021, I accidentally went viral on TikTok for eating a burrito wrong. (Yes, apparently there is a wrong way to eat a burrito.) I held it sideways, and people lost their minds. The comments were brutal:
“Bro eating it like it’s a harmonica 💀”
“Is this man okay??”
Embarrassing? Yes. Did I gain 10k followers from it? Also yes.
So sometimes your most unplanned moment becomes your golden ticket.
Tools That Actually Help
- CapCut (free editing app, easy captions & trending templates)
- InShot (good for cutting clips fast)
- Canva (for adding text/graphics without looking like Windows 98)
Bonus: Keep notes in your phone for random video ideas. Half of mine came while waiting for the F train.
Outbound Links
- The TikTok Blog on Creativity – legit tips straight from the source.
- Matt Gray’s viral content breakdown – this guy explains trends in plain English.
Final Thoughts (aka, My Ranty Conclusion)
At the end of the day, figuring out how to make viral videos is part science, part luck, and part just… being willing to look dumb online. If you’re okay with that last part, you’re already halfway there.
Don’t chase perfection. Don’t wait until you have the “right” camera or fancy editing skills. Just post the thing. Worst-case scenario, 20 people watch it. Best case? You’re the next person we’re all watching on repeat while ignoring our laundry.
And if all else fails—film a raccoon with pizza. Trust me on this one.
