You ever post something online—maybe a photo, maybe a rant, maybe that half-baked meme you thought was hilarious at 2 a.m.—and wake up the next morning to find it’s blown up way bigger than you expected?
Yeah. Me too.
Well… once. Okay, maybe twice if you count the time my cat knocked over my coffee onto my laptop and I posted the sad soggy keyboard photo. That thing got more sympathy shares than my actual writing. Figures.
That’s kinda the thing about the impact of viral trends (and yes, that’s our keyword-y phrase of the day): you can’t always predict what’s going to stick. But you can stack the odds in your favor if you know a few tricks about creating engaging content that people actually want to share.
First, Let’s Be Real About What “Engaging” Even Means
Engaging doesn’t mean “perfect.”
It doesn’t mean polished like some fancy PowerPoint your boss made you sit through last quarter (I’m still recovering).
Engaging means something people feel.
That little “oh my god SAME” moment.
That tiny laugh-snort when you didn’t expect it.
That urge to copy-paste a link into your group chat with the subject line: “you HAVE to see this.”
If content makes you feel something, you’re way more likely to hit that share button. Simple.
My Accidental Case Study: The Pizza Tweet
Quick story. One time, I tweeted this dumb thing about ordering pizza with pineapple on it and how I was ready to fight my entire family over toppings. (Because I was. Pineapple on pizza is good and I will die on this hill.)
Anyway, that post got shared way more than anything I actually put effort into. Like, my thoughtful posts? The ones I edited and proofread? Tumbleweeds. But my chaotic pizza hot-take? Boom. 200 retweets overnight.
The point: sometimes it’s not about being smart—it’s about being relatable.
So, How Do You Actually Make Content That Gets Shared?
Here’s my messy little blueprint. Nothing corporate. Nothing too fancy. Just stuff I’ve seen work:
1. Start with a feeling, not a fact
You ever notice people don’t really share information as much as they share feelings?
Like, sure, stats are cool (“80% of people prefer cats to dogs” or whatever), but feelings stick.
That’s why memes spread faster than government reports. Memes are basically emotion delivery systems.
2. Make it short enough that someone doesn’t need a nap halfway through
Listen, I’m all for long rants (obviously, since this blog is 1200+ words). But if you want something to be shared—keep it snack-sized.
Think:
- A list (like “5 Things Only People Who Live in Queens Understand”)
- A short video clip (subtitles help when people are watching on the train with no headphones)
- A meme, GIF, or even just a quote in big bold letters
Attention spans are like goldfish these days—actually, that’s an insult to goldfish.
3. Add your weird
The internet is drowning in copy-paste advice and generic posts. Nobody wants another bland “Top 10 Tips to Stay Productive.” Snooze.
But your weird little twist? That’s gold.
Maybe it’s your obsession with Dunkin’ iced coffee even in the middle of a snowstorm or it’s your cousin who still uses a flip phone in 2025. Maybe it’s just your awkward sense of humor.
That’s the stuff people remember. That’s the stuff they share.
4. Don’t be afraid of messy edges
Some of the most viral posts I’ve seen aren’t “perfect.” They’re typos, blurry photos, bad lighting, captions that make no sense but also kinda do.
People crave authenticity.
(And no, I don’t mean the fake kind where brands post “relatable” tweets about forgetting to charge their AirPods. We see you, corporate Twitter. Calm down.)
5. Timing. Ugh.
Okay, confession: I hate timing advice. “Best time to post is 2:36 p.m. on a Thursday!” Who cares? People will share good content whenever. BUT… it doesn’t hurt to pay attention.
If something big just happened in pop culture—jump on it.
If everyone’s already talking about Taylor Swift and you’ve got a funny take? That’s rocket fuel.
Culture & Media Are Basically Just… Memes Now
This might sound dramatic, but honestly? Viral trends kinda are the culture now.
Think about it:
- Half the TV shows we watch end up getting meme’d to death on TikTok.
- News spreads faster as screenshots than as actual news articles.
- Music? Don’t even get me started. A random sped-up version of a song will take over TikTok, and suddenly it’s topping charts.
The line between “content” and “media” is gone. We live in the blur.
Okay, But What About Strategy?
If you’re trying to actually create engaging content that gets shared on purpose (not just posting soggy keyboard photos and hoping for sympathy), here are a couple of non-boring strategies:
- Use stories, not lectures. Nobody wants to be told what to do. But everyone loves a good story.
- Ask questions. Not like “What are your thoughts?” corporate questions. Real ones. Like, “Am I the only one who eats cereal at midnight?”
- Visuals matter. Even if it’s just a dumb doodle. People share images way more than plain text.
- Be a little unhinged. The internet rewards chaos.
My Friend Once Said…
“People don’t share content. They share themselves through content.”
And honestly? That stuck with me.
When someone reposts your meme, they’re not saying “wow, what a genius creator this is.” They’re saying: this is me. this is how I feel.
So if you want shares? Make something that lets people see themselves in it.
Random Tangent (But Kind of Relevant)
Back in 8th grade, I wore two different shoes to school. Not on purpose. It was a Monday.
Everyone laughed, I was mortified, blah blah blah. But later? I realized people loved it because it was relatable. Everyone’s had that “my brain isn’t working today” moment.
That’s basically the internet in a nutshell.
The stuff you think will embarrass you is often the stuff people love the most.
Quick Cheatsheet for Shareable Content
Here’s my lazy person’s checklist (feel free to steal):
- Does it make me laugh, cry, or yell “SAME”?
- Could someone drop this in a group chat without needing to explain it?
- Would I send this to my mom without having to explain TikTok first?
- Does it feel like me, not a corporate robot?
If yes to at least two—post it.
Wrapping This Ramble Up
Look, there’s no magical recipe for making something go viral. (If there was, I’d be writing this from a villa in Italy instead of my apartment in Queens with a half-broken AC unit.)
But I do know this: if you want to create engaging content that gets shared, stop thinking like a marketer and start thinking like a human. The messy, funny, awkward, real stuff is what travels.
So go ahead. Post your pineapple pizza rant and Post your weird cat video. Post the midnight cereal confession.
Because honestly? That’s the content that makes the internet fun.
Outbound link:
10 Ways to Create More Engaging Content | NYTLicensing
The Secret to Shareable Content – Mailchimp
7 Tips for Creating Highly Shareable Content – Marketing Insider Group
How To Create More Engaging Content For Socials: Insights from VistaCreate – Neil Patel
