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2.27.2025

strategy

Six ways to raise your chance of going viral

People always ask me how to make a video go viral. My honest reply: if I had a foolproof formula, I’d be a billionaire by now.

That said, I’ve been lucky enough to see a few of my videos catch fire on social media, and I’ve noticed some patterns that can raise your chances of going viral.

Here are six quick tips:

1 - Pick one channel

Instead of scattering your views all over the internet, funnel them through your strongest platform.

If you’re best on LinkedIn, direct everyone there. Don’t dilute your engagement by posting to YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter, and five other places all at once. Concentrate your efforts.

2 - Reach out to influencers

Don’t be shy about @mentioning industry experts or sliding into their DMs.

Sometimes, they’ll share your stuff; sometimes, they won’t. But you never know who else will see it and spark a chain reaction.

3 - Use PR wisely

Craft a press angle people actually care about. “Check out my new video” isn’t exactly newsworthy.

A well-defined hook, on the other hand, can grab media attention and amplify your reach.

4 - Optimize on YouTube

Titles and thumbnails matter.

Use a title that people might actually type into the search bar, and pick a compelling image (preferably showing a person) to boost click-through.

5 - Launch on a Tuesday

Tuesdays are a sweet spot—folks aren’t buried in Monday chaos, and you still have the rest of the workweek to build momentum.

Just make sure there’s no major news overshadowing your release.

6 - Activate your network

Encourage your team and biggest fans to like, comment, and share right away.

Early engagement can be the difference between sinking or skyrocketing.

One more thing...

Finally, the most important part is to make something worth sharing. That’s the piece nobody can guarantee. If your content resonates with actual human beings, your odds of going viral go way up. And if it doesn’t—no fancy hacks or checklists can fix that.

Listen to this article's companion podcast:

GUY BAUER

FOUNDER AND

CREATIVE

DIRECTOR

Picture of Guy bauer, founder of umault

Guy has been making commercial videos for over 20 years and is the author of “Death to the Corporate Video: A Modern Approach that Works.” He started the agency in 2010 after a decade of working in TV, film and radio. He’s been losing hair and gaining weight ever since.

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