How To Reach Millions On Social Media With These Simple Tweaks

If you’re a motivational speaker, a founder of an impact-oriented company, or simply on a mission to inspire others in their personal development, you’ve likely been creating content. Many creators are using Instagram, YouTube, their own podcast, and TikTok to share content. But, how can one make a piece of content “viral-worthy?” 

Gary Vaynerchuck famously said, “You’re only one piece of content away from everything you’ve ever wanted.” Sometimes, we come up with a video or post that we know has the power to impact large numbers of people. So, how do you get more eyes on it? There’s no one secret formula to crafting content that’s viral, but there are a few tips that can result in more eyeballs - which inevitably means more impact. 

1. Partner With Influencers 

One of the quickest routes to getting more exposure is to partner with someone who has a bigger audience. But, this doesn’t mean you have to pay a hefty amount for an advertisement on their page. There are many motivational influencers who are also excited about self development, and may be willing to come on your podcast or provide a quote for your blog post. 

It doesn’t hurt to ask, and make sure to be as specific as possible. If they’ve been open about sharing a part of their self development journey in the past - such as hiring a coach or how they completely altered their daily schedule - ask them to elaborate further. Something not to do is ask them to regurgitate what they’ve already said elsewhere. Garrett Adkins, co-founder of Impact Media, advises that “after you make a few connections, it becomes much easier to expand your network by asking for referrals. Creators are friends with creators. They have a whole network that they can introduce you to if you build a strong connection first.” 

2. Use Subtitles On Videos 

Videos have a higher tendency to go viral than anything else. They create influence because they share emotions more vividly through their human element. Many scroll past video content on their phones, unless they have their headphones handy. Video content strategist Sivan Felder shared the statistic that 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound. So, subtitles are paramount.

“No matter how incredible your video is, if you don’t include subtitles, no one is listening,” Felder warns. Most content creators make the mistake of not adding subtitles, gambling on the small chance that viewers will invest the time in turning on the volume to watch. Make it as easy as possible for every impression to turn into a view.

3. Make A High-Impact Headline 

It’s also critical to draw in viewers with a catchy headline, which can pique immediate interest. For self development content, make the headline oriented toward what they will learn and what that will unlock in their lives. Tell them the results that watching or engaging with your content can do for them. 

Lenney Leong, the founder of Get Customers, has had two videos go viral, including a self development video that gained over 2 million views. When it comes to the headline, Leong advises to “really tell a story in one sentence. When people read the headline, they want to know what to expect in the next few minutes. Be straightforward, so they can visualize what they’re about to view and what they’ll get from it.” In the case of his viral video, he titled it, ‘Life of a Fighter: Guy Who Was Born with Cerebral Palsy.’ This effectively told viewers what they’d learn and watch in the video.

4. Create In Alignment With What’s Performing Well Already

Finally, when generating new content ideas, look to what’s already performing on your page. Your current audience will give you indications that they like certain types of content more than others - it’s all in your social media insights.

Ramona Sukhraj, Head of Editorial Content for IMPACT, says that the size of your audience doesn’t actually matter, as long as they’re engaged followers. “Having a large reach with low engagement is a bad sign because it shows that you don't have a marketing message or content that resonates,” she wrote. So, direct message your followers and ask what they want more of. The more you share content that they’re looking for, the more likely they are to share that content on their own social media pages, or just with a friend at work. This word of mouth inevitably leads to the viral aspect we’re all looking for. 

Most will say that the first piece of content that ever went viral for them was quite unexpected. So, keep producing content! Keep the core powerful, with self-development messages that can really help viewers, and continue to diversify until you hit the jackpot.