How to Go Viral: How to Write Viral Blogs
Are you dreaming of that one perfect post? You know, the one that puts your site on the map? The one that explodes across the internet faster than the funniest cat video? The one that draws in customers in droves?
You know. The viral post.
Here’s the good news: that viral post is possible. If you know what you’re doing. Unfortunately, most business owners know their industry but don’t know a lick about blogging. But that viral post is still possible–if you bring in an article writing service to help you.
You know your business, and article services know blogging. Put another way, they know what makes a post go viral, and they know how to bring together the perfect combination of SEO, social media, and good old fashioned copywriting to create a viral post.
Here’s what article writing services use to create viral posts–and why you should bring in the pros from the start rather than trying to figure it out on your own.
What’s in a Name?
Quick question: what made you click on this post?
Sure, you knew you were looking for something. But you picked this post because it stood out in one specific area: the title.
Most readers on the internet aren’t readers, they’re hunters. They’re looking for the information they want and they’ll tune out all other information that doesn’t match their criteria. This means that your title is your first (and sometimes only) chance to catch their eye.
Some common headline formulas that typically perform well include:
- Number headlines (i.e. listicles)
- Big promise headlines (see: this title)
- Scarcity headline (i.e. something few people have)
- Famous comparisons (i.e. drawing on the popularity of a celebrity or topic)
- How-to headlines (i.e. here’s how to fix that problem you have)
Keep in mind that titles don’t just catch the eye of one reader–they increase the chance that another reader might see it, as one visitor might share the post with another person (even if they don’t read the post completely).
Trendy + Original
That said, good article writing services are those that have their finger on the pulse of what’s new and exciting. They have a clear understanding of the industries they serve, which means they also know what’s trendy and interesting.
They also know that the best posts are the ones that don’t just regurgitate trends. That would make you a follower, not a leader. The best posts are the ones that bring together trending topics (i.e. those with a strong following to work with) and originality (i.e. your own take on the topic).
The right combination is vital. Technically, you can write about anything you want on the internet, but that doesn’t mean anyone will read it. Writing about trendy topics ensures that you have a chance to buy into an upswing in traffic.
However, if you’re not saying anything new on the subject, no one will bother clicking on your post. Website visitors aren’t looking for another carbon copy of the same topic–they want something they haven’t seen before.
In other words, if you think you can write about trendy topics without having original thoughts on those topics, you’ve got another think coming.
Not sure if you can come up with something original? Here’s a hint: read posts from your competitors about the same topic. If their content perfectly aligns with your thoughts, you won’t have anything original to say, which means you won’t be able to write something original.
This is where the benefit of article writing services comes in: they’re a fresh set of eyes, which means you have a far better chance of coming up with something unique.
Do Something About It
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice a common thread among these sections: actionable information.
Your visitors are looking for information they can use, especially if they’re turning to you to solve a problem for them. Some articles are written purely for entertainment, but most articles exist to offer information.
For example, if you make a promise in the headline, the content should deliver. If you ask a question, answer it. If you want a visitor to click on an article to meet a need, you have to meet that need in the article. If you offer to teach something, teach it.
Otherwise, you’re just wasting their time.
Keep It Green
Picture an evergreen tree. A pine tree, for example. Unlike other trees, this hardy little guy holds onto its needles all year, even as all the other trees shed their leaves. Other trees come and go with the seasons, but evergreens hold on no matter what.
Your content should be the same.
Evergreen content, like an evergreen tree, is content that is always applicable to reader interests. Your readers can always get something out of it, no matter how long ago the content was written. Other articles become dated (and eventually outdated) but evergreen content keeps delivering value.
This means that evergreen content has a far greater chance of going viral and holding strong, rather than shooting up and down with a fad.
Stop Trying to Go Viral
Last but not least, if you want to go viral, stop trying to go viral.
It might sound counter-intuitive, but its actually the only way you stand a chance of going viral. This is all about a shift in perspective.
If your goal is to go viral, you want to generate value for yourself. If your goal is to write useful content, you want to generate value for your audience. Generating value for your audience is the secret sauce that makes content go viral, more so than any other factor.
Article Writing Services That Work
If this all sounds like Greek to you, take a deep breath. The first step toward viral content is having the right team in your corner. And that means hiring the best experts for the job.
If you’re ready for article writing services that work for you, we’re ready to help. We know what it takes to make great content, and we know how to create content tailored to your business and your goals.
Let’s talk about making your content amazing. Click here to get in touch and start the conversation.