10 Ways To Make Your Content Viral in 2025

We might all wonder why some posts on social media explodes while some barely get few likes. And this brings the question of what’s the secret sauce to making a content go viral? Is it all about humour, controversy, nostalgia or something else?

One thing is clear that viral content is not about luck, it happens organically and happens with a mix of emotion, reliability and shareability. Consider the Ice Bucket Challenge that raised millions for ALS or the blue vs gold dress debate that had everyone arguing.

Going viral on social media takes time, patience, and experimenting. Sometimes, a video can explode overnight and gain millions of viewers, but let’s admit – that happens rarely. In 2025, the game is changing again, and if you want your content to reach the masses, you’ll need to stay ahead of the trends.

What does going viral mean?

Going viral refers to those pieces of content that spreads rapidly across social media and the internet and reach a massive audience in a short amount of time. It can be anything, a video, image, meme or post.

We can take an example of a viral TikTok video by Jools Lebron popularly known as “Very Demure, Very Mindful” clip. The video showed a playful and exaggerated take on how to be “demure” and “mindful” in the workplace. It went viral rapidly because of its catchy line and people started sharing it by remixing it with other situations, creating new memes and variations.

Why is it important?

Today, going viral is like hitting the jackpot of online success. There are many reasons why it has become a goal for all content creators.

• Going viral will give you a massive boost in visibility. You can attract new followers and boost your influence or recognition.
• You can reach way more people than you ever expected, leading to more likes, shares and comments.
• You can be at the centre of popular culture and have a voice in discussions that matter.
• You can get more opportunities for partnerships, media appearances or collaboration.
• It can create long-term growth and lead to even more opportunities to go viral.

1. Embrace the ‘Unhinged’ content

Have you ever seen those random videos that are so uncanny, yet you find yourself drawn to them? They’re considered unhinged content, and they’ve been blowing up social media for a while now.

Take the influencers (or ‘anti-influencers’, to be exact), The Inspired Unemployed. They’re hilarious, unpredictable, and totally authentic. It’s a great example to stop worrying about your content being perfect if you wish it to go viral. A great tip is to add a bit of chaos to it and make it relatable to users.

2. Jump on local trends

If there’s one thing Aussies can’t get enough of, it’s talking about what’s trending on social media. From a major sports event to a trending TikTok dance to the lightning debate on local politics, tapping into these conversations can help you gain more engagement.

For example, brands such as Vegemite and KFC Australia nailed it by becoming part of cultural moments in a fun, cheeky way. Get used to updating trends daily and try to jump into that train on time.

3. Include short videos

Short-form videos aren’t going anywhere. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts show snappy, engaging content that keeps people watching.

For starters, to increase the engagement of your videos, you need to grab attention in the first 3 seconds. Next, always use trending sounds and captions. Users love it when the videos are fast-paced and visually engaging. And, most importantly, get people involved. Focus on challenges and other types of interactive content that generate lots of engagement.

4. Consider user-generated content (UGC)

People trust people. Therefore, UGC is one of the most powerful tools for making content viral. You can start encouraging your audience to create content for you. It can be through a contest, a giveaway, or customer reviews to build up engagement and trust.

Look at companies like Cotton On and Boost Juice. Both of them have used UGC campaigns as a way to involve their audience and bring a lot of online buzz. The more the audience interacts with your content, the more people you reach.

5. Use a VPN

Content creators are so busy trying to create the next best thing on social media that they often forget about using a virtual private network (VPN) for the process. Once you grasp the meaning of a VPN, it becomes easier to gain market advantage.

Through VPN services, you can discover trending content in different countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. A VPN enables you to change your location so you can gain inspiration from various markets across the world.

Australian users sometimes encounter restricted content due to geo-locational limitations. With a VPN, you can bypass geographical limitations. Also, research privacy is important for marketers and content creators working with trends. While a VPN is on, you’ll remain untrackable for your competitors, which means even more possibilities for the market’s research.

As you can see, the usage of a VPN stands as an essential requirement for anyone dedicated to maintaining market leadership in content creation.

6. Work with influencers

If influencers already have dedicated followers, why not use that to your advantage? Using their community can help your content get out there faster, no matter if you work with big-name creators or micro-influencers.

You can find incredible influencers in Australia’s fashion, fitness, tech, and other industries. But look for influencers who really fit with your brand, not just people who have a lot of followers. Being authentic means more shares and more interaction.

7. Timing and platform optimisation matters

Content with perfect quality still fails to generate success unless someone discovers it. Your content has the power to succeed or fail based on when and how you optimise each platform.

For example, the best posting times for Instagram and TikTok are usually early mornings (7-9 AM) and evenings (6-9 PM). For LinkedIn, it’s usually on weekdays during business hours. It’s best to post on weekends and late evenings if you have a YouTube channel.

Of course, each piece of content should follow the recommendations for its specific platform. Different social media platforms require different content strategies because what succeeds on Facebook will not translate directly to Instagram.

8. Keep your focus on a specific niche

Once you find your own niche, own it so that you can stand out. Instead of blending into the sea of generic content, try to be the go-to voice about a topic. No matter whether you are into travel, food or fashion, sticking to your specific area will help you build a dedicated audience who will trust your content.

When people will find that you are passionate and knowledgeable in your area, they will keep coming back for more. So, focusing on a niche will also help you build a community of followers who share common interests.

9. Use visual

Today, people scroll through endless posts, and visuals do the word to make them stop and pay attention. Studies also show that visuals are more engaging than plain text because they can grab attention instantly and communicate messages quickly.

Add short and punchy captions on images to reinforce your message. And if your niche accepts humour, try out memes and GIFs. Try out using infographics if you are sharing tips or data. This will make your content easy to digest.

10. Add clear CTAs Hashtags, Engagement prompts

Use clear call to action (CTAs), hashtags and engagement prompts to spread your content. Using a simple CTA like “Share it with a friend you want to go with” will encourage people to take action, otherwise they might move on without engaging.

Use trending and niche-specific hashtags that match your content. This will push your post onto the feeds of people who are interested in your topic. At the end of your post or in the comment, you can ask a question like “What’s your take on this?” or “Let’s discuss.” to invite comments and reactions.

What have we learned?

Creating viral content in 2025 is all about hard work, dedication, and creativity. You might not achieve success in one day, but your consistency will pay off in the long run. Stick to the tips above, and do additional research on your part. Remember that being a content creator is also about learning and taking the steps to improve yourself.