How to Make Viral Videos
There's no guaranteed formula for virality, but there are patterns. Here's what actually increases your odds of creating videos that spread.
Going viral isn't a strategy—it's an outcome. No one can guarantee a video will go viral. But you can increase the odds by understanding what makes videos spread and consistently creating content that has viral potential.
The Volume Game
The most reliable path to viral videos is creating lots of videos. Successful creators often post daily or multiple times per day. Most of their content performs modestly. But they keep playing the game, and occasionally something breaks through.
One in fifty videos might go viral. If you post once a week, that's a year of waiting. If you post daily, it could happen next month. Volume isn't a guarantee, but it dramatically shortens the timeline.
Hooks That Stop Thumbs
The first second determines whether someone watches or scrolls. Viral videos almost always have a compelling opening. This could be:
A bold claim: "This changed my entire workflow"
Curiosity: "I never expected this to happen"
Pattern interrupt: Something visually unusual that breaks the scroll
Direct value: "Here's how to [solve problem]"
Watch your first second with fresh eyes. Would you stop scrolling?
Emotional Resonance
Videos spread when people want to share them. That happens when content triggers an emotional response—laughter, surprise, inspiration, outrage, recognition. "Oh, that's so relatable" makes people tag their friends. "Wait, what?" makes people share to their story.
The emotion doesn't need to be intense. Even mild amusement or a satisfying "ah-ha" moment can be enough. But content that triggers no emotion at all rarely spreads.
Want to automate your video distribution?
Distribute to All PlatformsRiding Trends
Trending sounds, formats, and topics get algorithmic boosts on most platforms. A mediocre video using a trending sound often outperforms a great video with no trend element.
The trick is adding your unique angle to a trend, not just copying it exactly. Put the trend through your lens. A cooking creator uses a trending dance, but in their kitchen. A business creator uses a trending sound to make a point about entrepreneurship.
Distribution Matters
A video can't go viral if no one sees it. Posting to multiple platforms increases your chances—a video that gets buried on TikTok might take off on YouTube Shorts. Different algorithms favor different content.
Post timing matters too. Each platform has peak hours when more people are scrolling. Early engagement signals to the algorithm that your content is worth promoting.
Ready to save hours on video uploads?
ShortSync lets you upload once and publish to TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and Facebook Reels simultaneously.
Distribute to All Platforms with ShortSyncThe Reality Check
Most creators who "go viral" have been posting consistently for months or years before it happened. Overnight success usually follows a long runway. The goal isn't to chase virality directly—it's to create good content consistently enough that eventually something catches fire.
For more on creating and distributing content efficiently, see our guides on video optimization and cross-platform posting.