You can't control when a post is going to go viral -- I wish you could!  This weekend, I was hiking the canyons of the Buffalo River Basin in Arkansas with my husband and a couple of friends.  Cell reception was hit or miss (mostly miss) and Internet service was sketchy, at best.  While we were waiting to be seated for dinner, I received a message from my virtual assistant: I had a post that was going viral!!  Woot woot!  It meant "all hands on deck," and I was very fortunate to have a solid team who continued to monitor, respond, and invite followers throughout the weekend.  They continue to work around the clock to help me gain the most benefit from a silly little meme that went viral.  

I decided to take the opportunity to write a blog about going viral -- what it means and what you should do when it happens to you.

What "Viral" Means On Facebook

Going viral means different things on different platforms, and it certainly means something different when looking at posts across platforms.  For the purpose of this blog, let's take a look at what it means to go "viral" on a Facebook.

A viral post on a Facebook business page is a post that gains an extraordinary amount of attention and engagement within a short period. It often surpasses the usual reach, likes, shares, and comments that your typical posts receive. The key factors that contribute to virality are often content, timing, and a bit of luck. When a post goes viral, it can have a ripple effect that extends far beyond your existing audience.

There are a number of factors that would indicate your post has gone viral:

• number of comments
• number of shares
• number of likes
• number of views (in the case you posted a video)

A Facebook post that has received 1000 or more likes, 1000 or more shares, or 1000 or more comments is definitely in the "viral" category.  Another measure to consider is a post that achieves a reach of 10x the number of your Facebook followers.

If the post went viral you can also notice that

• increase of organic reach of your page
• increase of page likes

My Post That Went Viral

I could never have predicted that this simple meme, posted at 6:00 am on Friday morning would result in over 1.3K reactions and 800+ shares (and still counting).

Why this post?  I connected with my audience (quilters) and appealed emotionally (humor).

I didn't just sit back and watch the performance of the post.  Working together with my virtual assistant and team, we reacted and responded to each comment, thanked each public share, and invited people who reacted to the post to follow the page.  The result?  In 3 days, this post has reached 84,880 (18 times my followers).  But more importantly, my followers have grown by 165 -- a 4% growth in 3 days -- and it is still growing!

Maximizing Organic Growth

A viral post on your Facebook business page can be a game-changer. It's a moment of unexpected, but immensely gratifying, success that opens up new opportunities for growth and engagement. By understanding your audience, engaging with your followers, and implementing a content strategy that builds on the momentum of a viral post, you can turn a single moment of virality into sustained organic growth for your business.

There are many strategies to maximize your organic growth when you experience a viral post:

1.  Understand Your Audience:

• The first step in maximizing the benefits of a viral post is understanding your audience. Who are they? What are their interests? Why did the post go viral? By analyzing the demographics and behaviors of those engaging with your viral content, you can tailor future posts to better resonate with your newfound audience.  

2.  Engage and Respond:

• As the likes, shares, and comments start pouring in, be prepared to engage with your audience. Respond to comments promptly and courteously. This interaction humanizes your brand and builds trust with your new followers.
  

3.  Maintain Consistency:

• Once you've captured the attention of new followers, it's essential to maintain consistency in your content strategy. Regular, high-quality posts will keep these new followers engaged and help foster a sense of community around your brand.
  

4. Optimize Posting Times:

• Pay attention to when your viral post gained the most traction. This information can help you schedule future posts for maximum visibility. Facebook Insights can provide valuable data on the best times to post.
  

5.  Analyze and Adjust:

• Keep a close eye on the performance of your posts and adapt your strategy as needed. The social media landscape is ever-evolving, so staying flexible and continually improving is crucial.

Increasing the Odds of a Viral Post

You can increase the odds of having a viral post:

1. Leverage Trending Topics:

   • Viral posts often connect with trending topics or current events. Pay attention to what's happening in your industry, and when a relevant trend emerges, create content that addresses it. This increases the likelihood of your posts catching the attention of a wider audience.

2. Create Shareable Content:

   • Viral posts often have one thing in common: they're highly shareable. Craft content that is not only informative but also fun, emotional, or relatable. The more shareable your content is, the more it can spread to new audiences.

Try It Out

I'm happy to share.  If you are in the quilt industry and would like to use this meme, you are welcome to download and save the image and post it on your business page.  Hopefully, it will have a similar result for you.

The Last Word...

When a post goes viral, it can have a ripple effect that extends far beyond your existing audience.  When you have that magical moment when a single post on your Facebook business page catches fire and spreads like wildfire across the platform, make sure you have a plan to respond in a way that capitalizes on your organic growth.

Join our Social Media Facebook Group

Did you find this tip helpful?  Join our Social Media Facebook Group to stay up to date on social media trends and helpful hints.

Looking to refine and grow your Facebook page?  I offer two coaching groups to assist you in extending your business model through social media.  Facebook Beginners Bootcamp for those who are new to Facebook, and Facebook Success Formula for those who are ready grow their online business with strategic posting strategies and schedules.

New groups form EVERY month.  Don't see a day/time that works for you?  Email me, and I'll work to set up a schedule that best meets your needs.

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