How to Make a Tweet Go Viral: 10 Highly Effective Strategies

Want to learn the secrets of creating viral tweets? Look no further! These ten strategies will help you increase your reach and engagement on Twitter.

With all the hype around Instagram and TikTok, you might think Twitter is losing its steam. But don’t be fooled. Twitter is still a vibrant platform that 82% of B2B content marketers use to boost their marketing efforts, as shown by research from the Content Marketing Institute.

Gone are the days when going viral on Twitter was just a stroke of luck. Now, crafting the perfect viral tweet has become an art form. People invest hours in connecting with their audience and making their tweets go viral.

But with about 6,000 tweets sent per second, there’s a massive sea of content out there. So what sets apart a viral tweet from the rest? In this article, we’ll reveal proven strategies to make your tweets go viral (or increase your chances, at least) and drive valuable traffic to your business.

But first, let’s define what a viral tweet is.

A viral tweet is one that gets shared, retweeted, or quoted by many people, and fast. Though there’s no exact formula for virality, it’s often a tweet that sparks conversations and grabs attention.

It could be an intriguing question, the start of an entertaining Twitter thread, or a simple statement that addresses a social issue. Whatever the case, a viral tweet makes Twitter users stop and take notice.

So how can you make sure your tweets cut through the noise and stand out? Here are 10 effective techniques to make your tweets go viral.

1. Ask for retweets

One of the easiest ways to boost the virality of your tweets is to simply ask for retweets. Offer enticing giveaways like cash, clothing, or even non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and request a retweet in return. Brands use this tactic to promote products and generate excitement for upcoming releases.

Check out how this NFT page ran a giveaway and ended up with a viral tweet.

2. Spark thought with a question

Never underestimate the power of a thought-provoking question. People love engaging with others and sharing interesting stories, memories, or facts. Take a look at this thread that started with a question about the most ridiculous name someone has ever heard.

The great thing about this tactic is that your questions don’t always have to be grounded in reality. Look at how David B Freeman’s tweet unleashed the creativity of hundreds.

3. Connect through relatability

Engage your followers by appealing to their emotions. Share personal experiences or common occurrences in your industry that resonate with your audience. Avoid oversharing, but let your followers see that you understand them.

Ashley Cummings did this beautifully by addressing an issue among freelance writers that many could relate to.

If you want to win over your followers and go viral, tap into our shared humanity. Stephanie Lucianovic’s tweet about her 2nd grader during remote learning struck a chord with anyone working from home, and it went viral.

4. Use links strategically

Include links in your tweets to valuable resources, news articles, or online content that your readers will find helpful. Craft a compelling call-to-action and encourage them to click the link.

When your followers gain valuable knowledge from your resources, they’ll be inspired to share the link, leading to more retweets. It’s a win-win situation: your followers get valuable information, and you drive traffic to your site.

Julian Shapiro nailed this by sharing a guide he wrote, using his witty introduction and reputation as an editor to entice his followers.

You can also use links to generate buzz around a new release or an update. Spotify did exactly that to spread the word about Kanye’s latest album.

5. Spice things up with humor!

Let’s be real, we all love a good laugh on Twitter. So why not use humor to your advantage? Share funny personal stories, crack jokes with your followers, or spin a regular interaction into a hilarious tweet. Adding some humor to your bio and tweets can make your brand stand out. Need inspiration? Check out this tweet that went viral with its spot-on joke!

6. Master the art of timing

Even the perfect tweet can get lost in the Twitterverse if posted at the wrong time. To ensure maximum impact, consider when your target audience is most active on Twitter. And don’t forget to hop on trends before they fade away! Take a page from Wendy’s book when they responded lightning-fast to Facebook’s name change. Timing is everything!

7. Ride the wave of a viral trend

There’s always a trending meme on Twitter. From cartoons to celebrity mishaps, memes generate massive engagement. And if you want to connect with a younger audience, including memes or viral trends in your tweets can boost your chances of going viral. Take a look at how Chipotle cleverly incorporated a popular meme into their tweets about menu offerings. Experiment with different trend-catching tweets and see what resonates with your audience.

8. Craft killer headlines

Gone are the days of cramming all your information into one tweet. Twitter threads have become a powerful tool for going viral. Sometimes, all it takes is one attention-grabbing headline or introduction tweet to kick off a viral thread. Just like marketer Alex Garcia, captivate and inform your audience while driving traffic back to your Twitter account. A strong introduction keeps readers hooked!

9. Share valuable insights

No one wants to follow a boring page. Make your content actionable and valuable to your audience. The more it resonates with them, the more likely they are to share it and make it go viral. If your target audience is bloggers, create a thread about “Top 10 things I Wish I Knew As a Beginner Blogger?” Liz Beechinor nailed this strategy by sharing her father’s marketing experience and how it impacted her business. Provide niche industry tips, like SEO or copywriting, and mention how your thread will benefit readers. Target your audience effectively!

10. Harness the power of visuals

While Twitter is a text-based platform, don’t underestimate the impact of photos, drawings, and infographics. Sometimes, a picture speaks louder than words. Look at how Dakota Snow got straight to the point with a tweet that resonated with US workers who don’t take all their paid time off. And remember, visuals can capture the essence of relatable situations, just like Chi Thukral did with a photo showcasing the feeling of being overwhelmed with a big job. A picture can be worth a thousand retweets!

Get inspired by these 5 viral tweets!

If the examples we shared in our tips weren’t clear enough, we’ve got five more to learn from.

1. Viral tweet with valuable information:

Learn from Ashley Cummings

Ashley’s thread is a great example because she starts with the value she offers – the lessons she learned as a freelancer to help her business succeed.

2. Relatable viral tweet:

Rosemary Egbo strikes a chord

Rosemary’s tweet clearly resonated with her target audience, who likely experienced the same situation. That’s why it got so many retweets and likes.

3. Relatable viral tweet:

Adrienne Barnes captures the lockdown experience

During the global lockdown in 2020, we all saw a new side to our roommates and partners. Adrienne’s tweet definitely struck a chord.

4. Viral tweet that poses a question:

Coach Adria nails it

Questions in viral tweets have a special power to make your followers share their stories. Adria got that formula just right.

5. Relatable viral tweet:

Vidhika Bansal makes us think about our managers

Vidhika’s tweet probably had everyone reminiscing about their fantastic or toxic managers.

Ready to make a splash with your own viral tweet?

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