It is every creative’s dream to create that one piece of content that blows up. But people don’t often talk about the exhaustion of trying to make every post hit that level. You’ve probably felt it: the endless brainstorming, the pressure to keep up with trends, the worry that your next post won’t get the traction you hoped for. It’s a grind, and it can suck the fun out of something that should be creative and exciting.
But here’s a little secret: you don’t have to burn out to create viral content. Some of the most shareable, engaging posts come from creators who have figured out how to make the process work for them, not the other way around. In the end, it’s about working smarter and focusing on what really matters, so you can create content that resonates without draining yourself in the process.
So, let’s get into some practical tips that can help you craft viral-worthy content while keeping your sanity intact.
- Start by Understanding What Really Goes Viral
First things first: You need to understand that not everything you post will or even needs to go viral. But knowing what can make something trendy online will help you focus your efforts. Viral content usually:
- Hits people emotionally (think joy, surprise, curiosity, or even outrage)
- Provides real value (whether it’s solving a problem, making someone laugh, or teaching something new)
- Is relatable: people want to share things they see themselves in
- Looks good. It could be a well-edited video, or just clean, easy-to-read text
- Has a clear call to action (even if that’s just “share this with your friends!”)
Example: Remember the “I’m Not the Birthday Girl, I’m the Birthday Girl’s Sister” challenge? It was a playful trend where people posted pictures or videos of themselves showing love to the birthday girl while humorously saying they weren’t the main star of the day. It struck the right chord—it was funny, easy to replicate, and relatable for anyone with siblings. Plus, it encouraged others to join in and share their own version. This challenge hit all the marks for viral content, because even till now, people still hop on the challenge. Why not focus on making your content original, engaging, valuable, and relatable. Simplicity often works best.
- 2. Make use of a Content Calendar
You don’t need to be in a constant state of “What should I post today?” That already is a show killer and spoiler. Planning ahead with a content calendar is like giving your brain a break while still staying consistent. It lets you schedule out ideas in advance, so you aren’t scrambling to come up with something fabulous every other day. Besides, with the invention of many (AI) tools, you can now schedule your posts with things that give your content a natural boost.
Pro Tip: When creating content, set aside time to create multiple pieces at once. This will give you breathing room and prevent you from feeling like you’re always racing the clock to post something fresh and original.
- Repurpose What’s Already Working
This hack will surely deliver value (save you time and energy): you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you post. Even in the advert world, copywriters make use of ‘swipe files’ to generate adverts. Once you have a content that is performing, and doing numbers – give it a second life. You will see this mostly with movies that have sequels. That content is doing great – why not turn that blog into a social media post, slice that long video into short clips, or transform your podcast into a Twitter thread. You’re still putting out valuable content, but with a fraction of the effort.
Example: Assuming you wrote a blog titled “How to create a viral worthy content without burning out.” That single blog could become:
- An Instagram carousel breaking down each trend
- A LinkedIn post discussing your favourite trend in detail
- A series of tweets highlighting the key points
- An Instagram reel telling stories
Same message, different formats that appeals to different people without having to start from scratch.
- Let Your Audience Do Some of the Work (User-Generated Content)
You don’t need to create everything on your own when your audience can help. That’s the beauty of User-generated content (UGC). People love to share their own experiences, and when they do, you get fresh, authentic content without having to lift a finger. Also, featuring your followers’ content helps build a sense of community, which is a win-win.
- Collaborate with Other Creators
Two heads they say are better than one. Partnering with other creators mostly in your social class can help you reach new audiences and share the workload. Yes, you might not be in the level where you all want to be but partnership helps you reach each other’s audience.
Pro-Tip: In doing so, find creators who align with your style and values. Collaborations work best when both sides bring something to the table and can authentically connect with each other’s audience.
- Take Breaks and Set Boundaries
Content creation is a grind and it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to constantly be on. But pushing yourself to the limit is a fast track to burnout, and when you’re burnt out, your content suffers.
Set boundaries for when you’ll work and when you won’t. Don’t be afraid to take a day (or even a week) off to recharge. Your creativity and mental health are far more important than posting every single day.
- Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
Last but not least, you should understand that the internet is overflowing with content, and posting more just for the sake of it doesn’t guarantee success. Instead of focusing on how often you’re posting, put your energy into making sure what you do post is high quality. A single, well-crafted post can go a lot further than a dozen rushed ones. That’s a fact!
Example: Creators like Fisayo Fosudo, and Tayo Aina on YouTube don’t even post that much, but when they do, their content is polished, informative, and well-researched. That’s why each video consistently racks up millions of views. It’s about quality over quantity.
In Conclusion…
You don’t need to get burnt out to create content that people want to share. If you work smarter and give yourself space to breathe, you will create content that will resonate with your audience such that they will be the ones chasing after your content.