How to Go Viral (By Accident, Once, Never Again)

Everyone wants to go viral. Brands want it. Teenagers want it. Your cousin who sells candles wants it so badly the candles have started to smell of desperation. The secret is that nobody, including the algorithm, knows how it works, and the algorithm has stopped pretending.

I’ve spent years studying viral content and can confirm that effort is inversely proportional to results. The thing you planned for a week will be seen by your mum, who will comment “Lovely.” The thing you filmed by mistake while sneezing will be seen by Brazil.

Your best work will be seen by eleven people. Your worst moment will outlive you.

1. STEP 1Study what's trending.
2. STEP 2Make a video with careful lighting and a hook in the first three seconds.
3. STEP 3Post it.
4. STEP 4Receive 14 views: three are you, one is a bot, one is your ex, checking.
5. STEP 5Accidentally post a blurry video of your cat falling off a radiator.
6. STEP 62.4 million views.
7. STEP 7Spend the next year trying to make the cat do it again.
8. STEP 8The cat is now more famous than you will ever be, and it still doesn't know your name.