How to Create Shareable Instagram Content That Goes Viral – 10 Tips & Tricks

When it comes to the social media market, Instagram has solidified its position as a premier platform for brands, influencers, and individuals to connect with audiences and create meaningful engagement. But how do you make sure you’re not lost in the crowd? 

Here are 10 tips you can use to make sure your content is shareable and goes viral! 

1. Deeply Understand Your Target Audience

Knowing who your audience is, what they value, and what challenges they face allows you to tailor content that speaks directly to their needs and desires.

• Use Instagram Insights: Utilize Instagram’s built-in analytics to gather data on your followers’ demographics, interests, and behaviour patterns.  
• Develop Audience Personas: Create detailed personas that represent your ideal followers, including aspects such as age, location, profession, and hobbies.   

2. Invest in High-Quality Visual Content

Instagram is a visually-driven platform, you need to make sure your posts and reels use high-quality images and videos. 

• Invest in Professional Equipment: While smartphones can capture impressive photos, investing in a DSLR camera can significantly enhance the quality and versatility of your visuals.
• Master Photography Fundamentals: Learn key photography techniques, including composition, lighting, and focus.   
• Enhance with Editing Tools: Use advanced editing tools like Adobe Lightroom, VSCO, and Canva to fine-tune your images and videos.

3. Write Great Captions 

While visuals are the hook, captions provide the narrative that deepens engagement. 

• Tell Authentic Stories: Use your captions to share personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or inspirational stories that resonate emotionally with your audience.
• Encourage Interaction: Drive engagement by asking open-ended questions in your captions, prompting followers to comment and share their thoughts.
• Include Clear Calls to Action: Encourage your followers to take specific actions, such as liking, commenting, sharing, or following, to boost engagement and shares.

4. Optimize Keyword Usage for Maximum Reach

Keywords are essential for expanding your content’s reach on Instagram. 

• Conduct Research: Just like hashtags, understand what people are talking about and searching for on Instagram based on your niche. 
• Blend Popular and Niche Keywords: Use a combination of widely recognized words to attract a large audience, and niche-specific keywords to target a more focused group of users.

5. Engage Actively with Your Audience

Building a loyal and engaged community on Instagram is the basic for creating content that people want to share. Active engagement with your followers fosters a sense of connection and encourages them to spread your content within their networks.

• Respond Promptly to Comments: Acknowledge and respond to comments on your posts to show appreciation for your followers’ engagement. 
• Join Conversations: Participate in discussions on your own posts and across the platform. 
• Collaborate with Influencers: Partnering with influencers who share your target audience can expand your reach and introduce your content to new followers. 

6. Utilise Instagram Stories for Greater Engagement

Instagram Stories provide dynamic opportunities to connect with your audience in a more casual and interactive way. 

• Create Interactive Stories: Incorporate elements like stickers, polls, and quizzes in your Stories to make them more engaging. 
• Capitalise on Trends: Stay updated with the latest trends in Stories and participate in them 

7. Maintain Consistency in Posting and Timing

Being consistent is the foundation for building a strong presence on Instagram. Regular posting, coupled with strategic timing, can significantly impact your content’s performance and shareability.

• Determine Optimal Posting Times: Use Instagram Analytics to identify when your audience is most active and schedule your posts accordingly.   
• Develop a Content Calendar: Plan and organize your content in advance to ensure a steady flow of posts. 
• Avoid Content Saturation: While regular posting is important, avoid overwhelming your followers with too much content. 
• Utilize Scheduling Tools: Tools like Later, Hootsuite, or Buffer can help you schedule your posts in advance, ensuring that you maintain a consistent presence without the need for constant manual posting.

8. Run Strategic Contests and Giveaways

Contests and giveaways are powerful tools for boosting engagement, attracting new followers, and encouraging content sharing. When executed correctly, these strategies can significantly amplify your reach.

• Establish Clear Guidelines: Clearly communicate the rules and entry requirements for your contest to avoid confusion and ensure a smooth process. 
• Use Contest Management Tools: Use Platforms that can streamline the contest entry process, making it easier for participants to engage and share your content.

9. Regularly Analyze and Optimize Performance

Continuous analysis and optimization are very important for refining your Instagram strategy and ensuring that your content remains effective and shareable.

• Track Key Metrics: Regularly monitor metrics such as follower growth, engagement rates, and the performance of individual posts using Instagram Analytics.
• Identify Top-Performing Content: Analyze the elements that contribute to the success of your most popular posts. Whether it’s the visuals, captions, or timing, understanding these factors will help you replicate success in future content.
• Spot Areas for Improvement: Look for patterns in posts that underperform and identify potential areas for improvement, whether it’s content quality, engagement tactics, or posting times.
• Make Data-Driven Decisions: Use the insights gained from your analysis to inform your content strategy, ensuring that each post is optimised for maximum impact and shareability.

10. Stay Ahead of Instagram Trends and Algorithm Changes

Instagram is constantly evolving, with new features, trends, and algorithm updates regularly shaping the way content is shared and consumed. Staying informed and adaptable is key to maintaining relevance and viral potential.

• Follow Industry Experts and Influencers: Keep up with the latest developments on Instagram by following influential accounts within your niche. 
• Explore the Explore Page: This page is the place for discovering trending content, emerging creators, and new ideas. 
• Adapt to New Features: Be open to experimenting with new Instagram features as they roll out. 

Creating shareable Instagram content that goes viral is a blend of creativity, strategic planning, and consistent execution. By following these 10 strategies, you can significantly enhance your chances of reaching a broader audience, driving engagement, and achieving viral success on Instagram. If you’re looking to create a viral Instagram strategy, you’ve come to the right place. Leave us a query and let’s get started today!

We Think North

This piece was collaboratively written by multiple members of the We Think North team, bringing you perspectives from across the branding, marketing, content and tech verticals.