An Analysis Of Words And Phrases That Spread Viral Content

In today’s digital age, creating viral content is the holy grail of content marketing. Every marketer wants their content to go viral, but achieving this goal is easier said than done. While there is no magic formula for creating viral content, a recent analysis has shed light on the words and phrases that tend to spread the most.

The Methodology

The analysis, conducted by BuzzSumo, analyzed the headlines of 100 million articles published in 2017. The study found that the most viral headlines tend to use certain words and phrases that evoke emotion, curiosity, and urgency.

Emotional Triggers

The study found that headlines that triggered emotions tended to go viral. The most common emotional triggers were:

1. Anxiety: Phrases that create a sense of fear or anxiety tend to generate more clicks and shares. Examples include “the shocking truth” or “the hidden danger.”
2. Amazement: Phrases that create a sense of amazement or wonder tend to be shared more. Examples include “mind-blowing” or “jaw-dropping.”
3. Anger: Phrases that create a sense of outrage or anger tend to generate more shares. Examples include “outrageous” or “shocking.”
4. Joy: Phrases that create a sense of happiness or joy tend to generate more shares. Examples include “heartwarming” or “inspiring.”

Curiosity Triggers

Headlines that trigger curiosity tend to generate more clicks and shares. The study found that the most common curiosity triggers were:

1. Lists: Headlines that include lists tend to be more shareable, as readers are curious to know what made the list. Examples include “10 reasons why” or “5 ways to.”
2. How-to: Headlines that include “how-to” tend to generate more clicks and shares, as readers are curious to know how to do something. Examples include “how to make” or “how to do.”
3. Questions: Headlines that pose a question tend to be more shareable, as readers are curious to know the answer. Examples include “are you making these mistakes?” or “what would you do?”

Urgency Triggers

Headlines that create a sense of urgency tend to generate more clicks and shares. The most common urgency triggers were:

1. Scarcity: Headlines that create a sense of scarcity tend to generate more clicks and shares. Examples include “limited time offer” or “only a few left.”
2. FOMO: Headlines that create a fear of missing out tend to generate more shares. Examples include “you won’t believe what you’re missing” or “don’t miss out on this opportunity.”
3. Urgency: Headlines that create a sense of urgency tend to generate more clicks and shares. Examples include “act now” or “don’t wait.”

Conclusion

Creating viral content is not an exact science, but understanding the words and phrases that tend to generate more clicks and shares can help marketers create more effective headlines. Emotional, curiosity, and urgency triggers are the key elements that can turn an ordinary headline into a viral one. By using these triggers strategically, marketers can increase the chances of their content going viral and reaching a wider audience.