Going viral on Twitter is the holy grail for many brands, influencers, and everyday users looking to grow their reach online. While virality can never be guaranteed, certain best practices can hugely boost your chances.
This comprehensive guide reveals expert tips for how to make your Twitter post go viral, optimize engagement, leverage influencers, understand Twitter’s algorithm, and capitalize on trending moments.
Table of Contents
What Does “Going Viral” Mean on Twitter?
On Twitter, “going viral” generally means:
- Amassing tens or hundreds of thousands of likes, retweets, and replies rapidly
- Seeing massive growth in followers and profile views
- Getting amplified by high-profile accounts through shares and engagement
- Having your tweet screenshotted and shared across platforms
- Sparking online debate, hot takes, imitation posts, and media coverage
Virality is like a chain reaction. Your content initially spreads within your network. But once it taps into a sentiment people connect with, viral effects compound exponentially.
Twitter calculates “viral” traction metrics differently for individuals vs. brands. For everyday users, tens of thousands of engagements can be viral. For major companies, that may be the minimum threshold.
There’s no universally agreed-upon benchmark. It’s about relative viralness for your account size and industry. The tips below aim to help multiply your typical reach and engagement.
Also read: Can You Hide Your Tweets on Twitter
How Many Likes Are Considered Viral on Twitter?
As a general rule of thumb for regular users:
- 1,000+ likes – Strong initial traction for most accounts
- 10,000+ likes – Approaching true virality if this greatly exceeds your norm
- 25,000+ likes – Clear indicator of a viral post based on typical individual user engagement
- 50,000+ likes – Undeniably viral, especially rapidly achieved
- 100,000+ likes – Popular brand/celebrity viral tweet numbers
- 250,000+ likes – Trending with the Twitter masses
- 500,000+ likes – A truly elite viral post for individual users
- 1,000,000+ likes – Only the most viral brand and entertainment tweets
To determine your viral tweet benchmark, examine your account history to date. If a new post exceeds your past performance by 10-50X, it’s likely gone viral relative to your baseline.
How Many Retweets Are Considered Viral?
Retweet count can also indicate Twitter virality. Here are general viral RT ranges:
- 500+ retweets – Strong initial traction for most accounts
- 2,000+ retweets – Approaching true virality if this greatly exceeds your norm
- 5,000+ retweets – Clear indicator of a viral post based on typical individual user engagement
- 10,000+ retweets – Undeniably viral, especially rapidly achieved
- 20,000+ retweets – Popular brand/celebrity viral tweet numbers
- 50,000+ retweets – Trending with the Twitter masses
- 100,000+ retweets – A truly elite viral post for individual users
- 250,000+ retweets – Only the most viral brand and entertainment tweets
- 500,000+ retweets – The ultra-rare Twitter post that everyone shares
As with likes, comparing retweets to your historical tweets gives the most accurate sense of personal virality.
How Many Profile Views Indicates a Viral Tweet?
A spike in Twitter profile views also signals viral tweet activity:
- 500-1,000 views – Strong initial traffic for most accounts
- 5,000+ views – Approaching viral as this greatly exceeds your norm
- 10,000+ views – Clear indicator of a viral post based on typical individual user engagement
- 50,000+ views – Undeniably viral profile traffic spike
- 100,000+ views – Popular brand/celebrity viral tweet numbers
- 250,000+ views – Mass viral curiosity about who you are
- 500,000+ views – Truly elite viral traffic spike for individual users
- 1,000,000+ views – Only the most viral brand and entertainment tweets
Monitor your tweet analytics and account views. Major upward deviations likely mean content is hitting the viral zone.
How Many New Followers Indicate a Viral Tweet?
Rapid follower growth shows Twitter virality:
- 100-500 new followers – Strong initial follower gain for most accounts
- 1,000+ new followers – Approaching viral as this greatly exceeds your norm
- 5,000+ new followers – Clear indicator of a viral post based on typical individual user engagement
- 10,000+ new followers – Undeniably viral growth, especially rapidly achieved
- 50,000+ new followers – Popular brand/celebrity viral tweet follower spike
- 100,000+ new followers – Elite viral growth for individual users
- 250,000+ new followers – Extremely viral brand/celebrity follower spike
Compare new followers to your average daily gains. Spikes likely indicate content resonating virally.
How Many Impressions Indicates a Viral Tweet?
Impression volume also signals viral tweets:
- 10,000+ impressions – Strong initial reach for most accounts
- 100,000+ impressions – Approaching viral as this greatly exceeds your norm
- 500,000+ impressions – Clear indicator of a viral post based on typical individual user engagement
- 1,000,000+ impressions – Undeniably viral reach, especially rapidly achieved
- 5,000,000+ impressions – Popular brand/celebrity viral tweet reach
- 10,000,000+ impressions – Truly elite viral reach for individual users
- 50,000,000+ impressions – The most viral brand and entertainment tweets
Major leaps in tweet impression volume show Twitter algorithms amplifying your content in viral ways.
Benchmarking Virality for Your Account
The engagement, views, followers, and impressions noted above are general viral tweet guidelines.
The most accurate way to know if a tweet went viral is to compare its metrics against your account’s averages.
If a new post exceeds your normal traction by 10-50x across multiple metrics, you likely struck viral gold tailored to your follower base.
How Often Do Regular Users Go Viral on Twitter?
For most individual Twitter users, going legitimately viral only happens a couple of times per year at most. True viral tweets are rare.
But smaller “micro-viral” moments are more common, where posts get briefly amplified by pockets of communities before fading back to normal reach.
Measuring virality is tricky. What seems viral to you or within your niche may be insignificant at a mass Twitter scale.
Be realistic about viral tweet expectations. Occasional micro-viral moments are a more feasible goal than assuming every tweet will exponentially explode in popularity.
Do Twitter Polls and Threaded Tweets Go More Viral?
Certain tweet formats tend to attract higher engagement and amplification, including:
Twitter Polls – Crowdsourcing opinions drives votes, shares, and debate. Keep poll options concise yet provocative.
Threads – Adding depth beyond 280 characters sustains discussion. Share unfolding stories through tweetstorms.
Photos – Tweets with authentic images perform better than plain text updates. Make media clickable.
Videos – Catching viral footage guarantees eyeballs. Ensure videos are natively embedded for easy playback.
Quotes – Sayings and excerpts from speeches/articles make attractive quote tweets when compelling.
Humor/Memes – Funny, snarky, sarcastic tweets tap into shared emotions and get reactions.
Experiment with these tweet types when aiming for greater viral potential. Just don’t force formats if they don’t fit your content.
Do Controversial Tweets Get More Attention?
Controversy attracts engagement, but not all attention is good attention. Ultra-viral divisive tweets often bring:
- The backlash from those with opposing views
- Increased trolling and harassment in responses
- Mass blocking by those who disagree
- Reputational damage with certain audiences
Controversial opinions can still be shared constructively by:
- Making arguments thoughtfully and in good faith
- Clarifying intent is productive debate, not just provocation
- Disengaging with trolls instead of fanning flames
- Limiting stone-throwing from glass houses
Viral is not always synonymous with valuable. Prioritize quality, nuanced discussion over scoring cheap outrage points through controversy.
Should You Pay for Twitter Ads to Go Viral?
Twitter ads can help content gain initial traction but have limited power to make tweets truly viral.
Consider promoted tweets/trends if you:
- Have an urgent call to action to share
- Are launching a time-sensitive campaign
- Want to guarantee core audiences see your message
But organic virality relies more on content quality and community sharing than ad buys.
Focus on spending on production value and influencer partnerships rather than assuming you can force virality through paid promotion.
Do Twitter Contests and Giveaways Help Content Go Viral?
Contests and giveaways can incentivize shares and engagement but won’t drive virality alone.
To maximize contest success:
- Require both likes and retweets for entries
- Keep the prize relevant to your audience
- Set achievable but challenging goals
- Limit entries to a level playing field
- Post reminders and leaderboards to sustain buzz
Coordinate contests with existing viral tweet plans. Don’t expect prizes alone to create viral moments.
Do You Need Lots of Followers First to Go Viral on Twitter?
No follower number guarantees viral success. Posts often spread farthest outside of your audience.
Grassroots individual accounts frequently drive “surprise virality” by striking a chord or tapping into spiking trends.
The follower base does impact potential scale. But compelling content and strategic timing matter much more.
Focus energy on crafting high-quality tweets rather than assuming you must grow followers first before going viral.
Do Verified Accounts Have an Advantage for Virality?
Verification provides limited viral benefits:
- Verified profile gives implicit credibility
- Blue check earnsAutomatic prominence in some search/reply scenarios
- Indicates public figure status, encouraging @ mentions
However, verification risks over-prioritizing brand safety. This can limit edgy viral content.
Great viral tweets ultimately succeed on substance rather than verified status. Big followings and checkmarks help but aren’t prerequisites.
Do Deleted Tweets Continue to Spread Virally?
Deleting viral tweets won’t stop their spread once amplified. Copies and screenshots persist.
If a problematic tweet goes viral unintentionally:
- Delete it immediately to prevent direct access
- Post an apology explaining your error
- Reflect on the tweet’s impacts and learn from the mistake
Viral tweets leave digital footprints even after deletion. Handling damage control gracefully and transparently is key.
Can Individuals Make Money from Viral Tweets?
Monetizing viral tweets directly is extremely limited, beyond potential ad revenue shares if you run Twitter Ads.
Indirect monetization options include:
- Converting viral interest into newsletter signups or email leads
- Leveraging fame to promote projects or paid services
- Attracting sponsorship deals by sustaining audience engagement
- Building authority that leads to consultancy and speaking opportunities
For most, viral tweets generate more exposure than income. Focus on parlaying fleeting attention into lasting community growth.
Do Brands Pay for Viral Tweets?
Some brands offer compensation for viral tweet promotions, but this is high risk:
Pros
- Guaranteed payment for major brand exposure
Cons
- Company dictates tweet creative and messaging
- Promoted products may not organically resonate with your audience
- Followers resent “sellout” branded content
- Future viral performance suffers from a lack of authenticity
If you go the sponsored tweet route, ensure brand alignment, disclose paid promos, and limit their frequency. Your reputation depends most on non-paid content quality.
How to Write Viral Tweets: 8 Proven Tactics
Compelling viral tweet writing involves balancing craft with luck. But these tactics improve your odds:
Leverage Trending Topics and Moments – Tap into what’s already buzzing to ride the wave. #Hashtags, @ handles, and timing references like awards shows, holidays, or breaking news moments are valuable for discoverability. But ensure content still stands alone.
Boost Positivity – Uplifting, inspiring, funny, or encouraging tweets outperform negative rants. Share goodness.
Speak Your Truth – Authenticity connects online. Share real-life moments people relate to on a human level.
Create Relatable FOMO – Provide glimpses into experiences, events, or access your audience wishes they had. #BehindTheScenes vibes build intrigue.
Spark Curiosity – Don’t give everything away up front. Ask questions, pose scenarios, and encourage people to satisfy curiosity gaps.
Pick Debatable Topics – Arguments and strong takes drive discussion, as long as you can defend positions respectfully.
Make Bold Claims – Frame opinions, insights, and advice uniquely to stand out. But ensure you can back statements up.
Employ Emotional Hooks – Make people feel something intensely. Laughter, hope, outrage (carefully), and heartstring-tugging universally connect.
Balancing these tactics with your brand voice maximizes viral tweet potential.
How to Get Retweeted More: 10 Tactics
Retweets directly drive Twitter virality. Here are some ways to earn them:
Comment value on trending tweets – Become part of the conversation around hot topics with smart takes.
Quote tweet influencers in your niche – Build on insights from those with existing audiences.
Create shareable quote graphics – Text overlaid on images prompts retweet credits.
Ask strong questions – Make people curious enough to retweet answers to their followers.
Do Twitter polls – Crowdsourcing opinions encourages shares within communities.
Live tweet events – Share breaking developments, commentary, and coverage from conferences, shows, etc.
Simplify key facts/stats – Boil down research into bite-sized graphics and data points ripe for retweeting.
Offer exclusive sneak peeks – Whether announcements, deals, or content previews, access drives retweet motivation.
Reward retweets – Run contests for the most retweeted posts and showcase contributors.
Always retweet and mention others – Building a sharing community leads to reciprocity.
Retweets ultimately succeed or fail based on your content’s merit. But these tactics grease the virality wheels.
How to Write Twitter Threads That Go Viral
Threading multiple tweets to tell a story expands your viral potential, thanks to added context. Here are some key tactics for compelling viral threads:
Plan the narrative arc – Determine plot points to build intrigue and resolution. Outline the flow before drafting each tweet.
Open strong – Lead with a shocking statistic, bold statement, or cliffhanger question to grab attention.
Structure with transitions – Use numbering, transitions like “ Moving on…” and intentional thread breaks to guide readers.
Mix-up format – Incorporate Twitter polls, quote retweets, placeholder punctuation, GIFs, and images to add visual variety.
Save the best for last – Build toward a memorable final tweet as the mic drops rather than peaking early.
Incorporate Easter eggs – Hide little surprises that reward those who make it to the end of longer threads.
Tag influencers – If appropriate, loop in popular accounts related to your thread topic to extend reach.
Reply to engage – Don’t just broadcast your thread. Have a dialogue by interacting with replies it receives.
Threading is an art form. Use these tips to craft compelling tweet sagas worth retweeting and reading from start to finish.
How to Find Viral Tweets and Content on Twitter
Discover fresh viral tweets and accounts with these tools:
- Twitter search operators – Search “filter: viral” or keyword + “min_retweets:500 min_faves:1000” to filter high-engagement content.
- Trending topics – Monitor the Trending and For You tabs for the hottest hashtags and moments.
- Twitter Lists – Follow curated lists like @TwitterMoms, @BlackTwitter, @SportsTwitter, and @TwitterComedy to see their viral hits.
- Viral tweet aggregators – Use sites like ViralTweet and All My Viral Tweets to discover and analyze trending content.
- Twitter newsletters – Subscribe to daily and weekly recaps like @TwittersNewsletter and @TwitterTrends to catch big moments.
- Competitor research – Study viral tweets from peers in your industry to inspire ideas.
- Twitter Analytics – Gauge your viral performance by sorting Tweets by top engagements and impressions.
Actively tracking virality across niches ensures you stay on the pulse with shifts in interests, formats, and emerging accounts to watch.
Should You Delete Tweets That Don’t Go Viral?
Avoid knee-jerk deleting tweets just because they don’t immediately go viral. This risks training followers to only engage with your most bombastic content.
Instead:
- Review metrics after 24 hours before assessing performance. Delayed amplification happens.
- Consider context beyond views and shares like positive responses and new followers.
- Repurpose evergreen content periodically. Timing matters, and not all tweets are meant to be viral.
How to Harness Twitter’s Algorithm to Go Viral
Cracking Twitter’s algorithm improves viral tweet odds. Useful tactics include:
- Leverage user interests – Reference topics and accounts your followers engage with most in your tweets to appear higher in their feeds.
- Post consistently – Stay active without gaps to keep your content circulating algorithmically.
- Vary tweet types – Mix links, images, videos, and text to trigger engagement signals.
- Spark conversations – Ask questions and encourage replies to signal relevance. Quote, retweet, and mention others.
- Drive clicks – Shortened links and strong captions attract clicks that Twitter rewards.
- Analyze tweet timing – Experiment with day/time posting to determine when your audience is most responsive.
- Stay positive – Negative engagement like blocks and mutes downgrade accounts algorithmically.
- Avoid over-automation – Limit back-to-back identical posts which Twitter may throttle.
Gaming algorithms alone won’t make mediocre tweets go viral. However, optimizing these factors gives strong content added visibility.
Should You Buy Twitter Followers to Go Viral?
Buying Twitter followers often backfires for virality:
- Fake followers don’t engage with your content. Viral metrics stay flat.
- Too many fake followers trigger algorithmic throttling. Reach declines.
- It’s easy to spot artificially inflated followings. Authenticity suffers.
Focus on earning followers organically by providing value. Quality over quantity drives real viral moments.
Can You Pay for Viral Tweets Through Twitter Ads?
Promoted Trends and Tweets can spread brand content further but are limited to making tweets truly viral:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Guarantees wide initial impressions | Costly at scale, with diminishing returns |
| Builds early momentum to spread organically, then | Risks inauthentic feel if not disclosed as ads |
| Great for timely launches, announcements, etc. | Metrics inflated by paid reach vs. organic sharing |
Use Twitter ads sparingly to amplify your best evergreen tweets. But expect minimal impact on viral performance long-term.
Should You Tag Celebrities and Influencers to Go Viral?
Tagging major accounts grabs attention but has downsides:
- Irrelevant tagging annoys celebrities and risks blocks/takedowns.
- Overuse drowns out your original content’s voice.
- Carpet bombing tags scream desperation.
However, when appropriate, thoughtfully mentioning niche influences provides potential viral benefits:
- Alerts new audiences already interested in their work.
- Can earn influencer retweets or quotes to their followers.
- Adds social proof and authority.
Quality over quantity matters with tags. Don’t force irrelevant references; you’re just aiming for false amplification.
10 Twitter Analytics Metrics to Track Virality
Monitoring key Twitter analytics gives vital virality insights:
- Retweets – Total shares indicate organic amplification.
- Likes – Reader endorsement and enjoyment.
- Impressions – Total tweet reach. Millions can signal virality.
- Profile visits – Traffic spikes show viral curiosity.
- Mentions – Increased references in other tweets signal traction.
- Follower growth – Rapid gains indicate content resonating.
- Link clicks – Engagement beyond Twitter.
- Scroll depth – How far down threads people read.
- Read time – Extended average times show engaging content.
- Audience interests – Optimal targeting for future viral attempts.
Analyze tweet performance beyond vanity metrics. Context is key.
How to Capitalize on Going Viral on Twitter
When tweets organically go viral, act fast to maximize the opportunity:
- Pin viral tweet(s) to your profile for extended exposure.
- Cross-promote to other social channels like Instagram to drive audience growth.
- Grow email lists by adding Calls-to-Action in bios and tweets.
- Publish relevant evergreen content that captures spiking search interest.
- Prioritize replies to questions and comments for community goodwill.
- Thank new followers for joining your community.
- Analyze viral tweet data to strategize doing it again.
- Turn peak attention into channel growth with strong creative direction.
- Don’t get complacent or distracted by short-term fame. Stay focused on your goals.
Viral moments fade quickly. Have a plan prepared beforehand to capitalize on attention spikes when they hit.
Key Takeaways for Going Viral on Twitter
Here are the main tips covered in this guide for optimizing Twitter virality:
- Compare tweet engagement to your historical baselines to determine personal virality.
- Leverage trends, timing, humor, debate, and emotional resonance to increase viral potential.
- Make content easy to retweet, quote, @ mention, and screenshot with compelling formats.
- Monitor analytics closely to spot viral tweets in real time and understand why they resonated.
- Promote thoughtfully across channels when viral spikes happen to sustain momentum.
- Learn from both viral successes and flops to inform future content strategies.
- Avoid buying fake followers and use promoted tweets sparingly to supplement organic efforts.
- Stay active consistently, keep refining tweet writing skills, and don’t get discouraged by the unpredictability of virality.
Every viral tweet starts small before it snowballs into a massive reaction. Strike the right chord at the right moment by combining smarts with some luck.
Conclusion
Going viral on Twitter is an infrequent phenomenon for most, but it is fantastic when it happens organically. Assess virality based on your baseline metrics, focus on tweet quality, utilize analytics, and have a plan to capitalize on rare viral spikes.
Be patient and creative, and keep providing your audience value through hits and misses.
