Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n But first, what does going viral mean for Instagram accounts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Going viral on Instagram means posting content that rapidly spreads through the platform and is shared quickly by thousands of Instagram users. While that\u2019s pretty easy to understand, how to actually \u201cgo viral\u201d is a more difficult concept to grasp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There aren\u2019t any benchmarks or thresholds for deciding when content achieves viral status. And there are several factors involved to consider, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, it isn\u2019t very easy figuring out if your post on Instagram has gone viral. Usually, we know something is viral when we see it in our social feeds. So it\u2019s pretty relative.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n But there is a general idea of how many hits you need to go viral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To go viral on Instagram, you need at least 100,000+ likes and views and thousands of comments, even if your account only has a few hundred or thousand followers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n But achieving that benchmark isn\u2019t easy. You need so many other things working in your favor. Yet the key to it all is how much your followers engage with your content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of Instagrams go viral through increased engagement. This means you have to do everything you can to encourage and boost engagement fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea is that a big push in engagement will force your post onto Instagram\u2019s Explore page, which makes it even easier for people to discover and view your posts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n The following tips and tricks will help you achieve viral status on Instagram with these factors in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like any content marketing strategy, getting to know your audience on Instagram is crucial to creating viral content. You need to know what makes your followers tick, their interests, and the type of content they interact with the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The easiest way to understand your audience is to create a buyer persona<\/a>. A marketing or buyer persona clearly defines your ideal audience so you can quickly determine their interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your persona should include the following details:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And specifically for Instagram, it\u2019s good practice to include the type of content they like to consume and the Instagram accounts they follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this information in hand, you\u2019ll be better prepared to create the type of content that\u2019s relevant to your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best viral content on Instagram has a unique voice and a clear point of view. Combine this with stunning images, and you\u2019ll have the ideal recipe for a viral Instagram post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrew Knapp has perfected this with his modern take on \u201cWhere\u2019s Waldo.\u201d His feed focuses on his border collie in a fun game of \u201cFind Momo.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrew takes followers along on Momo\u2019s journeys and uses the hashtag #momomeditations to describe Momo\u2019s thoughts for the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With this kind of creativity, it\u2019s easy to see how his profile has taken Instagram by storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But creativity goes hand-in-hand with a unique aesthetic and theme for your posts. Striking images have the power to send your content to the top posts section. And getting there results in even more engagement with your content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A good Instagram aesthetic has a consistent theme throughout all posts. You can achieve this by using the same filters or photo backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or you can take a leaf out of Ida Skivenes\u2019 book by building a look around the content of your images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ida uses her talent with food art to recreate popular scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her feed stands out because she\u2019s created a consistent look throughout every Instagram post. And this is what has helped her achieve massive amounts of engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While we\u2019re on the topic of engagement, it\u2019s vital you interact and engage with your Instagram followers. Instagram is a social network, so the focus should be on being social.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get involved by liking other posts. And leave thoughtful comments about why you enjoyed the content. But don\u2019t make the mistake of posting half-hearted comments and replies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One-word and one-emoji comments are an indication of bot engagement. And this can drive people away from your account rather than encourage them to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So engage with your followers, but keep it relevant and thoughtful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the easiest ways to make your Instagram posts go viral is to study what other successful accounts do. There\u2019s no rule saying you can\u2019t borrow ideas and use them in your own content. What\u2019s working for them might work for you, also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But don\u2019t copy and paste other people\u2019s work because you\u2019ll risk copyright infringement. Instead, make a list of the elements that get the most engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Successful elements to jot down might be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can then compare this list to the persona you created for your audience earlier. And use the elements that overlap with their interests and preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also look into your Instagram analytics to find out what content works best for your followers. As they\u2019re known on Instagram, Insights provides detailed information on your follower demographics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a quick look at the information you can learn:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s an example of how you can use this data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You published a post at 7 pm but got very little engagement. A quick glance at when your followers are most active might highlight that most of your followers don\u2019t use Instagram at that time. They\u2019re more active at around 9 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So instead, you could experiment with posting around 9 pm with the hopes of reaching those people when they\u2019re active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to tap into the viral power of Instagram is to run a contest or giveaway. Running a contest is a great way to get the engagement boost you need to quickly go viral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you use RafflePress<\/a> to run a giveaway on Instagram<\/a>, you can use the many actions designed to increase engagement on social media platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a look at the ready-made template to grow your Instagram following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It comes with pre-built actions to increase engagement and visibility on Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you combine this with the viral refer-a-friend<\/a> action and entry methods of your own, you can get your post in front of even more eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But let\u2019s not forget you also need an excellent prize for the lucky winner. The best prizes are items people desire, encouraging them to click and enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a blog post of proven contest prize ideas<\/a> to get you started<\/p>\n\n\n\n Videos are all the rage on social media, so you might be tempted to use them excessively on Instagram. But the truth is that photo content on Instagram gets 36% more engagement<\/strong> than video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you want to create a piece of super viral content, you\u2019re likely better off sticking to images rather than video to get the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s much easier to create viral content on Instagram if the topic is already trending in the news. Current events are at the top of peoples\u2019 minds, so posts relevant to those events will resonate more with your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You could coincide your product launch with a current news event to take advantage of this. Or even show real-world examples of your product being used in a way that\u2019s trending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nike, for example, created a video paying tribute to the many faces of Kobe Bryant in \u201cMamba Forever.\u201d The video generated over 1 million likes, resonating with millions of fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something else Nike does with great effect is partnering with influencers<\/a> to market their brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By getting celebrities and influencers to use their products, they raise awareness and cement themselves into their sphere of influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We get that you don\u2019t have Nike\u2019s marketing budget, but it\u2019s a good example of how you can work with influencers to drive interest to your Instagram account and hit viral status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take Sweat and Tell, for example. This is a micro-influencer account that\u2019s formed a community of health-focused women. Their posts review workout classes and routines, raising the awareness of the brands they work with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Social media marketing statistics<\/a> show that over 2 million<\/strong> advertisers are active on Instagram. And that\u2019s because many brands understand that Instagram users are more likely to engage with sponsored content there than on any other platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore if you\u2019re interested in creating viral Instagram content, you should consider paying to promote your posts and increase your reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And this isn\u2019t just for the bigger brands either. Instagram accounts of all sizes do this to improve the chance of going viral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It doesn\u2019t cost much to go viral on Instagram. Most engagement methods are free to implement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you\u2019re using paid ads, expect to pay an average of $0.50 – $1.00 per click<\/strong>. If your industry is competitive, such as beauty or fashion, Instagram ad costs can reach up to $3.00 per click<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Our final viral tip for Instagram is to ensure you have a consistent posting schedule. Planning and scheduling posts ahead of time help you manage what\u2019s going out and when.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means you can time publishing posts for when your followers are most active to maximize engagement. And it also prevents rushing out last-minute posts so that you can keep your content high quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike Facebook, you can\u2019t directly schedule posts to Instagram. But there\u2019s a range of social media marketing tools<\/a> available to help schedule your content outside the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you\u2019re wondering when the best time to post on Instagram is, we\u2019ve got that covered below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wednesday is the best overall day to post on Instagram. Then you can break it down as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram Reels are one of the fastest ways to get discovered by new audiences. Since Reels are featured in both the Explore tab and dedicated Reels feed, they have a much higher chance of going viral than regular posts or Stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make your Reels more engaging and shareable, try the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many creators also pair Reels with carousel posts or giveaways to double their exposure. If your Reel performs well, Instagram will keep surfacing it to even more users, which is how content goes viral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t be afraid to experiment. Your first few Reels might not take off, but one strong post can snowball your reach and send thousands of new followers your way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> You can also repurpose Reels content for other platforms like TikTok or YouTube Shorts to maximize exposure with minimal extra work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Going viral on Instagram isn\u2019t magic, it\u2019s strategy. With the right mix of creativity, consistency, and smart tools like RafflePress, you can create content that actually gets seen, shared, and remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re trying Reels, running a giveaway, or just refining your aesthetic, every step in this guide helps boost your chances. Now it\u2019s your turn. Pick one tip, try it today, and see what happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not sure where to start? Try these next:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you found this article useful, then please follow us on YouTube<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Facebook<\/a> for even more super helpful tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Learn how to go viral on Instagram with 12 proven tips. Boost engagement, grow your reach, and get more followers using smart content strategies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"limit_modified_date":"","last_modified_date":"2022-05-18T07:23:44","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[783,1095,784],"class_list":["post-1552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-how-to-get-more-likes-on-instagram","tag-how-to-go-viral-on-instagram","tag-instagram-marketing"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1552"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15787,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552\/revisions\/15787"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/ul><\/li>
What Qualifies as Going Viral?<\/h2>
![\"What](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/what-going-viral-means.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
How Many Hits Do You Need to Go Viral?<\/h3>
![\"You](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/instagram-hits-to-go-viral.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Do Instagrams Go Viral?<\/h3>
How to Go Viral on Instagram<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Understand Who You\u2019re Talking To<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"create](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/marketing-persona-instagram.jpg\")
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2. Find Your Unique Voice on Instagram<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/andrew-knapp.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Build a Recognizable Instagram Aesthetic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ida-frosk.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Engage Authentically With Other Instagram Users<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"interact](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/interact-with-followers.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Study Viral Competitors and Adapt Their Best Ideas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
6. Use Instagram Analytics to Find What Works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Instagram](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/instagram-insights-analytics.jpg\")
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7. Launch a Viral Instagram Giveaway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"RafflePress](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rafflepress-instagram-template.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Run](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/instagram-landing-page.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n8. Use Photos for Higher Instagram Engagement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Tap Into Trends and Timely Events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Nike](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/nike-mamba-forever.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n10. Partner With Instagram Influencers for Reach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Partner](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/nike-influencer-partnership.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"example](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/micro-influencers-instagram.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n11. Promote Posts With Instagram Ads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
But how much does it cost to go viral?<\/h4>
12. Post Consistently at Peak Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/best-time-to-post-on-instagram.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
13. Use Instagram Reels to Get Discovered<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/viral-content-instagram-reels.jpg\")
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