I’m not going to share content to be nice. I’m going to share to appear hip or relevant. Or for a personal reward.
That’s the secret.
So take advantage of it. When creating content, think about whether or not it can be used as “an excuse for social action”, as Buzzfeed co-founder Jonah Peretti explained at the recent Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco.
Think about what your friends share on Facebook. Things that define them. Things that might paint them in a positive light. Things that validate their taste. Things that help them be the gossip spreader – the one in the know.
Now, create that content. No, it’s not easy. But at least now you understand the mystery behind “going viral“. It’s not a mystery at all.