3 Writers who have mastered the craft of creating viral content:
• @ShaanVP
• @dickiebush
• @Nicolascole77
Imagine if you could spend an hour learning their secrets...
Well you can–I watched their webinar & took notes on their best tips!
Here's Viral Writing 101 explained:
• @ShaanVP
• @dickiebush
• @Nicolascole77
Imagine if you could spend an hour learning their secrets...
Well you can–I watched their webinar & took notes on their best tips!
Here's Viral Writing 101 explained:
Why study viral writing?
• Threads are the secret to growing a big audience on Twitter FAST (Shaan gained 100K+ followers from just 5 threads).
• Good sh*t happens when you go viral (TV invites, DMs from your heroes, etc).
Grab a pen, you're going to want to take notes...
• Threads are the secret to growing a big audience on Twitter FAST (Shaan gained 100K+ followers from just 5 threads).
• Good sh*t happens when you go viral (TV invites, DMs from your heroes, etc).
Grab a pen, you're going to want to take notes...
Tip 1: Start each thread with a strong emotion in mind
Before starting a thread, Shaan thinks about what emotion he wants readers to feel.
• Strong emotions = People will share it
Shaan outlines 8 key emotions that lead to threads going viral (see image):
Before starting a thread, Shaan thinks about what emotion he wants readers to feel.
• Strong emotions = People will share it
Shaan outlines 8 key emotions that lead to threads going viral (see image):
Shaan had a feeling his Clubhouse thread (see below) would go viral because it combined two strong emotions:
1) FINALLY someone said it (people who agreed the app was overhyped)
2) WTF you're an idiot (people who thought the app was the next best thing)
1) FINALLY someone said it (people who agreed the app was overhyped)
2) WTF you're an idiot (people who thought the app was the next best thing)
https://twitter.com/ShaanVP/status/1371972261004070913
When you post something controversial, you get a strong emotional reaction from people on BOTH sides.
The result?
Both sides want to share it:
• Those who agree retweet it
• Those who disagree quote retweet it
The result?
Both sides want to share it:
• Those who agree retweet it
• Those who disagree quote retweet it
Tip 2: Sharpen your hook
90% of people won't scroll past your first tweet.
If you don't hook people with your first tweet, your thread is dead.
Shaan thinks of 20 different hooks before picking one.
Spend more time on your first tweet than any other.
90% of people won't scroll past your first tweet.
If you don't hook people with your first tweet, your thread is dead.
Shaan thinks of 20 different hooks before picking one.
Spend more time on your first tweet than any other.
Here are 3 hooks you can steal from @ShaanVP:
1) The Mythbuster hook
It's when you say something that goes against the norm.
Ex: Everyone thinks A, I think B. Here's why...
Anytime you take the opposite side of what most people think, it will get people's attention.
1) The Mythbuster hook
It's when you say something that goes against the norm.
Ex: Everyone thinks A, I think B. Here's why...
Anytime you take the opposite side of what most people think, it will get people's attention.
2) David vs Goliath hook
It's when you tell a story about how an underdog took down a giant.
Ex: Shaan's thread about WSB taking down Wall Street
It's when you tell a story about how an underdog took down a giant.
Ex: Shaan's thread about WSB taking down Wall Street
https://twitter.com/ShaanVP/status/1353951035224694785
3) This just happened hook
It's when you recap a recent event that a lot of people missed out on.
Ex: Shaan's thread about @elonmusk's Clubhouse appearance
It's when you recap a recent event that a lot of people missed out on.
Ex: Shaan's thread about @elonmusk's Clubhouse appearance
https://twitter.com/ShaanVP/status/1356121622264963080
Tip 3: Get people to read tweet #3
Your first tweet should get people to read your 2nd tweet.
Your 2nd tweet should get people to read your 3rd tweet.
Data shows that if you can get people to read tweet #3, they'll likely read the entire thread.
Your first tweet should get people to read your 2nd tweet.
Your 2nd tweet should get people to read your 3rd tweet.
Data shows that if you can get people to read tweet #3, they'll likely read the entire thread.
Tip 4: Write the opposite of how you would in school.
• Write at an 8th-grade reading level.
• Use as few words as possible.
• Use simpler words over complicated ones.
Keeping things short & simple allows more people to understand your content (and thus share it).
• Write at an 8th-grade reading level.
• Use as few words as possible.
• Use simpler words over complicated ones.
Keeping things short & simple allows more people to understand your content (and thus share it).
Tip 5: Time your threads
If Shaan posted about Clubhouse 3 months earlier, not enough people would've known about it.
If he posted 3 months later, it would've been old news.
If you're going to write about a current topic, do it when it's hot & everyone's talking about it.
If Shaan posted about Clubhouse 3 months earlier, not enough people would've known about it.
If he posted 3 months later, it would've been old news.
If you're going to write about a current topic, do it when it's hot & everyone's talking about it.
Tip 6: Put your reader first
If you want to write for yourself, write in your diary.
If you want to write to go viral, write for the reader.
Ask yourself 2 questions:
• How can I get them to click on the thread?
• How can I get them to share the thread?
If you want to write for yourself, write in your diary.
If you want to write to go viral, write for the reader.
Ask yourself 2 questions:
• How can I get them to click on the thread?
• How can I get them to share the thread?
Tip 7: Edit the first & last words
If you're going to spend time editing your thread, spend it on your first & last tweet.
Your first tweet needs to hook people in.
Your last tweet needs to make people take action (follow you, sub to your newsletter, buy a product, etc).
If you're going to spend time editing your thread, spend it on your first & last tweet.
Your first tweet needs to hook people in.
Your last tweet needs to make people take action (follow you, sub to your newsletter, buy a product, etc).
Tip 8: Turn your best tweets into threads
Validate market demand for threads with individual tweets:
If a tweet in the middle of a thread got 2-3x more likes/shares than any other tweet...
It means people want more of it.
Take that tweet & turn it into its own thread.
Validate market demand for threads with individual tweets:
If a tweet in the middle of a thread got 2-3x more likes/shares than any other tweet...
It means people want more of it.
Take that tweet & turn it into its own thread.
Tip 9: Leverage superstars
If you have a small audience, leverage accounts with millions of followers.
Write a great thread on someone with a large following & there's a good chance they'll retweet it.
Ex: Dickie's thread about James Clear
If you have a small audience, leverage accounts with millions of followers.
Write a great thread on someone with a large following & there's a good chance they'll retweet it.
Ex: Dickie's thread about James Clear
https://twitter.com/dickiebush/status/1369438443995009029
I highly recommend watching the full Viral Writing 101 video, check it out here:
If you enjoyed this thread:
Follow @AlexAndBooks_ for more threads on building an audience.
PS: Here are 12 universal lessons that will help you grow on any social media platform 👇
Follow @AlexAndBooks_ for more threads on building an audience.
PS: Here are 12 universal lessons that will help you grow on any social media platform 👇
https://twitter.com/AlexAndBooks_/status/1396879580745580546
TL;DR:
Viral Writing 101
1. Start each thread with a strong emotion in mind
2. Sharpen your hook
3. Get people to read tweet #3
4. Write the opposite of how you would in school
5. Time your threads
6. Put your reader first
7. Edit the first & last words
Viral Writing 101
1. Start each thread with a strong emotion in mind
2. Sharpen your hook
3. Get people to read tweet #3
4. Write the opposite of how you would in school
5. Time your threads
6. Put your reader first
7. Edit the first & last words
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