Research: Emotions that make some articles go viral on Steemit by shreyasgune

View this thread on steempeak.com
· @shreyasgune ·
$0.59
Research: Emotions that make some articles go viral on Steemit
![cover](https://2yu5yy2vwpsr4dg1ys3jha9o-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Viral-Marketing-Viral.jpg)
[source](https://2yu5yy2vwpsr4dg1ys3jha9o-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Viral-Marketing-Viral.jpg)

Brands, digital marketeers, bloggers and Steemians fight for eyeballs on their respective platforms. Has there been any research in marketing that you can utilize for making your steemit posts go viral ? What is common between top 100 articles trending  on stemmit and top advertising camapigns on television, newspapers and print media ? 
 
 In an excellent [article](https://hbr.org/2013/06/quality-and-quantity-tripling), Mich Joel argues that repition and frequency are key to maintaining and strengthening connection with the audience. The content need not be viral worthy. If similar content from a known author flashes before the audience at a regular frequency, it is more likely that the content will be upvoted and consequently trend. We will later discuss how [@ghasemkiani](https://steemit.com/@ghasemkiani) uses the same technique with limited success. However, if you are someone who has just joined steemit and has a very few followers, there will be no wide audience receiving your content constantly at their home page. In this case, piles of mideocre content will not do the trick. To attract the audience and convert them into loyal followers, viral marketing can hit the bull's eye.
 
## What can you learn from viral marketing ?
***
### Standing out from the noise

About 70,000 posts appear on steemit everyday. That is a whooping 100 posts per minute. This means 1 to 2 new posts appear in the **New** tab every second. You have only these **2 seconds** to make them interested. Your post should stand out and click with the audiences. Fine example of **How to do this** is Fast-casual chain Chipotle Mexican Grill who came up with the animated short film [The scarecrow](https://vimeo.com/98800121). This short film started a conversation on foods in popular culture and instantly became viral. This was only because it could connect with the masses on a deeper emotional level.

### How to Create viral content: Lesson from marketing industry

#### Lesson 1: Create content with Viral Coefficient > 1

Viral Coefficient > 1 means that every person who saw your post added more than one person to its viewership. That is, in addition to resteeming your post, people are also actively discussing the conversation you have started. Viral coefficient less than one ensures that your post getes buried in the vast sea of new posts.

#### Lesson 2: How do you create content that people resteem and talk about

#### Step 1: Write captivating Title and add an interesting image.  


The title and the image is what your audience sees first and it must be compelling and hard to ignore. If you can't get the first click, your post is already dead.

#### Step 2: Content must strike a strong emotional chord to make people care and resteem.  


You must hit the emotional trigger early on in the post. The trigger needs to be executed in such a way that your post doesn't appear to be scammy or a sales pitch. It needs to envoke genuine emotional response. Avoid constant emotional thrust and include some light stuff in between. This helps the mind to fully grasp and comprehend the emotional response it experiencing.

In a study by [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2013/10/research-the-emotions-that-make-marketing-campaigns-go-viral), it was found that positive emotions like astonishment, curiousity, excitement, interest are more common in viral content than negative emotions. Also emotion of admiration if possible should be evoked. The results can be summarized through Robert Plutchik’s comprehensive [Wheel of Emotion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrasting_and_categorization_of_emotions#Plutchik.27s_wheel_of_emotions) as our categorization. In this diagram, Red color represents higest intensity and blue color represents lowest intensity. The results are shown [below](https://i.imgur.com/sijPd5T.png): 

![emotion diag](https://i.imgur.com/sijPd5T.png)

#### Step 3: Convey an emotional message.

Sign off with an emotional message. Bring out how it relates to your audience and why it is important to them. 

#### Step 4: Write about public good.

An example of this is [Dove's "Real Beauty Sketches" campaign](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk) which shows how spreading awareness can lead to a viral marketing campaign. This uplifting promotional video generated extensive online interest, yielding more than 113 million views in the first month itself.

#### Final Lesson: Stemmit Case studies.

**Case 1**: Take the case of [translation snippets](https://steemit.com/translation/@ghasemkiani/translation-snippet-0246) by [@ghasemkiani](https://steemit.com/@ghasemkiani). He has 4364 followers and posts small uplifting quotes by great thinkers. He posts 2-3 times every hour and earns $4-$5 on each post. The quotes are uplifting and in both english and arabic. In addition each post has link for previous and next post. He has created a dedicated following and this is what makes him a success.

**Case 2**: Now lets discuss another stemmian [@sammosk](https://steemit.com/@sammosk). He has 1655 followers and posts every other day. Every post of his earns $25-$80. He usually posts fiction and a post of him which I find very really awesome is [this one](https://steemit.com/fiction/@sammosk/humanities-revolution-zion-exodus-rise-against-humanity). He is an active member of Minnowsupport and PAL Community. His writing is powerful and hard hitting.

#### Epilogue

I have discussed how emotional triggers can be utilized for creating viral content on stemmit and the strategy that can be followed for the same. I have also gone through various steps of that strategy and how to go about implementing them. I have discussed two case studies of steemians who have achieved success and tried to explore there overall strategy.

I hope that you can implement the strategy discussed above to make your posts more attractive and relevant to your target audience. I wish you all the success in your future endeavours. Please upvote and follow so that I can provide you with more such awesome content. Take care and have a nice day !!



<center>Yours Truly</center> 
<center>[@thorough_research](https://steemit.com/@shreyasgune)</center>
👍  , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
properties (23)
post_id14,343,687
authorshreyasgune
permlinkresearch-emotions-that-make-some-articles-go-viral-on-steemit
categorysteeemit
json_metadata"{"app": "steemit/0.1", "format": "markdown", "links": ["https://2yu5yy2vwpsr4dg1ys3jha9o-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Viral-Marketing-Viral.jpg", "https://hbr.org/2013/06/quality-and-quantity-tripling", "https://steemit.com/@ghasemkiani", "https://vimeo.com/98800121", "https://hbr.org/2013/10/research-the-emotions-that-make-marketing-campaigns-go-viral", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrasting_and_categorization_of_emotions#Plutchik.27s_wheel_of_emotions", "https://i.imgur.com/sijPd5T.png", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk", "https://steemit.com/translation/@ghasemkiani/translation-snippet-0246", "https://steemit.com/@sammosk", "https://steemit.com/fiction/@sammosk/humanities-revolution-zion-exodus-rise-against-humanity", "https://steemit.com/@shreyasgune"], "image": ["https://2yu5yy2vwpsr4dg1ys3jha9o-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Viral-Marketing-Viral.jpg"], "tags": ["steeemit", "blog", "writing", "viral", "posts"]}"
created2017-10-02 17:42:36
last_update2017-10-02 17:42:36
depth0
children3
net_rshares212,983,990,004
last_payout2017-10-09 17:42:36
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.451 SBD
curator_payout_value0.136 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted1.000 SBD
body_length6,435
author_reputation4,922,913,696,391
root_title"Research: Emotions that make some articles go viral on Steemit"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
author_curate_reward""
vote details (39)
@minnowsupport ·
<p>Congratulations!  This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by thorough_research from the Minnow Support Project.  It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, someguy123, neoxian, followbtcnews/crimsonclad, and netuoso.  The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network.  Please find us in the <a href="https://discord.gg/HYj4yvw">Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel</a>.  It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.</p>
properties (22)
post_id14,380,880
authorminnowsupport
permlinkre-shreyasgune-research-emotions-that-make-some-articles-go-viral-on-steemit-20171003t044342952z
categorysteeemit
json_metadata"{"app": "cosgrove/0.0.1rc9", "tags": ["steeemit"]}"
created2017-10-03 04:43:42
last_update2017-10-03 04:43:42
depth1
children0
net_rshares0
last_payout2017-10-10 04:43:42
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length618
author_reputation104,981,098,086,561
root_title"Research: Emotions that make some articles go viral on Steemit"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
@shreyasgune ·
@originalworks
properties (22)
post_id14,385,492
authorshreyasgune
permlinkre-shreyasgune-research-emotions-that-make-some-articles-go-viral-on-steemit-20171003t061056122z
categorysteeemit
json_metadata"{"app": "steemit/0.1", "users": ["originalworks"], "tags": ["steeemit"]}"
created2017-10-03 06:11:06
last_update2017-10-03 06:11:06
depth1
children1
net_rshares0
last_payout2017-10-10 06:11:06
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length14
author_reputation4,922,913,696,391
root_title"Research: Emotions that make some articles go viral on Steemit"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
@originalworks ·
originalworks
The @OriginalWorks bot has determined this post by @shreyasgune to be original material and upvoted it! 
<center>![ezgif.com-resize.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaBi37A5oTnQ9NBLH8YU4jpvhhmFauyvgg3YRrEJwskM9/ezgif.com-resize.gif)</center> 

To call @OriginalWorks, simply reply to any post with @originalworks or !originalworks in your message! 
### To enter this post into the daily RESTEEM contest, upvote this comment! The user with the most upvotes on their @OriginalWorks comment will win!<h3>
For more information, [Click Here!](https://steemit.com/writing/@originalworks/originalworks-bot-explanation-and-info)
Special thanks to @reggaemuffin for being a supporter! Vote him as a witness to help make Steemit a better place! 
👍  
properties (23)
post_id14,385,586
authororiginalworks
permlinkre-re-shreyasgune-research-emotions-that-make-some-articles-go-viral-on-steemit-20171003t061056122z-20171003t061238
categorysteeemit
json_metadata"{"app": "pysteem/0.5.4"}"
created2017-10-03 06:12:39
last_update2017-10-03 06:12:39
depth2
children0
net_rshares366,597,498
last_payout2017-10-10 06:12:39
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 SBD
curator_payout_value0.000 SBD
pending_payout_value0.000 SBD
promoted0.000 SBD
body_length735
author_reputation79,229,860,066,508
root_title"Research: Emotions that make some articles go viral on Steemit"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 SBD
percent_steem_dollars10,000
author_curate_reward""
vote details (1)