12 signs you enjoy being alone
12 points only a 90s child can understand
If you are looking for love you would know this
Is he boyfriend material? Five signs you must read
31 destinations you must see before you turn 31
If you and your Facebook profile have been overtly exposed to the above articles then you need not Google viral anymore. For those of you (who perhaps only manage to access internet to read my blog) who are not aware, viral means an image, video or piece of information widely circulated on internet.
As a blogger, before starting a new post, in fact even before switching on my laptop I wonder, “To go viral or not?” Of course it is not so easy. Not that only my simple choice can affect this. But the direction of content visibly changes when you plan on posts that can be ‘widely circulated on internet’.
But that has never happened. Not that I am disappointed, slightly amused maybe. Curious yes.
And in the end I realised, my dilemma is what thousands of writers have been undergoing for times immemorial. The dilemma of writing a book or a bestseller.
Is readable the new popular? Is comprehensible the new good writing?
When I started writing on my blog, no body read. I mean it. No one read. My friends often complained, ‘it is too meandering, why not get to the point earlier?’. Basically convert posts such as ‘Armchair Intellectual‘ to ‘ 12 signs you are becoming a Shobhaaa De’?
And just in case you are a fiction blogger (like me!) god forbid. In fact when I googled blog fiction, Wikipedia page told me “there exists no common recognition in general internet readership for fictional blogs per se at this time.”
So there, if you write fiction you can kiss the dreams of going viral anyways. Of course nightmares of catching the common viral can still exist considering average human infection statistics 😀
Back to the question we started with, ‘To go viral or not?’
In a nutshell you need to ask yourselves the following five questions to decide this:
1. Will your post offer someone facts and information that may assist them in the real world for even five seconds?
2. Do you plan to write fiction? If the answer is yes I say burn your laptop in the next two minutes.
3. Will your post need people to think? Or worse, brood? Burn your laptop and forget writing viral content for life!Remember laugh and sex sells!
4. Does your post uses words like ‘exposed’ ‘sex’ or ‘violence’ ? If yes then go ahead and put these in loop every three words of a sentence.
5. This is important. Does your post’s title include a number? If this is a no I say go to point number 2, because then your post is surely fiction.
As you can clearly see the title of this post has none of these points. And I don’t believe any post titled ‘To go viral or not?’ can ever provide any fact/information unless you thought it was something to do with medicines.
Facts to be ignored *this post was initially titled. “Five questions you need to ask before writing a viral post – exposed*
P.S when this post was read out to husband dearest, he held a grim expression and shook his head. On prodding further his response was, ‘this post has nothing to the tune of viral. Frustration maybe yes.’
Come on you, yes you. Tell us what is your ‘viral’ factor for writing a ‘viral post’?
Quite a viral post. I’m so out of sync with FB, nowadays..lolz and miss those stuffs:)
haha you should be happy that you are missing out on these things 😀
Ah, the dilemma of the writer…
You captured it well 🙂
Considering the audience is a big factor, but if you write just to write because you love to write, then it doesn’t matter.
Keep up the good work (and writing) 🙂
Blessings.
Penny
Thanks Penny 🙂 yes it is in the end the joy of writing 🙂
Wonderful read especially the pointer which were infused with humours…light…fluffy….keep it up
haha thanks Chaitali 😀
Yeah…these are the points one should consider to pen a viral post 😀 also should include words like ‘feminist’ or ‘ misogynist’ 😛
That would simply bombard the viral factor 😀
Viral or not it is immensely likeable!
Thanks Mridula 😀
Aiiyoo….sometimes I wonder the same thing and then I say who cares ? 😉
Believe me I say the same 😀
Haha love this post Richa! When I started blogging I also read about these so called viral posts and how to write them!! Haven’t attempted even one since 🙂
And as usual loved V’s response! 😉
hehe as usual it is his response which I don’t like 😀
Eh…the above comment is from me…Sorry forgot to logout from Wp ;/
Tee hee ^_^ I had got it 😀
There’s a blog I like, it’s titled ‘Blog it or Lose it’. I love the title.
If I don’t blog my thoughts, they are lost…
Also, when you see the kind of stuff that usually goes viral, the question is ‘do you want to go viral?’
Blog it or lose it? That is funny 😀
I enjoyed your humourous take about a post becoming viral. Never thought of it like that. Actually I never thought about it at all and sure never worried about my blog posts going viral, that’s for sure. Your post made me smile and I enjoyed the humour.
https://cattitudeandgratitude.blogspot.ca/2014/08/in-between.html
I am glad you enjoyed the writing 🙂
I love the attitude in this post! I’ve never had a post go viral and I’m not sure I’d ever want it to happen – though with the kind of stuff I write, there’s very little danger of me ever having to worry about it!
haha same here 😀
He he he 😀 .. The 4th point is hillarios 😀
See it is all about numbers then 😀
Like Laurel, I too enjoy the attitude expressed in this post. I don’t think “viral” should be the goal – my philosophy has always been, “if you have something to say, you should say it” — taking into account taht people online don’t have much time anyhow so numbers and short pithy tips of wisdom do count.
Totally confused! Is this a 90s thing?
Great post, I don’t strive for viral, I strive for reach to people who can be helped by my post. I’m not expecting viral but who knows one day.
Loved it. Hilarious points there 🙂 Keep writing. Best Wishes 🙂
Thanks 😀
I’m shaking my head in disbelief and wondering if THIS post will go viral or not?
Well you commented! Perhaps now it will go viral 😛
Haha. The perfect recipe ;-). I would have loved it if you had decided to go with the first title 😉
haha I know I believe many readers and seo also would have 😀
Ok, blog recipes are the Ebolas of Blog world it seems. Hi-five on a great post
Lol 😀
I know someone whose post went viral. She almost lost her internet service provider. It really did cause her a lot of problems. I’ll just stay small and unnoticed. thank you. Burning laptop now.
haha That is true. Maybe we are not even technologically capable to manage the site.
I made it to the most popular posts column on BlogHer NaBloPoMo column a couple of times. I thought that was pretty big. I get knocked off after a day but was there for a week last time. 🙂
Lily
Exactly my thoughts…! hi5! 😀
Haha..To be or not to be viral. I think most viral stuff is actually crap and you like and share because it is just cool to do it. A mass factor, a Salman Khan movie as you would like. Given these conditions, I would say I am quite happy not going viral but making sense and touching hearts
You made me laugh :D. My blog can never go viral. They are don’t talk about sex or numbers or how to… :/ sad! I loved your post! You are so damn honest!
Funny and thought-provoking post. Going viral involves following a set of ever-evolving rules. But sometimes, if you write from the heart, you make a true emotional connection with your readers. And then if you play your cards right, they are hooked for life 🙂
A new window indeed
@thefuschialady from
sugarandspicecookies
@thefuschialady from
sugarandspicecookies