The views expressed by the contributing Entrepreneurs are their own.
With the rise of short-form content on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram reels, this is the perfect way to build an audience and any niche in 2023. Over the past six months, I’ve been experimenting with different ways to apply trends using short videos. I did this for two reasons:
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I created software that detects trends for TikTok and other platforms. If I was going to show people how to go viral using these trends, I have to do it myself first.
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To expand my own personal brand
So far, my results have been excellent. Specifically, on Instagram, I was able to reach over 50 million people by leveraging trends with wheels. I have also been able to see great success on other social media platforms as well.
Other organic methods work just as well as focusing on short-form content, but today we’re going to focus on why you should add short-form content to your social media strategy and how to use trendy sounds to boost it.
Before we begin, let’s answer this question first:
Related: 3 Ways Your Brand Can Go Viral on TikTok
Why are social media trends so powerful?
Social media trends are a powerful phenomenon that can shape public opinion and even create sweeping changes in the way people think, act and interact. Whether it’s the #MeToo movement, giving voice to those who have faced sexual harassment, or #BlackLivesMatter, highlighting racial oppression, social media trends have been used as a platform for collective action.
The power of social media trends lies primarily in their ability to reach a huge audience in an incredibly short amount of time. Trends often spread like wildfire, with users from all over the world engaging and sharing content within minutes of its release. This is especially true when popular figures such as celebrities or influencers are involved. By leveraging their large followings, they can amplify the trend exponentially and help shape public opinion on a topic.
Be consistent
It is important to understand that trends and the use of trendy sounds do not guarantee a viral video. Every day during the week, I have the opportunity to consult with content creators in different positions. Some of these creators are just starting out and others have multi-million followers across all platforms.
The common mistake I see when visiting these calls is that people think that applying trends to your content creation strategy will guarantee a viral video. Because of this mindset, I’ll see a lot of people post three to four videos that capitalize on an uptrend and stop posting content, wondering why their videos haven’t taken off yet.
Yes, using trendy sounds is one way to get more viral content, but posting consistently is more important. Yes, you have some creators who are able to succeed on their first try, but the reality is that it won’t work for everyone.
Social media is a numbers game. We only use trends to better tip the odds in our favor. I’d rather you post content consistently without using trendy sounds than post a handful of trendy videos and stop posting altogether. This way, you would see significantly better results in the long run.
Consistency doesn’t just apply to social media. Consistency is a powerful tool that can help you achieve your goals in life. It allows you to focus on the small steps that lead to bigger successes instead of tackling everything at once. Consistency also helps you stay motivated and encourages good habits. When it comes to success, consistency is key!
Related: 3 Social Media Hacks to Help Your Content Go Viral
Be relevant
The last important step in using trendy audio to go viral with short-form content is to make sure the audio you use is relevant to what you’re showing in your video.
Algorithms are not stupid. People aren’t stupid either. Both the algorithm and the people watching your content love authenticity. This includes:
Being authentic with your content while capitalizing on up-and-coming sounds makes it easy for many videos to go viral if one happens to come along.
Using trendy sounds is a great way to go viral, but it’s only one of the three things it takes to go viral on TikTok, Instagram reels, and YouTube shorts. Be sure to add consistency and relevance. These two things are arguably more important than trending. If you combine all three in your content creation strategy, you will see some fantastic results.