I’d argue that going viral can absolutely be formulaic.
I call it “timeless re-reporting”:
- Find a previously reported story
- Retell said story using all available information
- Profit
Which stories are going to go viral? Ones that:
- Are timeless — could have happened yesterday or 30 years ago, and you can’t tell which from the headline
- Have recognizable brands names in the headline (preferably companies)
- Create curiosity by being almost unbelievable
The prime example is this article:
“Pepsi’s $32 Billion Typo Caused Deadly Riots” by Sean Kernan
With said title, how could it not go viral?
- It’s timeless. The reader wants to know: “Is this breaking news?” But it’s still a useful story anwyay.
- It features a recognizable brand with a big dollar amount.
- It’s completely unbelievable. A $32 billion typo … caused deadly riots? No way!
I’ve definitely seen this in my own writing.
I’ll be writing a piece on this soon! Cheers! ✒