How to go viral using frogs - virality vs content strategy

This is what viral content really gets you...

I posted a single reel on my one week-old personal account that had about 50 followers upon starting . It was a 15-second reel about flying frogs… and somehow, 133,000 people watched it. It’s based on a real, wordless picture book that’s actually used in some autism assessments. I had to interpret it as part of mine

Here is the result:

• 133,192 views

• 80,760 accounts reached

• 7,250 likes

• 532 saves

I know it's not "a billion views" viral. But it's not bad for a 15 second reel about frogs, posted on a brand new account! 

Full honesty: this isn’t my first viral moment. It’s actually the fourth, across different niches. I even went viral on Tumblr last year. (Yes, Tumblr. In 2024. I don’t make the rules, I just make the memes). So I knew what to expect and how to get there.

Going viral isn’t mystical.

And no, you don’t need to hack the algorithm with strange tricks.

Here’s the general formula I use:

Trend + humour + relatability

So here's how I made my relatable reel go viral:

• Firstly, I warmed up the algorithm by posting like a real human person

• Picked a niche: autism (I’m autistic)

• Made a meme using a trending audio

• Used a trending video format 

• Chose a joke that was relevant to my niche

The viral power of memes

Memes are a quick way of saying “I see you.” They help your audience feel understood in seconds, and hopefully make them laugh.

It was funny and niche. Lots of people related, and for others it was just weird enough to make people ask questions. This is key because Instagram sees people talking and keeps the post circulating.

Going viral vs using a content strategy

Despite 133,000 views, I gained just 17 followers. Sounds like a failure but it’s actually a reminder. Virality is fun but people laugh and move on - it’s not the same as building trust. If you want to create content that connects and converts, you need strategy, not just views.

To prove it, I quietly launched a free guide:

The Gentle Guide to Starting a Side Hustle

I promoted it quietly within the same week I made the account. It didn't go viral, but using a proper content strategy I did get:

• 26 downloads

• 1 feature in a Substack newsletter

• A few very kind donations

• 3 lovely reviews

• 1 glowing review that nearly made me cry

This is what actually matters: real people, real value, real impact.

If you’re done chasing vanity metrics and ready to build a brand that sticks, I’d love to help: see my creative services.