“Going viral” sounds glamorous—but many creators confuse the myth with reality. Let’s disentangle misconceptions and look at what really drives sustained success.
Myth 1: “If I hit one viral post, I’m done.”
In truth, one explosion doesn’t guarantee long‑term growth. As one blog puts it, “virality is often the pinnacle … but the true measure of success often lies in creating videos that ‘stick’.”
Myth 2: “I just need to hit a certain number of views.”
Benchmarks vary: on TikTok it may be hundreds of thousands; on Instagram they cite 500K with high shares; on YouTube one million views is often mentioned.
Truth: Virality depends on velocity, engagement and share behaviour. A rule of thumb: If a post gets around 10× your average performance, it can be seen as viral for you.
What creators should focus on:
- Build consistent content—not just one‑off efforts—so your audience knows what to expect.
- Prioritise engagement: comments, saves, shares matter more than raw views.
- Use a viral post as a springboard: follow it up with related content, invite recurring behaviour, and capture the audience you gained.
A creator might launch a short clip that hits 200K views (10× their usual 20K), but if they don’t follow up with consistent value, the bump fades. In contrast, creators who grow steadily through weekly uploads and audience interaction build sustainable growth.
