How do you get people to share the content you create?
Ever wonder if you can you make something go viral?
Those are great questions that most leaders wonder about at one time or another.
In this episode, we answer those questions and much more as we talk to a leader who’s had experience getting 100 million unique visitors a year on his website—Brian Orme, Editor at FaithIt, SermonCentral, ChurchLeaders.com and Outreach Magazine.
Welcome to Episode 18 of the Podcast.
Guest Links
Links Mentioned in this Episode
3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don’t Leave the Church
Links to Writing a Better Headline
8 Reasons Most Churches Never Break the 200 Attendance Mark
3 Things You Can Do Right Away
Creating viral content doesn’t have a cut and dry formula, but there are steps you can take to produce better content that has the ability to go viral. Here are three things you can do right now:
1. Create fresh, quality content. Brian says FaithIt produced around 1,000 stories between 2013 and 2014, but only 10% of those stories went viral or received 1,000,000 views. While increasing volume of your content improves the chances of something going viral, the quality of the content is what ultimately influences shares. First, think about how your audience wants to consume media, whether it’s digital or on paper. Second, learn how to create a great headline that makes the reader want to click on your content. Finally, use an image that appeals to your audience. Brian says that sometimes the picture alone is what will draw readers to your content. Long term, what makes content shareable is if it has an authentic story behind it. People share stories that generate a high arousal of emotion because they want to share that positive experience with someone else.
2. Speak to a popular, underlying issue and take a different approach. Brian mentioned an issue that’s all too familiar to church – We see youth walk away from God. There are several stories on the web about why youth leave the church, but one story that went viral addressed the issue in a unique way. “3 Common Traits of Youth Who Don’t Leave the Church” was actually circulated a few different times. It took a positive, fresh approach that made readers want to share it.
3. Use social media to engage, not just inform, people. Social media can be a great tool for sharing content and developing relationships. Rather than push a message to those who follow you, create a conversation that builds a community. Churches and church leaders don’t have to be on every social media platform, but the platforms they use should have a solid strategy. Leaders need to identify where their audience is, think about how they should create conversation and understand how to engage with their followers in a way that provides value to both parties. See a comment that you like? Like it! Read a tweet you enjoyed? Favorite it! Respond to your followers, and they’ll appreciate that you’re listening.
Quotes From Brian
CNLP 018: What Makes Content Go Viral and How You Can Make A Bigger Impact Online. An Interview with Brian Orme Click To TweetA New Episode Every Week…Just Subscribe
The podcast releases every Tuesday morning.
Subscribe for free and never miss out on wisdom from great leaders such as Derwin Gray, Ron Edmondson, Jon Acuff, Rich Birch, Ted Cunningham, Tony Morgan, Craig Jutila, Kara Powell, Casey Graham, Perry Noble, and Andy Stanley.
Subscribe via
Appreciate This? Rate the Podcast.
Hopefully this episode has helped you lead like never before. That’s my goal. If you appreciated it, could you share the love?
The best way to do that is to rate the podcast in iTunes and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn Radio as well.
Your rating and review helps gets the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.
We’ve had 150 reviews so far across all platforms. Leave one and I may feature yours on my podcast page. I read every one and appreciate them all!
Thank you for being so awesome.
Next Episode: William Vanderbloemen
Why on earth would you think about succession, especially if you’re a young leader? William Vandenbloemen explains why finding your replacement is an essential part of great leadership at all ages in all positions, and explains how to do it.
Subscribe now, and you won’t miss Episode 19.
