7 Reasons Your Writing Hasn't Gone Viral Yet

If you're like me, you've probably asked yourself the question at least once: Why hasn't my writing gone viral yet?

A year and a half ago, I would've had no idea how to answer this question. I had just started in the freelance world, and although I had been writing personally for years, I was lost as to how to market it to an audience.

But after nearly two years of experience on public writing platforms and online magazines, I've learned a thing or two. And during that time, I've written more than five viral articles. One of them even earned me $2,600. (If you're interested in reading it, it's about the time I wrote a sexually explicit text to my employer--aah!--and I'll link it here.)

I never thought I'd be able to go viral on one article--let alone five--especially in such a small amount of time. I expected it to take me at least several years before I knew enough about the process to make it big. But I made it happen, and so can you.

I realized over time that going viral isn't about following tips about what you should do; it's about nixing the bad habits, and trying to do things differently. When I was first starting out, there were 7 big reasons why my articles weren't going viral, and the same is true for lots of us. Read on to find out what these mistakes are--and how to approach them differently going forward.

1. You're writing about the wrong topics.

I know that technically in writing, there's no "right" or "wrong." All of us have our own preferences for what to write, which genres we enjoy, and the personal experience we have the ability to share. But there is something to be said for writing on topics that will appeal to an audience, especially on a bigger platform like this one.

Consider writing about one of these topics:

• Politics (it's controversial, and people can't help but read about it)

• Sex (again, it's controversial, and like gossip, people find it hard to stay away)

• Personal experience (writing from personal experience is appealing to readers and offers stories that they might be able to identify with as well)

• Money (people need and want money, and there can never be too much advice about how to earn or keep it)

• Business (people are galvanized by how-to's about finding success in the business world)

• Writing (especially on a big platform like this one, people are always looking for more tips at how to succeed with a writing career)

2. Your heart isn't in it.

If you're writing just to get money, or if you're only writing an article because you feel obligated (for financial reasons or otherwise), readers are going to be able to see through that. Believe it or not, readers are good at sensing when a writer is engaged in their work versus when there's no feeling behind it. Readers tend to gravitate towards pieces of writing where your voice and experiences are strong, knowledgeable, and passionate--believe me. So before you click publish, ask yourself if your heart is really in the story. It may make all the difference.

3. You have lots of grammatical or punctuation errors.

Sometimes people underestimate how essential it is to practice good grammar and punctuation in the writing world. Just seeing a misspelled word, a run-on sentence, or a misplaced semicolon can turn readers off from your story. And what's more, it can threaten your credibility as a writer: if readers see these errors, it may reflect badly on you and cause them to second-guess your expertise. Yes, grammatical and puncutation errors are common--most of us have made at least a few in our lifetime. They happen. But just make sure you're reading through every story and making the necessary edits. If you're someone who has trouble with this stuff, consider a service like Grammarly to proofread it for you.

4. You're not using good cover photos.

It sounds a little weird that something like a cover photo could impact a whole story, but trust me--it can. When I first started writing, I would pick cover photos impulsively, give it no thought, and then be disappointed when my article barely got any reads. Be mindful of the fact that some readers are visual people, and a good cover photo might be the thing that lures them in. After all, it's usually the first thing we all tend to notice about an article when we see it on the Vocal homepage--there's the article title, and then the cover photo right beside it. Don't underestimate how much this could influence readers!

5. Your article is scattered or lacks structure.

One of the hardest things about writing on a public platform is maintaining readers' attention throughout a piece. And largely, this depends on good organization. Your article should have a clear hook--a sentence or introduction that compels the reader and "hooks" them in--as well as an intriguing middle and an end that closes the story or main idea. If an article or story lacks this structure, it is hard to keep viewers interested in reading it, and thus, the piece may end up falling through the cracks. A lot of pieces of writing that I once thought were viral-worthy lacked this organization and that's why they flopped. Trust me: it matters.

6. Your article doesn't offer any unique insight.

This is a tough one. Sometimes the things we want to write about are already popular topics for others, which makes our points sound redundant and all-too-familiar for readers. (And since most people read to gain new perspectives, this may diminish their interest in your piece.) For instance, in 2020, a lot of my articles lacked success because I was parroting the same grievances about politics & COVID-19 that other writers had already established. Either strive to write quickly about current events, choose new topics that may be less popularized, or aim to reflect on a unique or controversial take you have on a situation. This will make readers more intrigued and willing to read your work.

7. You're writing with the sole intent of going viral.

I know this sounds counterintuitive, but let me explain. This goes hand-in-hand with #2, when I talked about how it can be harmful if your heart isn't in your work. If you are writing with the sole intent of going viral, your work may not stand out as much because you are not crafting your own voice and style. Of course, putting consideration into your work and figuring out what readers enjoy reading is helpful, but if you are writing solely to go viral, I'd advise you to step back from that a bit. Focus on your craft and improving your work; aim to write things you are proud of, things that outline personal experiences, and pieces that express your inner voice. The rest will fall into place. The first viral story I wrote was a personal narrative that I figured would never get more than a few views, so I stopped thinking so deeply about it--and look where it got me!

Did any of these points resonate with you? If you're anything like me, you started out making (and probably continue to make) quite a few of these errors on the daily. I'm constantly reviewing my articles with the audience in mind, while at the same time trying to make sure that my voice isn't lost to the pressure of wanting a large viewership. We've all been there, and no one is perfect. Part of writing publicly is finding the balance between the personal and the audience/marketing side of it. It's a hard job, and it's a brave step to pursue writing as a career--even if it's just on the side. But no matter what, everyone has the ability to reach their goals and become the author they've always dreamed of being.

If you recognize any of these mistakes, don't be discouraged. One of the most important parts of writing is self-awareness, and the willingness to edit and critique your own work. If you can do that, as well as be open-minded to the feedback of others, you're in business. Have faith in yourself. You have it in you to succeed--I promise.

Good luck, writers!