Seven Viral Emotions Framework

A framework for creating viral content by intentionally targeting specific emotional responses from your audience.

Core Emotions That Drive Virality

• LOL - Content meant to be really funny
• WTF - Content about unjust/outrageous situations that make people angry
• AWW - Content that's cute or heartwarming
• AWE/AH - Content that's amazing or impressive
• "Finally someone said it" - Content that validates what people are already thinking
• Touching/Heartwarming - Content that creates an emotional connection (noted as harder to execute)
• Outrage - Most shareable emotion, can transform sad content into viral content

Content Creation Process

• Start with intended emotion first
• Create template with emotional targets at top of page
• Package content to trigger specific emotional response
• Work backwards from emotion to actual content
• Let content "simmer" before editing
  • Take breaks between writing and editing
  • Return with fresh perspective
  • Science shows brain is more creative when relaxed

Why People Share

• Recognition drives sharing
  • People share when content validates their existing thoughts
  • They're saying "I'm right" more than "You're right"
• Shared experiences resonate
  • Content that makes people feel less alone
  • Validates common but unspoken experiences
• Emotional targeting
  • Different emotions get different share rates
  • Outrage gets more shares than sadness
  • Small tweaks can transform content into more shareable emotions

Content Optimization

• Edit extensively
  • "Write drunk, edit sober"
  • Editing is "magic to everything"
  • Take breaks between writing and editing
• Focus on packaging
  • Start with emotion
  • Then focus on packaging
  • Then create headline
  • Then add preview image
• Work backwards from attention-grabbing elements