Sun, Sea and Raki...
Picture this: You’re on a beach in Crete, the sun has set, the full moon is glowing, and you’ve just polished off a carafe of rosé wine. The vibes? Immaculate. The look? Well…let’s just say there was no makeup involved, and the lighting was less “Hollywood” and more “early episode of Lost.” But inspiration struck anyway, because I was staring at the full moon thinking: “This needs to be a video!”
So, armed with my iPhone, waves crashing in the background, and Greek dancers doing their thing nearby, I shot a quick video about how to take a picture of the full moon on your phone. My husband, in a stroke of irony, filmed me filming it on his Google Pixel Pro, but hey, we all make sacrifices. I hit “upload” on TikTok around 10 p.m., and before I could even process what had happened – I was fast asleep.
Now, what happened next? Oh, just your typical TikTok rollercoaster ride: the video hit 900k views in a few weeks, climbed to 1.9 million by the next full moon, and then, out of nowhere, it skyrocketed to 4 million views a couple of days later! My most-viewed video ever. So… where’s the yacht and cash prize, right? Hold your horses (or in this case, your Noodlehorses), because here’s what going viral really taught me:
Going Viral Is Fun, but the Comments Are Where the Magic Happens
First, let me tell you – when you go viral, the dopamine hit is real. I mean, 4 million views feels like the universe is giving you a high-five. But here’s the thing: It’s not the views that matter. It’s the comments.
Comments are where the fun starts, and they’re also where the real gold is buried. People love to ask questions, share their experiences, and tell you you’re wrong (because, you know, the internet). And when you’ve got a flood of comments coming in, that’s when the party really starts.
For me, answering comments is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. It’s where you get to engage with your audience, have fun, and – most importantly – build a community. That’s what social media is all about! The more comments you get, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more value you can give back. And when you hit viral levels, the learning comes at you fast.
Gaps I didn't even know existed within my community
Here’s what surprised me the most: people were asking questions I never would have thought of. Questions like, “How do you even turn on the gridlines on your iPhone camera?” It was a revelation.
This was a huge lightbulb moment. When you’re knee-deep in content creation, it’s easy to forget that the things you take for granted as “obvious” are brand new to someone else. That’s when I realised: There’s an entire island of super-simple content ideas just waiting to be tapped, straight from the comments section.
Listen to your audience. They’ll tell you what they need – you just have to be paying attention.
Viral Fame Won’t Fill Your Bank Account (But It Will Give You Opportunity)
I remember someone teasing me once for having fewer followers than he did. I knew back then and I still know it now – the amount of followers or views you have does not equate to pounds in the bank BUT it does open doors.
One of the best parts? I gained enough followers to go live on TikTok, and if you know me, you know I love live streaming. Live streams are a powerhouse for building deeper connections with your audience, and the opportunity to go live was a direct result of hitting that viral milestone.
Plus, with all the new questions and comments, I now had fresh inspiration to create more valuable content. Viral fame didn’t make me a millionaire, but it gave me tools and insights to serve my community better—and that’s the kind of long-term value you can’t put a price tag on.
Repeat What Works (Yes, Really)
Here’s a little tip from me to you: if something works, repeat it. I’ve been preaching this for years, and this viral video was proof. People loved my moon photography tutorial, so when October’s full moon rolled around, guess what I did? Yep, I made another video about how to take pictures of the moon with your phone. And guess what? It performed really well again.
The takeaway here? Don’t overcomplicate things. If you hit on something your audience loves, don’t be afraid to do it again. Refine it, tweak it, improve it – but don’t feel like you have to reinvent the wheel every time. Consistency and repetition build trust and familiarity, and that’s what strengthens your community.
The Real Lesson: It’s Not About the Views - It’s About What You Do With Them
Going viral might feel like hitting the jackpot, but the real value isn’t in the views. It’s in the community you build along the way. Viral moments are fleeting. What matters is how you use them to connect with your audience, get inspired, and provide even more value in the future.
So, next time you find yourself chasing views, remember this: it’s not about going viral. It’s about using those viral moments to grow your community, spark new ideas, and build a brand that lasts.
Now, go out there and make content that matters – not for the views, but for the people who will comment, connect, and become a part of your community. Trust me, that’s where the real magic happens.
And of course, if you’re stuck on how to begin that content creation journey, Noodlehorse Media has you covered. You can follow me on social media for more inspiration, you can book a social media sprint for one hour of picking my brain or we can work together on a larger scale. Reach out and send me a message (you can do it right here on my website).
