How to write viral tweets with the man who beat the X algorithm
September 23, 2024
AI Summary
5 min readHow to Write Viral Tweets: Inside the Mind of a Master
Nick Huber doesn't try to make everyone like him. That's the first thing he says when asked how he consistently generates tweets with hundreds of thousands of impressions. "If you try to make everybody love you, nobody will actually have an opinion on you at all." The man behind somewhere.com and a portfolio of other businesses has built a Twitter following by doing the opposite of what most people do online: he takes hard, unnuanced positions on controversial topics and states them as fact.
The Viral Tweet Structure
Huber's viral tweets follow a consistent pattern. The first line is a hook that makes people stop scrolling — something that sounds unique, that people aren't used to hearing. Then he spends the rest of the tweet taking a hard line on one side of an issue. No nuance, no teasing out both sides.
"Obviously, there's nuance. Obviously, there's two sides of it. Obviously, it doesn't apply to everybody, but I'm gonna act like it does, and I'm gonna take a very strong side towards one of them."
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:55) **The Core Mindset for Viral Content** - Nick explains that the key is not trying to make everyone like you; you must be willing to look silly and take a strong stance.
- 2 (02:40) **Anatomy of a Viral Tweet: The "Wow" Hook** - Nick breaks down the structure of his viral tweets, starting with a statement that makes people stop scrolling.
- 3 (03:19) **The "No Nuance" Rule** - The key to virality is taking a hard, unnuanced stance on one side of an argument.
- 4 (04:50) **The "Double Down" Strategy** - After the hook, reinforce your position with a second, even stronger unnuanced claim.
- 5 (08:43) **Using Specificity and Humor** - Adding specific, visual details (like "20 hours a week on a computer casting spells") makes a tweet more memorable and shareable.
- 6 (11:48) **Case Study: The $52 Million Tweet** - Nick breaks down a high-performing promotional tweet for his business, somewhere.com.
- 7 (15:10) **Adapting to the Video-First Algorithm** - Nick discusses the shift to video on Twitter and how he structures short videos with the same hook-first principle.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
Join me as I chat with Nick Huber, a serial entrepreneur and real estate investor, as we dive into the art of going viral on social media. Nick reveals his proven formula for creating engaging content that’s reached millions and helped him grow a massive following. If you're looking to boost your social media game and learn strategies that truly work, this episode is packed with actionable insights!
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:36 The mindset
02:39 The structure of a viral tweet / Example 1
08:42 Example 2
11:38 Example 3
15:51 Example 4 (video content)
16:59 Example 5
17:35 The importance of priming the algorithm
19:28 Example 6
22:37 Example 7
1) The mindset:
• Don't try to make everyone like you
• Be willing to look silly sometimes
• Have thick skin - you can't please everyone
2) The structure:
• Start with a "wow" statement that sounds unique
• Take a hard line on one side - no nuance
• Back it up with strongly written copy
3) The hook:
• You have 1/8 of a second to grab attention
• Make people laugh, strike emotion, or teach something
• Use numbers and specific details for added humor
4) The controversy:
• Say something different than what most people hear
• Take an un-nuanced stance on a debatable topic
• Trigger people who disagree (respectfully)
5) The follow-up:
• Double down in your second tweet
• Add more context or examples
• Don't backpedal or soften your stance
6) The visuals:
• Use video when possible - algorithms favor it
• Catch attention in the first second
7) The mix:
• Blend personal content, entertainment, and value
• Prime the algorithm with high-engagement tweets
• Follow up bangers with business-related content
8) The authenticity:
• Tweet things you actually believe
• It's okay if not everyone agrees
• Spark good conversations and critical thinking
9) The strategy:
• Build a following of smart people and entrepreneurs
• Use the "jab, jab, jab, right hook" approach
• Leverage high-engagement tweets for business asks
10) The lesson: Nuance doesn't go viral. But thoughtful, controversial takes that make people think?
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