So I was scrolling Instagram yesterday and saw this creator complaining about his video getting only 73 views. Made me think – how many of us have been there? You spend your whole weekend filming, editing, writing the perfect caption… then crickets. It’s frustrating, right? But after working with hundreds of creators at shortVids, I’ve noticed something. The videos that explode aren’t random luck. There’s actually a pattern a viral video formula.
Take Gene Slade, smart business guy, but his videos were stuck at 200 views. Three months later? He’s averaging 15,000 views or even hundreds of thousands per video. What changed?
Here’s What Nobody Tells You About Going Viral
The algorithm isn’t some mysterious beast that randomly picks favorites. It’s actually pretty predictable once you understand that it follows patterns in how people think and act. When you crack those patterns, boom, you’ve got the cheat code.
Every viral video follows the same viral video formula. It’s like a recipe, miss one ingredient and the whole thing falls apart. But get all five elements right, and you’re cooking with gas.
What Actually is the Viral Video Formula (aka Viral5 Framework)?
The Viral5 Framework is a step-by-step content system designed to make short videos perform better. It focuses on five core elements, hook, pacing, structure, editing style, and audience psychology, that work together to grab attention in the first few seconds, hold viewers until the end, and boost shares. it includes these 5 steps:
- Topic: Pick what people care about.
- Hook: Stop the scroll fast.
- Script: Front-load value, push engagement.
- Delivery: Be natural, not scripted.
- Editing: Keep it tight and watchable.
The Viral5 Framework (It’s Simpler Than You Think)
So here’s the breakdown. Every piece of content that goes viral has these five things nailed down:
| Step | Focus Area | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research & Theme Building | Analyze top competitors, spot recurring patterns, and build a repeatable theme library. |
| 2 | Hook Crafting | Use contrast, curiosity, and numbers to make scroll-stopping hooks. |
| 3 | Script Building | Structure your script to front-load value, then naturally push engagement. |
| 4 | Delivery Practice | Rehearse but keep it casual—like talking to a friend, not reading a script. |
| 5 | Professional Editing | Polish your video with clean cuts, captions, and pacing to keep viewers hooked. |
Think of it like building a house. The theme is the foundation, mess that up and nothing else matters. A strong hook is what gets people to walk through the front door. The script is what keeps them from leaving. Then comes the performance, which makes them want to stay for dinner. And finally, the editing ties it all together, turning the whole experience into something they can’t help but share with friends.
Step 1: Theme Selection (AKA Don’t Screw Up Before You Start)
First, the most important thing in our viral 5 framework (viral video formula) is a theme or topic. This is where most people totally bomb without even knowing it. You could have the most amazing everything else, but if your theme sucks, you’re dead in the water. It’s like trying to sell ice to Eskimos; doesn’t matter how good your sales pitch is.
So how do you pick winners? Here’s our proven process:
- Find the top 10 creators in your space – Not the ones you like, the ones getting views
- Analyze their last 3 months – What topics are they covering repeatedly?
- Look for patterns – If 5 coaches are talking morning routines, there’s gold there
- Note their angles – How are they approaching the same topics differently?
We call this the “steal like an artist” approach. You’re not copying word-for-word (that’s just lame), but you’re understanding what topics people actually care about.
If you wanna know what a creator faces in content creation, you can check out this blog of ours: Top Challenges in Content Creation and Its Solutions.
Alex Hormozi
Look at Alex Hormozi. The guy built a $100M empire and his most viral videos aren’t about complex business strategies. They’re about simple topics like “business mistakes,” “hiring secrets,” and “sales psychology.” Why? Because these topics hit pain points every entrepreneur faces.
When ChatGPT exploded, Alex didn’t just make a generic AI video. He created “How AI Will Kill Your Business (Unless You Do This)” – same trending topic, but angled for his business audience. Gary Vee did something similar with “Why I’m Not Scared of AI Taking Over” – taking the fear everyone had and flipping it.
Russell Brunson
Russell Brunson dominates with topics around “sales funnels” and “marketing secrets.” Grant Cardone owns anything related to “10X thinking” and “sales strategies.” These aren’t accidents – they found topics their audience obsesses over and became the go-to source.
Here’s the secret sauce, though: blend what’s trending with your specific thing. If inflation is trending and you’re in business, make it “How Smart Entrepreneurs Actually Profit From Inflation.” If everyone’s talking about recession, your angle becomes “Why Recessions Create the Most Millionaires.”
Step 2: Hook Creation (You’ve Got 3 Seconds, Don’t Blow It)
Hooks are the backbone of the viral video formula, without them, even the best scripts fall flat. Your hook has exactly three seconds to grab someone’s attention. Three. Freaking. Seconds. That’s barely enough time to say “hey what’s up,” let alone convince someone to stick around for your entire video.
But here’s the cool thing , great hooks follow patterns, and once you know them, it’s like having a superpower. The human brain is basically wired to notice differences and contrasts. So when you put two opposite things together, people can’t help but pay attention.
Different Influencers’ Hook Game
- Alex Hormozi’s hook game is insane. Instead of saying “Here’s how to hire good people,” he goes with “I’ve hired 4,000 people – here are the 3 questions I ask every time.” See the difference? The first is boring advice, the second makes you think “Holy crap, 4,000 people? What does he know that I don’t?”
- Gary Vee uses shock value: “I’m selling all my Facebook stock – here’s why.” Makes you stop scrolling because it goes against what everyone expects.
- Russell Brunson nails the curiosity angle: “This $37 product made me $3 million – here’s the secret.” Numbers plus mystery equals instant attention.
- Dan Lok uses the authority approach: “I’ve sold $100M+ worth of products using this one technique.”
Hook Formulas
Here are the exact hook formulas these guys use:
- The Experience Hook (Alex Hormozi): “I’ve built 6 companies to $100M+ – here’s what nobody tells you”
- The Contrast Hook (Grant Cardone): “Broke people think like this, millionaires think like that”
- The Confession Hook (Gary Vee): “I made this $2 million mistake so you don’t have to”
- The Secret Hook (Russell Brunson): “The $100,000 sales script they don’t want you to know”
- The Authority Hook (Dan Lok): “After closing $50M in sales, here’s what I learned”
When Gene first came to us, his hooks were stuff like “Tips for entrepreneurs.” Boring, right? We changed it to “Why 9 out of 10 new businesses fail in year one (and the 1 thing that saves them).” Same info, completely different energy.
Step 3: Script Development (This Is Where the Magic Happens)
Okay, so your hook got people to stop scrolling. Awesome. But now what? Your script is what determines if they actually watch the whole thing or bounce after 10 seconds.
Here’s the mistake everyone makes, they think the hard part’s over after the hook. Wrong. The hook just gets people in the door. Your script is what keeps them in the room.
You want about 70% of your video to be pure value, stuff people can actually use. Make it so good that even if they never buy anything from you, they feel like they got their money’s worth just from watching. When someone finishes your video and immediately thinks, “I gotta send this to my friend,” you nailed it.
But here’s where it gets interesting, your call-to-action can’t be an afterthought anymore. Those old “smash that like button” CTAs are dead. Today’s CTAs need to be creative and give people a real reason to engage.
Some of the hottest CTAs crushing it right now:
- “Type ‘SEND IT’ and I’ll DM you the full checklist” – Creates urgency and gives value
- “Save this video, trust me you’ll need it later” – Makes people feel smart
- “Tag someone who needs to see this” – Natural way to get shares
- “Which tip hit different? Tell me in the comments” – Gets genuine engagement
- “Drop a 🔥 if this helped you out” – Simple but effective
The key is making it feel natural, not pushy. People engage when they feel like they’re getting something, not when you’re just asking for free stuff.
Step 4: Performance Delivery (How You Say It Beats What You Say)
Alright, time for some real talk. You could have the best content in the world, but if you deliver it like Joseph, do you know them? me neither so, energy everything, and it comes through the screen whether you like it or not.
Think about the last video you couldn’t stop watching. Was it just the information, or was it how the person delivered it? Probably both, right? But the delivery is what kept you glued to the screen.
Confidence is huge here. Even if you’re nervous inside (and we all are), you gotta project that authority. People follow confident people, not wishy-washy ones. Practice your script until it feels natural, but don’t sound like a robot reading from a teleprompter.
Here’s a funny way to think about it, imagine if Gordon Ramsay delivered his cooking tips in a quiet, boring voice. “Perhaps you should consider adding some seasoning to enhance the flavor.” Nobody would watch that! But when he’s like “This chicken is so undercooked, it’s still clucking!” suddenly everyone’s paying attention.
Your delivery should match your content’s vibe. The best content creation tools can help polish things up, but the real magic is in you. If you’re sharing something exciting, sound excited. If you’re dropping knowledge bombs, let your voice carry that weight. Don’t be afraid to use your hands, change your tone, or even pause for dramatic effect.
Step 5: Expert Editing (Where Good Becomes Great)
This is where ShortVids really shines, and honestly, it’s the difference between looking like an amateur and looking like you know what you’re doing. Good editing isn’t just cutting out the “ums” it’s creating an experience that keeps people watching.
People today have the attention span of goldfish, so every single second needs to count. We use quick cuts to keep the energy up, zoom in on important points, add text to reinforce what you’re saying, and use sound effects that actually enhance the story instead of just being annoying.
Here’s what makes our editing approach different:
- Algorithm + Human optimization – We edit for high retention AND entertainment
- Pattern interrupts – Sudden changes that wake people up and keep them watching
- Strategic pacing – Quick cuts for energy, pauses for emphasis
- Professional polish – Color correction, graphics, and smooth transitions
- Sound design – Effects and music that enhance, not distract
We don’t just edit videos. We create experiences that people actually want to watch and share.
Editing styles of different famous influencers
Here are few editing styles by the famous influencers:
- Alex Hormozi: Clean cuts every 3-4 seconds, text overlays, minimal graphics
- Grant Cardone: Fast cuts, bold animations, multiple angles, sound effects
- Gary Vee: Quick cuts every 2-3 seconds, subtitles, behind-scenes feel
- Russell Brunson: Story pacing, whiteboard animations, case study graphics
- Dan Lok: Preserves dramatic pauses, luxury aesthetic, authority graphic
Feeling Overwhelmed? Let shortVids Handle the Heavy Lifting
Look, implementing the Viral5 Framework sounds straightforward, but let’s be honest, mastering all five steps while running your business can feel overwhelming. Between researching trending topics, crafting perfect hooks, writing scripts that convert, nailing your delivery, and then spending hours editing… it’s a lot. That’s where ShortVids can help you. We’ve perfected this exact framework with hundreds of creators, turning their raw ideas into scroll-stopping content that actually gets views. Instead of burning yourself out trying to become an expert in five different skills overnight, let us handle what we do best while you focus on what you do best creating value for your audience.
Ready to Stop Being Invisible?
If you want the same results Gene got and you’re ready to stop playing around with mediocre content, hit up ShortVids. We specialize in taking great ideas and turning them into viral content using the exact formula I just broke down for you.
Ready to finally get the views you deserve? Let’s make it happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a simple five-step system built to help creators make videos that grab attention, keep people watching, and have a real shot at going viral.
By focusing on the parts most creators overlook—like strong hooks, pacing, and edits—it makes your videos more engaging so viewers don’t scroll away.
Because they rely on guesswork. Without clear steps for topics, scripts, and editing, most videos end up flat and easy to ignore.
Absolutely. Whether you’re an influencer, a coach, or a business owner, these steps can turn your message into content people actually want to share.
Instead of vague advice, it gives you a repeatable process based on audience psychology—so your videos hook fast and keep people watching longer.
Book a Call Today
- Fixed monthly plans starting at $999
- 24-hour turnaround time (or less) on all short-form edits
- 3-layer quality check system on every video
- No more chasing freelancers or managing editors
- Scale up to 50+ videos/month without hiring in-house
- Content team trained on platform trends, scroll-stopping hooks & storytelling
- Fully managed by professionals – you just upload & approve
- Response time: Under 1 hour (US & GCC time zones)
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