When I first started this blog, I wrote a few posts that hit a nerve but my best effort to date is Big Bloggers, Bad Grammar. I just knew when I was writing that post that it would attract attention, the title just sounded good and the topic seemed like a valid debate point. The post got mentioned by 2 out of 3 of the big bloggers that I mentioned; Shoemoney and John Chow.

I think this post hit a small nerve partly because the title is viral sounding but also because the point at hand is sort of one most bloggers consider subconsciously but don’t fully comprehend or speak on. It’s one of those small points at the back of your mind that makes you feel like giving your input on as soon as it’s mentioned.

Much like politics, which isn’t a subconscious consideration, it’s a very conscious mixture of opinion; it still has the same effect. I think, if you just continue to mention obvious things and things that everyone is already fully aware of or things everyone reads non-stop… there’s not much effect to be had. You need to really hit a nerve.

How Do You Do It?

I think to write a post that has this type of effect, you need to spend a little time before hand and during the process of a post to properly digest what you’re writing and what point you’re trying to get across.

You really need to try and think of something that you have an opinion on and know other people must think about logically as well, yet… no one mentions.

These type of posts will make other bloggers think “I wish I’d wrote that” and will also make them want to have their say on it. You need to write on something that will urge people to give their opinion.

I don’t particularly think it requires practice or anything special, it’s just a knack.

Calling Big Bloggers out

Another reason of course that the post I mentioned hit a nerve was because I sort of urged the bloggers that I mentioned to respond. Yet I did it without fully insulting any of them or actually calling them out. Just sort of… subtly criticized things and hinted at a response.

I think it’s much better to do this as apposed to just bluntly and blatantly calling big bloggers bad names. It’s in poor character to do so, does nothing for your credibility and unless you have a valid reason… is very obvious as a ploy to get a link back.

Final Thoughts

Once you get a feel for your niche and really understand why certain posts are popular and why certain bloggers are popular, you will start to naturally get the urge to write viral posts.

Unless of course you’re just trying to make a few dollars a day with AdSense, in which case you’re probably just scraping RSS feeds and/or poorly rewriting other people’s good content.

Either way, I hope this post has hit a bit of a nerve as well