💥 How to Easily Beat Social Media Algorithms Code in 2025 for Viral AI Shorts

A Quick Overview of What Will Be Covered

Before going into more detailed for this playbook, we’ll lay the groundwork for creating content that not only grabs attention but also builds your loyal audiences. Here’s what you’ll get:

• Myth-Busting Viral Success: We’ll clear up the biggest myths about going viral. It’s not all about luck or flashy content. I’ll show you the real ingredients for success so you can stop guessing and start working smarter.

• Finding Your Niche: You’ll learn how to figure out your unique space where your skills and interests meet what people want using AI tools. This is key to creating content that feels real and keeps people coming back.

• Cracking Platform Algorithms: Algorithms can feel confusing, but I’ll break them down into simple steps you can follow. You’ll understand what works, what doesn’t, and how to stay consistent for better reach and engagement.

By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of how to approach viral content with focus and strategy. This foundation will make every post you create more effective. Let’s go!

I. Myth-Busting: What Viral Success Really Takes

Actually there are so many misconceptions out there about creating viral shorts or reels, I’ve seen many people think it’s all about luck or just following trends. That’s not how it works. But these are all understandable, it can be intimidating to try out something new. If you want consistent success, you need to focus on strategy, effort, and understanding what really matters.

So let’s clear up some common misunderstandings about going viral.

1. Your Videos Need to Be Super High-Quality

Do you think this is true or false? The answer depends on what you mean by "high quality”. If you’re thinking about fancy cameras, professional editing software, and expensive gear, then the answer is NO - you don’t need any of that to create engaging content.

=> But this doesn’t mean you should post videos with bad sound, poor lighting, or messy editing. People still expect a certain level of clarity. What really matters is authenticity. Audiences today value content that feels real and relatable over polished, cinematic videos. They want to connect with you, not with a perfectly produced version of you.

Many successful creators use simple setups, just their phones, basic editing apps, and natural lighting. To deliver "high-quality" content:

• Use a phone with a decent camera (most newer phones are great for this).

• Find good lighting - natural light works wonders.

• Have a solid idea or story that resonates with your audience.

In the past, professional, polished videos were the standard. Now, raw, personal, handheld content is what catches people’s attention. You don’t need to compete with big-budget productions. In fact, overly polished videos can sometimes come across as less genuine.

For example, right now, 100% of our videos are actually made on our phones and laptops with AI tools.

Remember, your focus should be on connecting with your audience. Show up authentically, not perfectly. When your content feels relatable and true to you, that’s when people engage with it the most.

2. You Need to Post Everyday to Be Successful

It’s a common belief that daily posting is the only way to grow your Instagram account. But is it true? In some aspects, but not exactly. While posting more frequently does increase your chances of going viral and gaining visibility, it’s not the only factor that matters.

Here's a deeper look:

• The Reality of Daily Posting: If you post 365 times a year compared to just 100 times, which approach gives you more chances to go viral? The answer is obvious: more posts mean more opportunities to grow and refine your skills. However, this doesn’t mean you must burn yourself out trying to post every day.

• Batch Creating Content to Save Time: A great way to simplify your content creation process is through batch creation. This means setting aside a day or weekend to plan and create multiple videos. I say a day, but I usually use up to 5 hours for 20 videos.

  

• Consistency Matters More Than Frequency: If daily posting feels overwhelming or isn’t feasible for you, focus on consistency instead. Create a content calendar and stick to it. Posting three times a week can still yield great results if your audience knows when to expect your content. Consistency builds trust and anticipation.

• Condition Your Audience: Train your audience to expect content on specific days. If they know you post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they’ll look forward to it and engage more consistently.

• Start Small, Grow Over Time: If you’re new to content creation, it’s okay to start with a manageable schedule and gradually increase your posting frequency as you get better at creating and managing your content.

The takeaway here is simple: posting every day is helpful, but not mandatory. Focus on creating content that’s consistent, engaging, and aligned with your goals. Every reel is a step toward improving your craft and connecting with your audience.

3. More Followers = More Success

This myth is one of the biggest traps people fall into when trying to grow their accounts. Many think that having a massive follower count equals success, but the truth is much more nuanced. Your follower count doesn’t guarantee success—it’s your engagement that matters.

While having a large number of followers can look impressive, it doesn’t always translate to meaningful results like engagement, visibility, or income.

• Engagement Is Key: All the social platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or TikTok, they all prioritize content that sparks interactions, not just accounts with big numbers. Likes, comments, shares, and watch time are far more important than how many followers you have. Look at this video, the owner of this channel only has 4000 followers, but his video got 2.1M views and 20.1K likes.

  

• Inactive Followers Don’t Help: If most of your followers are inactive or uninterested in your content, they won’t engage, and the algorithm won’t push your posts.
  
  => An account with 500 followers and 10% engagement (50 people interacting) is more effective than an account with 10,000 followers and a 1% engagement rate (100 people interacting).

📌 IMPORTANT: Buying fake followers or using growth hacks might inflate numbers but won’t lead to genuine success. These tactics can harm your credibility and make your engagement rates plummet, further affecting your visibility. In some ways, it’s still helpful but we need right strategy, we’ll talk about it later.

4. If It Doesn’t Go Viral Overnight, It’s Over

Virality isn’t always immediate. It’s easy to think your reel has failed if it doesn’t blow up in the first 24 hours. But that’s not how Instagram or Facebook and even YouTube’s algorithm works. Many videos take time to gain traction as the algorithm tests them with different audiences. Then it can be pushed to the Explore page or recommended to new audiences days, weeks, or even months after being posted.

=> So, if you didn’t get instant results, don’t delete the video or feel discouraged, it still has potential.

To increase the likelihood of long-term growth, focus on creating evergreen content. This type of content stays relevant no matter when someone sees it, whether it’s tomorrow, next month, or next year.

Examples of Evergreen Content:

• In the fashion niche: “How to style a black blazer in 5 ways” or “Timeless ways to wear a white shirt.”

• In the travel niche: “Top 10 attractions in Paris” or “Best restaurants in Madrid.”

  

These types of posts remain useful and relatable, regardless of the season or date. They provide value to viewers whenever they come across them.

The opposite of evergreen content would be seasonal content. Seasonal content is designed for specific times or events, like holidays or special occasions. For example:

• In the fashion niche: “5 outfits for Christmas Eve.”

• In the travel niche: “Top tips for spending New Year’s in New York.”

  

By the way, we are not saying that seasonal content is bad and that you shouldn't create it. Seasonal content is still valuable, especially during its relevant period, and can gain quick traction. You should still do that, and people usually love this type of content. But your chances of having these videos go viral months later are just much lower, of course.

=> My choice is to combine both, it is actually the best strategy. If you’re aiming for virality weeks or months later, make sure your content solves problems, answers questions, or inspires people in a way that doesn’t depend on timing.

5. Your Videos Need to Be Short

This is a common belief, but it’s not entirely true. Your videos don’t need to be short as long as they’re interesting. The key is to grab attention right at the start with a strong hook and keep viewers engaged until the very end. If people watch your video all the way through, your retention rate increases, and that’s exactly what platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube favor.

What is Retention Rate?

Retention rate measures the percentage of viewers who watch your video from start to finish. Naturally, it’s easier to maintain a high retention rate with a shorter video, such as a 5-second reel, because the time commitment is minimal. Short videos are also more likely to be rewatched, which further boosts their performance. However, some content like tutorials, advice, or storytelling needs more than a few seconds to deliver value.

=> That’s perfectly fine as long as you make every second count.

For longer videos, focus on cutting out anything unnecessary. Every second should add value or maintain interest. 

=> Let’s use transitions, changes in pace, and visual effects to keep your audience engaged. Avoid filler shots that don’t move the story forward or hold the viewer’s attention. For example, instead of showing an entire process like unpacking a package in real-time, trim it down to the highlights: pulling the item out → holding it up → transitioning to the final reveal.

Example: Nas Daily’s Long-Form Reels

Nas Daily is a creator who makes one-minute-long videos as his trademark. He talks about global topics, people, and events in a captivating way. Every second of his videos is concise, relevant, and engaging, which keeps viewers hooked.

His ability to retain attention over a full minute earns him hundreds of thousands of views consistently. This shows that longer videos can perform well if they’re well-crafted.

6. It Takes Hours to Create a Video

Many people believe creating a reel or video eats up hours of your day. While this can be true for some intricate projects, it doesn’t have to be the norm. The time it takes to create a video largely depends on the type of content you’re making. If you’re working on something with advanced transitions or a complex concept, it might take longer.

But there are plenty of reels you can create in under 10 minutes (or even 1 minute like AI Fire shorts), yes, even the ones that look polished. With the right AI tools and templates, you can make engaging content quickly. We talk about the whole process at the later part of the playbook.

Let’s look at some examples. A highly detailed video with custom transitions and effects, like one from another course called by Maddy, might take more time to plan, shoot, and edit.

On the other hand, a simpler reel with straightforward clips and minimal edits can be created in just a few minutes and still perform well. At the end of the day, the time spent doesn’t determine success. If your reel delivers value, resonates with your audience, or entertains them, it has the potential to perform well regardless of how long it took to make.

Believe it or not, but Maddy taught us that even the videos that look like they would take hours to edit, sometimes only take her just 5 minutes. It's all about planning everything ahead and using the right AI tools. You can speed up your workflow by thinking about what shots you need and how you will film them.

7. Your Cover Image Determines the Success of Your Video

Many believe the cover image is the deciding factor for a video’s success. But this isn’t true. Think about it - when you scroll through the Explore or Discover page, do you even notice the cover images? Most people don’t. They engage with a reel because the first few seconds catch their attention, not because of the cover photo.

The cover image mainly helps your existing followers or those browsing your profile. It gives them a quick idea of the type of content you share. For new viewers discovering your reel on the Reels tab or Explore page, the cover image doesn’t even show up.

So True or False?

Some creators use irrelevant or purely aesthetic cover images to match their profile grid’s overall look. Others use text overlays or previews of their content to give followers a sense of what the reel contains. Neither approach significantly impacts the reel's performance on Explore or Reels tabs.

What really matters is the content itself. A strong hook, engaging visuals, and quality audio in the first few seconds are what grab attention and drive engagement. While a cohesive cover image can make your profile look more organized, it won’t affect how the platform’s algorithm pushes your reel.

These myths can hold you back if you let them. What really matters is creating content that resonates with your audience and staying consistent. When you stop chasing perfection and start focusing on authenticity, engagement, and strategy, you’ll see better results. You don’t need luck or a fancy setup, just a plan and a willingness to try.

II. Discover Your Niche: Focus on What You Do Best

When you focus on your niche, everything becomes easier: creating content, connecting with your audience, and standing out. A niche is simply the specific topic or area you’ll be known for. Here’s how you can find yours:

1. Why It’s So Important to Find Your Niche

Your niche should be something that excites you and gets you motivated every day. The ideal niche inspires both you and your followers while delivering real value. If a topic feels dull to you, it’s unlikely you’ll stay committed to it. And if it doesn’t spark your interest, it probably won’t excite your audience either. Your followers can sense your energy, so your enthusiasm for what you share really matters.

Have you ever had a teacher who taught without any enthusiasm?

I have, and even if the subject was interesting, those classes felt unbearable because of the lack of energy. The same thing applies to your reels.

=> If you’re not genuinely passionate or don’t bring excitement to your content, people won’t stick around to watch. That’s why choosing a niche you’re truly passionate about is so important, it makes your videos engaging and worth watching.

For us, our passion was AI. We loved exploring the AI world and sharing our experiences, even when no one was watching. Over time, people could feel how much we loved it, and eventually, we reached thousands of people around the world like now.

When we talk about finding your niche, we don’t just mean broad categories like fashion, travel, or sports. Those are too general. A niche is more specific, like vintage street style, luxury travel, or fitness for women focused on weight loss. Each niche has its own audience with unique needs. By narrowing down your focus, or “nicheing down,” you can create videos dedicated to a smaller, specific group of people within a larger category.

Take AI Fire as an example - we’re in the AI niche. When we started on social media, we knew we wanted to focus on AI because it’s something we’ve always been passionate about. But within AI, there are many different areas: AI tools for productivity, AI for creative content, machine learning, AI in education, and so on. To be more specific, we decided our niche is helping beginners and entrepreneurs use AI tools to simplify their workflows and create high-quality content with ease.

=> Because of our focus, we naturally attract people who are around the same age as us and share similar interests. Through the content we post, we’ve built a community of people who love the same things. By focusing on this specific niche, we’ve connected with people who share our passion for AI learning.

Imagine if, in the beginning, we posted about AI tools, coding, marketing, machine learning, and a mix of other topics without sticking to one focus. People wouldn’t know why they were following us. Now that we’ve built a strong presence with loyal followers, we can branch out into different areas within AI.

❗❗❗ NOTE: But for anyone starting out, we wouldn’t recommend doing this at all. It’s important to stay focused in the beginning.

The more specific your niche, the more targeted your audience will be. This makes you more valuable to them because your content directly serves their needs. And in return, your audience becomes more valuable to you because they are highly engaged and loyal.

=> This is especially important when one of your videos goes viral. If you get a viral video and it's hard to know what you stand for when someone comes to your page, you can get a million views and only grow 100 followers.

But that is not all. Having a niche makes it easier for you to get noticed on social media. All social media algorithms are focused on identifying profiles audiences.

2. Steps to Discover Your Niche

Now that you understand why finding your niche matters, let’s talk about how to actually do it. If you’re like most creative people, you probably have a lot of interests. The possibilities are endless, and that’s exciting but it can also be overwhelming.

📌 NOTE: Before you go through these steps, let’s download this document and write down in each step we mention below. All right, now get a pen and we will guide you through the process.

One more thing, if it’s too difficult to describe your thoughts and ideas, let’s use ChatGPT to help you write down more effectively.

Step 1: Explore Your Skills, Passions, and Interests

Set aside focused time to answer the following questions. Don’t overthink, just write down whatever comes to mind. Spend about 5 minutes on each question.

• What comes naturally to you and could be valuable to others?

• What topics can you talk about with a stranger for hours?

• What do people frequently seek your advice on?

• What are your strongest skills and deepest passions?

• What unique perspective can you bring to the world?

• What topics do your favorite bloggers or influencers focus on?

We want you to think about everything you’re naturally good at. These can be small skills or big talents right now, just list them all. Don’t worry about sorting or overthinking, just focus on what you know you’re better at than most people. Write everything down on your worksheet. It could be things like taking great photos, speaking multiple languages, painting, playing a sport, or organizing events. Whatever comes to mind, put it on your list.

=> If you’re stuck, think about what you could easily talk about with someone for hours. You can also ask your family and friends for ideas, what do people usually come to you for advice about? These are often the things you’re naturally skilled at.

If people often come to you for help with something, it’s a good sign that you’re naturally good at it. You might not even realize it because it feels so normal to you. Sometimes, our own talents are so obvious to us that we overlook them entirely.

Step 2: Define Your Zone of Genius

Create a chart with two sections:

1. What are you passionate about? (e.g., teaching, simplifying technology, solving problems)

2. What are you good at? (e.g., explaining tools, finding AI solutions, or storytelling).
   Find the intersection of these two areas to refine your niche.

Passions and skills can be anything that excites you or sparks your curiosity. It could be underwater photography, stop-motion animation, giving personal advice, fitness, slow fashion, or even exploring lesser-known travel destinations. The choice is entirely yours.

You don’t need to be an expert at it, but you should have a genuine curiosity to learn more. And it helps if you know a bit more about it than the people who follow you, that’s how you can add value.

Finally, think about the unique perspective you bring to the table. What’s missing in the world that you want to share? There’s only one version of you, so what do you want your viewers to feel or think when they watch your content? Maybe you want to show authenticity, make them laugh, inspire them, or share a behind-the-scenes look at amazing experiences. It’s all up to you.

Now, if you combine these two pillars, you will be able to see where they overlap. Well, maybe it’s not enough to only have talent without passion, and it’s equally insufficient to have passion without any skill. Both need to come together. That’s why it’s important to look at where your passion and skills overlap. This intersection is what you should start with.

Step 3: Check Niche Viability

Before committing to your niche, ask yourself these questions to ensure it’s practical and sustainable:

• Would you create content about this for free because you love it?

• Can this niche evolve as you and your brand grow?

• Is it affordable for you to pursue?

• Is there enough demand for this topic?

• Is it scalable—can you expand or build on this over time?

• Does your lifestyle support focusing on this niche long-term?

To be honest, profitability shouldn’t be your main focus when starting out. It’s important, but it shouldn’t be your only motivation. Instead, focus on being authentic, providing value, and improving your skills. From our experience, when you’re truly passionate and show initiative, you can make almost anything profitable over time.

As you might see, during the first 6 months of creating AI content full-time, I focused on building a strong community, constantly improving my content quality, and finding my unique style. Over time, AI Fire got amazing opportunities to appear on APNews and other US magazines.

However, I see that some niches are naturally more profitable than others. For example, industries like beauty and fashion tend to have more opportunities because there’s constant demand, everyone uses beauty products or needs clothes. On the other hand, niches like travel might be less profitable because not everyone is traveling all the time.

=> But just because a niche is more or less profitable doesn’t guarantee success. There’s always some element of luck you can’t control. But if you choose a niche you’re passionate about and skilled in, you’ll find ways to make it work.

=> We’ve included questions in your docs to help you evaluate if your niche could be viable. But remember, don’t get too caught up in this part, especially when you’re starting out.

Step 4: Write Your Niche Statement

Craft a simple statement to clarify your focus. Use this format:

I am a [your occupation or role] who serves [specific audience or category] to help them [specific problem you solve or value you provide].

Example:

I am a content creator who serves entrepreneurs to help them use AI tools to streamline their workflow.

Step 5: Narrow Down Your Focus

List out all potential problems your audience faces that you could solve. Then, make your niche even more specific by zeroing in on a clear group. For example:

• Instead of "AI enthusiasts," focus on "small business owners using AI for content creation."

• Instead of "health and fitness," focus on "new moms looking for quick, healthy recipes."

Take your niche and create a mind map. Write your niche in the center and brainstorm:

• Reels ideas that showcase your expertise.

• Problems you can solve for your audience.

• Subtopics or related content branches.

=> This process ensures you’re not only clear on your niche but also ready to align your content and brand for maximum impact.

Alright, now let me recommend you some useful AI tools we used at first to identify our niche. These tools can show you important data like demographics, interests, and engagement levels in your niche. They’ll help you identify trends, discover what people are searching for, and refine your focus.

• Google Keyword Planner: To find popular search terms related to your niche. If you find a lot of interest in certain keywords, that’s a good sign. Aim for 1k-10k searches, low competition and high potential to rise.

  

• Answer the Public: You can type in a topic or product, and it shows you what people are asking about it. It’s a great way to get ideas for your content or videos.

  

• Google Trends: To stay updated on what’s trending and relevant.

  

• Niche Hacks: Cool tool with over 2,500 profitable niche ideas to explore.

  

III. Cracking the Social Media Algorithms Code in 2025

Social media algorithms decide how much attention your content gets, and they’re becoming more advanced every year. As we move into 2025, it’s more important than ever to understand how they work.

The rules are changing, and if you want to stand out locally or beyond, knowing how to work with these algorithms is a must. In this part, I’ll do our best and show you what’s happening with social media algorithms in 2025 and share simple tips to help you stay relevant.

📌 In the BONUS SECTION, I’ll give you a document about things the videos/ shorts/ reels algorithm likes and dislikes

1. Social Media Algorithms Updates in 2025: What to Expect

Social network algorithms are designed to show users the most relevant and engaging content. They decide what pops up in someone’s feed based on things like how much people interact with a post, how relevant it is, and when it was shared.

By 2025, these algorithms will likely get even smarter. AI and machine learning will play a bigger role, focusing on understanding what people want to see and improving how content is chosen. It’s all about making feeds more personal and keeping users engaged.

Key Algorithm Factors to Watch in 2025:

• User Behavior: Algorithms will focus more on what each user does online. Personal content will get more attention and be shown more often.

• AI Recommendations: AI will look deeper into what users like and why. It will suggest content based on actions like likes, shares, and time spent on posts.

• Authentic Content: People prefer real and honest content. To stay visible, brands and influencers need to focus on being genuine and building trust.

Instagram Algorithm Updates:

• Engaging and authentic content will still dominate.

• Short videos like Reels will be more important than ever.

• Business accounts can’t rely on neat promotional posts anymore => they’ll need to share relatable, full-screen content like Stories.

Facebook in 2025: Focus on Communities:

• Double down on private groups and connections with friends and family => let’s join and actively participate in local groups.

• Encourage conversations and comments on your post.

• Use a mix of video content, live streams, and local news updates.

TikTok in 2025: Short Videos Still Rule:

• Keep leading the way for short video content => Aim for 10-30 seconds to keep viewers watching till the end.

• AI-powered features that deliver even more personalized.

• Follow popular trends, but add something unique.

• Include tags to reach your target audience in the area.

LinkedIn in 2025: Focus on Relevance and Quality

• Now prioritize content relevance over initial engagement. Posts are analyzed for their value to both your network and the wider platform.

• Time spent reading or viewing your post, even without interactions, now matters more than likes or comments.

• The algorithm favors meaningful, insightful comments over generic ones like "Great post!" => genuine discussions or thoughtful responses gain more traction.

• Become a KOL and thought leadership is going to be critical this coming year => Knowledge is king.

=> Overall, the algorithms of 2025 will reward those businesses that create content based on user intent. This means that businesses will pay attention to the optimization of the content – not just where the SEO takes the organization but how well the content is created with the audience on various social platforms.

2. Optimizing Content for Social Media Algorithms in 2025

As algorithms advance, the importance of real engagement grows. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok will continue to prioritize content that shows genuine interaction.

Tips for Building Engagement in 2025:

• User-Generated Content:
  Encourage your local community to share their experiences with your brand. When people post about your business, it makes the content feel more real to the platform, boosting visibility and exposure.

• Influencer Collaborations:
  Partner with local influencers in Eureka who have a strong following. Influencers bring a personal touch to your brand, helping you gain trust and attention from their audience.

• Engage Meaningfully:
  Respond to feedback and start conversations with your audience. In 2025, algorithms will favor accounts that create real, active engagement over shallow interactions.

In 2025, succeeding with social media algorithms means adapting to trends without losing your authenticity. Focus on engaging, relevant, and personalized content. Keep testing and learning from what works best for you. Algorithms reward consistency, so stick with a strategy that aligns with your goals.

BONUS RESOURCES: Extras to Get You Started

🎁 BONUS: Stuff Videos Algorithm Likes and Dislikes

[Get the full checklist in the playbook]

Conclusion: Take the First Step Today

When you’re starting out, it can feel overwhelming to put everything into practice. But remember, the goal isn’t to be perfect, it’s to take action. You don’t need to fix all the myths, find your perfect niche, and crack the algorithm all at once. Focus on one small step today.

Start by reflecting on one misconception you might have believed. Then if finding your niche feels daunting, think about what you naturally enjoy or what people often ask you about. Lastly, don’t let algorithms intimidate you. They’re just tools to help you reach the right people. Focus on consistency and quality over chasing trends. Every post you create teaches you something, whether it gets 10 views or 10,000.

Today’s first step might seem small, but it’s the start of a bigger journey. Your growth will come from the actions you take daily, not from waiting for the “perfect” time. So, pick one thing from this guide that feels manageable and do it today. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow.

See you in the next section where everything goes into real life!