The Pressure to Go Viral vs. The Power to Create Value

I remember sharing a post on LinkedIn that I genuinely believed would perform well. I had put thought into it, so naturally, I expected it to attract a lot of engagement. It didn’t. At first, I was disappointed. But over the next few days, a few people reached out to tell me the post had helped them. Some left thoughtful comments, while others sent private messages saying they found it useful. That experience reminded me of something I had almost forgotten: impact isn’t always loud. Sometimes, the value you create reaches exactly the people who need it most, even if it doesn’t come with thousands of likes or shares.

We live in a time where it feels like everyone is chasing visibility.Almost every day, we’re surrounded by stories of people who “blew up overnight.” One video goes viral, a post gets thousands of likes, and suddenly it seems like success is measured by numbers, followers, views, shares, and engagement. It’s easy to start believing that if people aren’t seeing you, then you’re not making progress.

But is going viral really the goal?

I don’t think so.

The truth is, visibility without value rarely lasts. A viral moment may get people to notice you, but it’s the value you consistently provide that gives them a reason to stay. Think about the people you genuinely admire online. Chances are, it isn’t because one of their videos happened to trend. It’s because, over time, they’ve earned your trust. They’ve taught you something, inspired you, challenged your thinking, or simply shown up consistently.. that right there, that’s influence. And influence is built long before it’s recognized.

One of the biggest traps young people fall into today is comparing their behind-the-scenes with someone else’s highlight reel. We see creators celebrating milestones, professionals announcing achievements, and entrepreneurs sharing success stories. What we don’t often see are the months or even years of learning, failing, improving, and showing up before anyone was paying attention. It’s quite tempting to chase attention because attention feels rewarding. But attention is temporary. Value is sustainable…that’s what lasts, remember that. Instead of asking, “How can I get more people to notice me?” maybe we should be asking, “How can I become someone worth noticing?”…..that shift changes everything.

Creating value doesn’t always mean producing perfect content or having all the answers. Sometimes, it simply means sharing what you’ve learned, encouraging someone who needs it, solving a problem, or using your skills to make someone else’s journey a little easier. The most impactful people aren’t always the loudest in the room. More often than not, they’re the ones who consistently leave people better than they found them. Ironically, that’s what often leads to lasting visibility.

People remember those who helped them, people remember those who were genuine,people remember those who gave more than they took. So if you’re feeling the pressure to go viral, take a deep breath. You don’t have to create content just because everyone else is. You also don’t have to follow every trend to stay relevant, you don’t need to follow the majority.You don’t have to measure your worth by numbers on a screen. Focus on becoming someone who creates value wherever they are. Keep learning, keep serving and keep showing up with authenticity. 

Virality may introduce you to the world, but it’s value that leaves a lasting impression. Creating value goes beyond posting online. It could be mentoring a younger student, volunteering your skills, showing up consistently in your community, solving a problem at work, or simply doing excellent work when no one is applauding. Not everything valuable will go viral, but it will leave a mark. At the end of the day, I’d rather be remembered for the lives I impacted than the number of views I received. So, I’ll leave you with this question: What would you love to be remembered for?

Written by; Mopelola Babatunde