Everyone is now a marketing expert. Anyone can be famous.

This is what social media has taught us over the last few years. A lady flips off the wrong unknown soldier and in less than 24 hours a chunk of the country is screaming for her head. This guy writes a rejection letter to 900 candidates and quickly finds himself embroiled in a national debate about unnecessary cruelty and the recruiting process. What we know is that your words matter. In the right hands, at the right moment, a post can amass thousands of shares, likes, and follows. Here are five ways to get your post noticed:

• Offer a big payout. A small-town optometrist decided to post his Powerball ticket to Facebook, claiming that whoever liked it would get a share of the $425 million jackpot. In two hours, the post had received 117,000 ‘likes.’ The result? Free publicity for a small business that would never had reached so many people with a regular ad.
• • Write a bunch of B.S. that sounds legitimately terrifying. If it’s a conspiracy theory or it involves the violation of our rights, millions of people will sit up and take notice. The latest Facebook privacy post is a prime example. It goes something like this:

  In response to the new Facebook guidelines I hereby declare that my copyright is attached to all of my personal details, illustrations, comics, paintings, crafts, professional photos and videos, etc. (as a result of the Berner Convention). For commercial use of the above my written consent is needed at all times! (Anyone reading this can copy this text and paste it on their Facebook Wall. This will place them under protection of copyright laws.) By the present communiqué, I notify Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, disseminate, or take any other action against me on the basis of this profile and/or its contents. The aforementioned prohibited actions also apply to employees, students, agents and/or any staff under Facebook’s direction or control. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of my privacy is punished by law (UCC 1 1-308-308 1-103 and the Rome Statute). Facebook is now an open capital entity. All members are recommended to publish a notice like this, or if you prefer, you may copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once, you will be tacitly allowing the use of elements such as your photos as well as the information contained in your profile status updates.

  Most people have no idea what the Berner Convention is or the Rome Statute, but clearly Facebook is in direct violation of both these significant historical events. Bernie Shaw from Clermont, Iowa, reposted this on his wall with a clear message to Facebook: “Hey everyone, thought u should know what’s happening to your sh**. Please repost so that Facebook knows whoos boss.” Thanks to people like Bernie, the world is a safer place.

  • Suggest something big. Each summer hundreds of kids are forgotten in hot cars, and the outcome if often tragic. One concerned father posted a note to Ford’s website asking why, with all the incredible technology in cars these days, can they not invent a simple alarm that goes off when the child is left in the seat? The post generated thousands of likes, comments, news stories, and amateur inventors eager to get the product on the market.
  • • Call out a company for their general crappiness. An Oregon man wrote to his Facebook friends that he saw an elderly gentleman who was clearly in need of assistance from Alaska Airlines’ flight personnel before a flight. The man had late-stage Parkinson’s disease and was having difficulty getting to his destination on time. Despite his obvious confusion, the airline said it was no their policy to ask people if they are disabled and need assistance. The Oregon man’s post went viral and amassed thousands of comments from people who were outraged at the airline.
    • Post about a random act of kindness. Catching people in the act of being good has always tugged at the heartstrings of America. Earlier this week an NYPD officer was photographed giving a homeless man a new pair of S... to warm his cold, chapped feet. The officer was completely unaware that he had been caught in the act, and the photo went viral.

    No matter what you post on Facebook, use common sense. Someone is always watching.

    http://blog.imomentous.com/facebook-viral-post-how-to/