Shock and awe: What Lily Phillips shagging 101 guys can teach us about going viral

Want to go viral? Then take a leaf out of Lily Phillips's book and do something so insane that everyone, on every platform, will talk about.

Genuinely, massive shock tactics will do just that.

She's been talked about on TikTok, X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. If you've been under a rock, Lily Phillips has gone viral for shagging 101 guys in a day and filming it. The before, during, and aftermath.

Unsurprisingly, her videos went viral and I'd guess she's made a fck tonne of money from people subbing to her OnlyFans.

But for those of us who don't want to do that, what do we do? So many people want to chase that viral post, the millions of eyes from people all over the world because they think it'll make them rich.

But unless you're an OnlyFans model or a celebrity, then pulling off something that gets everyone talking doesn't help you at all.

"But Adam what about those of us who sell products and need exposure?"

It's a good question.

And again, as it always does, it comes back to profiling your audience, and knowing how many you need to hit your goals.

Can you afford to alienate 90% of your target market? If so, then some crazy shock and awe campaign will work. If you sell cereal, then going viral with some shock and awe tactics may not be a bad thing. You're banking on people buying once, and then becoming lifelong fans. So worth going shock and awe to get new customers. Although I wouldn't be advising the CEO of Kellogg's to fck 102 people tbf.

Switching from a product to a service, let's say you're a divorce lawyer with a sign outside a wedding fayre that says "see you soon". It'll probably make you go viral, but what would you get from it?

Some people would find it funny and, because they are getting divorced, will give you a call. Great. Bit of cash in the bank.

There will be those who take great offence. So move on from those.

The people who find it funny but aren't getting divorced will laugh and move on. Let's say in the future they need a divorce lawyer, how will they find it? Will they remember the company 5 years ago that pulled this stunt? Or will they go to someone they know to help them out?

You'd be banking on your viral moment to build enough of a following to continue to market to them in the future.

Yet how many of those who start following you do so for the laughs? How many are your ideal clients?

Once you've done it, what then?

You have to go bigger and bolder to stay relevant and not be a flash in the pan. Lily Phillips is now talking about 1000 guys in a day so her 15 minutes of fame doesn't die.

And that's just not sustainable. What happens after 1000? 5000? 10,000?

Banking on going viral to build a following isn't a long-term strategy.

Yes, you may get loads of followers, but are they the right ones?

This takes us back to the age-old question: loads of followers vs selected followers.

I've gone viral a few times and guess what it got me? Sweet FA.

So, would I rather go viral every month and have 150,000 followers or never go viral and have 3,000 followers?

Put it this way, I culled 7,000 followers when I set up Cinderella. I stopped accepting anyone and everyone.

The latter. That's what I'd always choose.

Because you don't decide to go viral. You can't predict it. Don't get me wrong, it's an addicting feeling seeing so many people engaging with you, numbers going through the roof, and phone pinging every 5 seconds.

Therefore, it's better to be someone whose strategy is to create content that resonates with your ideal client, earn their trust, and be top of mind. Focusing on helping one at a time, not millions in one go.

Help people with your content. It'll work better than manufacturing a viral moment that you'll constantly have to top.

Or, ignore everything I've said and fck 1000 guys.

Up to you.