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3 Tools I Use to Reverse-Engineer Viral Content

Everyone wants to “go viral.”
But most people start with creation instead of investigation.

Before I write a single word, film a hook, or design a thumbnail…
I study the content that’s already winning.

I reverse-engineer what works—and use it as fuel for content that performs better, faster.

Here are 3 tools I use weekly to do just that (plus how):

🔧 1. TikTok Creative Center

Tool: https://ads.tiktok.com/business/creativecenter/
Best for: Finding viral video frameworks & hook ideas. No, you don’t need to post content there.

How I use it:

• I search by category (e.g., fitness, skincare, apps) and region (e.g., UK, US) to see top-performing videos.
  

• I look at what makes them work: hook pacing, text overlays, sound trends, comment section engagement.
  

• I then borrow the format, not the content. Same structure—new story.

Real use case:
One of our wellness clients wanted to launch a new collagen powder.
We found a top-performing ad from a competitor using the hook:
“I didn’t believe it until I saw this…”
We used a variation:
“I thought collagen was a scam until this happened…”
That version outperformed all others—2.4x more shares.

🔧 2. Glimpse

Tool: https://meetglimpse.com/
Best for: Spotting breakout trends before they peak

How I use it:

• I track search surges around emerging topics or products (e.g., “mouth taping” or “berberine”).

• I monitor spikes to ride the wave early—before it’s saturated.

• I plug trend keywords into my content pipeline before competitors do.

Real use case:
I saw “cold plunge” was growing fast with 6x YoY search volume.
We created a “Cold Plunge Starter Guide” lead magnet + TikTok tutorial.
The email had a 56% open rate. TikTok? 390K views in 4 days.

🔧 3. SparkToro

Tool: https://sparktoro.com/
Best for: Understanding what your audience already consumes

How I use it:

• I enter a topic like “gut health” or “bootstrapped startups” and get a list of top podcasts, YouTube channels, subreddits, and hashtags.

• I analyze what formats get engagement—are they listicles? Rants? Stories? Stats?

• I reverse-engineer those angles into my own content engine.

Real use case:
For a DTC skincare client, we discovered their audience followed @drdavinlim and read Reddit threads on “Tretinoin purging.”
We wrote an email and Instagram post titled:
“What no one tells you about purging”
It generated 120+ DMs and a 9.3% CTR to their product page.

💡 Takeaway:

Virality isn’t luck.
It’s a system.
If you want more predictable performance, start by studying what’s already working.

Then add your edge.

PS. Want us to do this research for your brand?
We offer creative strategy and viral content systems as part of our Growth Marketing Sprints. Learn more here.