What Happens When My Creative Work Goes Viral

The painful pleasure of fame and how to handle it.

One exciting thing about being a creative (copywriter, designer, developer, strategist, voiceover artiste etc.) is that the backend is what it is- backend.

No one sees the processes that create the beauty you publish.

But when your work comes to the limelight, everything becomes apparent, the good and the bad.

One of those times is during celebration seasons like the recent #InternationalWomen’sday celebration. We see a lot of copies, designs and articles from different companies.

I noticed a lot of analyses on some brand designs and copies, which is good. A particular institution was trending because the image used doesn’t fit into the story. And at this time, people began to compare what resonates more with them, and critics also analyzed their work.

If you work with a popular brand, that can be a reflective moment for you.

However, even thinking about the pressure during the ideation process could cause anxiety leading to a creative block.

So, in such situations, what should the creative do?

1. Be Grateful

Yes, be grateful because you are in an enviable position where your works are publicly reviewed. Most people put so much effort into their creative process, and when they put it out there, it gets lost amidst the crowd. So being in an organization or position that puts your work in the limelight is an advantage you can leverage to grow.

2. Prepare Your Mind

It will be surprising if you don’t expect a reaction when your work goes out there. Prepare your mind to receive either positive or negative feedback.

People see through various lenses, so perceptions and vision will differ. Some people will discover the hidden faults of your work while others won’t.

Ask yourself, what if this trends positively or negatively? What if the reputation of my organization or personal brand is dragged because of this?

Envisaging these possible scenarios will prepare you for whatever is to come because you need the shock absorber.

3. Learn from the feedback

Instead of developing anxiety, see the feedback as meals to grow. As severe or as unimportant as any feedback may seem, learn from them.

Social media exposes the different perspectives of people, their tastes and what drives them. It becomes a free opportunity for you to understand better, segment or choose the actual audience you are working with.

Also, it helps you feel the pulse and expectations of your competitors. For instance, if you designed a post or wrote a copy that your competitors ride on online, you know what’s most important to them.

4. Enjoy the publicity

Decide to enjoy and utilize the free publicity. I’ve seen most posts where a brand misuses an opportunity to ride on the publicity their post has caused.

If your work is trending for any reason, ride on it and promote your brand, skill or business.

This is mainly for creators who own the business.

But suppose you are working for a brand as a creator, and the work you did is trending. In that case, you can advise the company to use the opportunity to promote their values, opportunities or build positive relationships with the audience.

5. Please give it to us again

Yes! Get ready to give us an updated version of you because the time will come.

From the experiences you’ve gathered, you will be a better copywriter, designer, content writer, strategist, voiceover artiste or social media manager.

If you get the time again, do it again. And this time, do it boldly, and patiently wait for the feedback because that’s what you feed on.

Being a creative whose work is judged online can be a lot of pressure. But don’t let that dampen your confidence, as I discussed in the last medium article

Instead, use it to grow and shine.

Do you have any questions for me? Please drop them in the comment or send me a message.

Keep growing!