Cracking the Virality Code

Sponsored by Superpower

At EntryLevel, we hit 30,000 users in just 30 days. Some of our videos even hit hundreds of thousands of views.

I’ve helped multiple companies scale to 100k+ users and generate millions in revenue—through viral growth, product strategy, and strategic distribution.

After years of experimenting with virality, I’ve boiled it down to a simple framework. Here’s the breakdown.

What is a Virality?

Virality happens when every new customer brings in at least one more. Marketers call this the K-factor, but let’s strip away the jargon—your product should make people want to share it.

After scaling EntryLevel, dozens of founders asked me to help them achieve virality. Some nailed it, some didn’t. Here’s why.

Can it be Viral?

Not everything can go viral. Some products—like men’s balding treatments—are too personal. People don’t naturally share them. Most men won’t casually mention their hair loss treatments. If you wear a toupee, you’re not advertising it

First - think about whether you have a product are willing to share.

Tier 0 Virality: Inherent

Some products are viral by nature. Think of Notion—you send a document, and suddenly someone else is using it too.

If possible, build this into your product—just don’t force it. Make sure sharing adds real value.

Tier 1 Virality: The Status Game

Beyond inherent virality, the next level is status-driven virality.

The best viral loops boost the sharer’s status—making them look cooler, smarter, or funnier. If your product does this, people will spread it.

Take Superpower’s ‘Healthiest Hoodie.’ It wasn’t just a hoodie—it was a flex. People wanted to share it, wear it, and be seen in it.

Now, take Gumloop—blowing up in the no-code space. Sharing it signals that you’re ahead of the curve, that you ‘get’ AI before everyone else. That makes you look smarter (and cooler).

Then, there’s the ‘funny’ angle. One of my favorite examples is from 2018—a crypto campaign that didn’t go viral globally but spread like wildfire in crypto circles. (No endorsement here—I still don’t know what Mainframe does.) But it worked because humor is one of the strongest viral triggers.

After a decade of building companies, I realized something—success doesn’t mean much if you burn out before you can enjoy it. In 2025, I made my health a priority.

I got a full blood panel with Superpower in San Francisco—and it revealed things my doctor completely overlooked. Instead of just looking at cholesterol, I got critical insights into ApoB and Lp(a)—markers that could shape my health decades from now.

Catching these early doesn’t just improve my health now—it’s the difference between thriving at 60 or facing major health issues.

I convinced the Superpower team to let my subscribers skip the 150,000-person waitlist. If you care about your health, now’s the time to act. (USA only!)

Tier 2: Virality Through Economics

EntryLevel’s viral loop? Simple economics. We offered a free tech course—but if you wanted Pro ($199), you had two choices: Pay or invite 10 friends. University students often trade social capital over actual cash—so we gave them a way to use it.

Some gamed the system to avoid paying. But the real magic? The biggest referrers weren’t just trying to save money—they were building status.

They shared EntryLevel in Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram groups, not just to get free access, but because it made them look smart by helping their peers.

The discount got them through the door, but status made them stay and share.

Discounts, prizes, and free perks work—but status virality always wins. Make sharing your product a flex, and people will do the marketing for you.

You can use discounts, prizes, money or more functionality as a way to entice users but status based virality is always the best.

Think beyond marketing. Make your product a status symbol, a conversation starter, or a smart move to share—and virality takes care of itself.

Until next time,

Ajay