• The Pen Pivot
  • Posts
  • These 8 Human Desires Will Make Your Content Go Viral On Demand

These 8 Human Desires Will Make Your Content Go Viral On Demand

November 11, 2024

CONTENT HACK

These 8 Human Desires Will Make Your Content Go Viral On Demand

What makes people click, view, engage, and buy online? 

The hundreds of psychological triggers at play were previously only known to an elite few in the advertising world. 

But in his book “Cashvertising”, marketer Drew Whitman revealed the “Life Force 8” — the eight most powerful desires huge brands use to influence us. 

Desires that tap into our primal brain — instincts so strong even a caveman would have had trouble resisting. 

In this post, you’ll learn how to harness these 8 desires to create content that instantly hooks your audience and drives them to take action.

How To Use The Life Force Eight To Generate Viral Content Ideas In Your Niche

First, here they are:

  1. Survival, enjoyment of life, and life extension

  2. Enjoyment of food and beverages

  3. Freedom from fear, pain, and danger

  4. Companionship

  5. Comfortable living conditions

  6. To be superior, winning, and keeping up with the Joneses

  7. Care and protection of loved ones

  8. Social approval

Let’s outline each life force, why they work, and how to adapt them for any niche.

Note: Some of these might seem too niche-specific at first glance. 

But with some creativity, you’ll find that each one can work in any niche. 

We’ll use examples to show you how.

Life Force 1: Survival, Enjoyment of Life, and Life Extension

Everyone wants to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. 

Ask yourself: “How can I create content that helps my audience lead better, more enjoyable, or healthier lives?”

Topic Examples: 

  • Productivity: Daily habits to reduce stress.

  • Parenting: Strategies for balancing self-care with family life.

  • Real Estate: Neighborhoods with access to health facilities.

Life Force 2: Enjoyment of Food and Beverages

This desire is about adding moments of enjoyment and indulgence to life. 

Content that shares simple pleasures, even outside of food, taps into it.

Ask yourself: “How can I help my audience add little luxuries, enjoyment, or treats to their routines?”

Examples: 

  • Fitness: Pre- and post-workout treats.

  • Personal Finance: Budget-friendly ways to add luxury to daily life.

  • Fashion: Styling tips to add a touch of luxury to everyday outfits.

Life Force 3: Freedom from Fear, Pain, and Danger

Content that addresses worries and reduces risks will always grab attention. 

Ask yourself: “How can I help my audience feel safer or reduce risks?

Examples: 

  • Real Estate: Key features of a safe neighborhood.

  • Parenting: Childproofing tips.

  • Fitness: Exercises that reduce injury risk.

Life Force 4: Companionship

The desire for attraction and companionship is very primal. 

Ask yourself: “What will help my audience feel more attractive, confident, or socially connected?”

Examples: 

  • Photography: Tips on taking pictures for online profiles. 

  • Cooking: Recipes for social/romantic occasions.

  • Personal Finance: Budgeting for date nights.

Life Force 5: Comfortable Living Conditions

Content that promises to boost our living conditions often generates tonnes of engagement.

Ask yourself: “What would help my audience make their lives more comfortable and convenient?”

Examples: 

  • Travel: Tips for making a flight more comfortable. 

  • HR: Tips for improving workplace environments. 

Life Force 6: To Be Superior, Winning, and Keeping Up with the Joneses

The need for status and recognition is hugely motivating.

Ask yourself: “What content would help my audience gain prestige or an edge over others?”

Examples: 

  • Career: Tactics for getting noticed and promoted. 

  • Logistics: Methods for optimizing workflow and standing out in the industry.

Life Force 7: Care and Protection of Loved Ones

People go to massive lengths to protect those they love. 

Ask yourself: “How can I help my audience ensure the well-being of their friends and families?”

Examples: 

  • Personal Finance: Creating a fund for family security.

  • Pet Care: Pet insurance guides. 

  • Travel: Safe travel tips for families.

Life Force 8: Social Approval

This is about feeling included rather than superior (i.e. LF6).

Ask yourself: “How can I help my audience gain social approval from others?”

Examples: 

  • Personal Finance: Smart habits that earn respect from peers.

  • Photography: Image types that are more likely to be shared online. 

  • Coding: How to gain positive peer feedback on GitHub. 

Generate 40 Viral Content Ideas Based On These 8 Primal Desires In 3 Seconds:

I’ve created a plug-and-play ChatGPT prompt you can use to generate 40 viral content ideas based on the Life Force 8.

You can reuse it forever — an infinite source of click-worthy content ideas.

Fill it in with your details, paste it into ChatGPT…

And watch it generate 40 viral ideas in your niche.

Tell ChatGPT which ideas you like, and it’ll also give you tips on what information to include in the content itself. 

Here’s the prompt…

🔒️ For Pro subscribers only:

Go Pro to read the rest

Subscribe to Pen Pivot Pro to keep reading this post and get access to the full post archives.