Why Some Posts Explode and Yours Don't

Hey Beyonder!

Here's a question: why do some layoff posts get 47 likes from your mom and three former coworkers, while others explode to 15,000 likes and flood your inbox with opportunities?

I've been studying viral LinkedIn content for sometime now, and I found something wild.

It's not about being vulnerable. It's not about perfect timing. And it's definitely not about having a massive following.

It's about structure. A specific four-part structure that most people accidentally stumble into, but you can use on purpose.

Let me show you.

The Post That Got 2,000 Job Offers

February 2022. Peloton laid off 2,800 people in one brutal morning.

Colin Burke, 25, opened LinkedIn and wrote: "And Just Like That, today marks my last day at Peloton Interactive. After three years, I was laid off this morning along with thousands of other teammates and friends."

The post hit 15,000 likes and 700 comments. Burke's inbox exploded with 2,000 private messages offering job tips and interviews.

But he accidentally used a framework that turns random updates into compelling stories.

The same framework works for written posts, Reels, YouTube videos, carousels, and newsletters.

The STAR Method (Works Everywhere)

S - Situation: The hook. "After three years at Peloton during the pandemic boom..."

T - Task: The tension. "I was laid off with 2,800 others and needed to figure out my next move."

A - Action: The journey. Step by step. Real actions, not vague corporate speak.

R - Result: The payoff. Numbers. Proof. The transformation.

When you layer these four elements, your content stops sharing information and starts building trust.

Why STAR Actually Works (The Neuroscience Part)

Your brain doesn't process information linearly. It processes it as stories.

When someone just lists facts - "I did X, then Y, then Z" - your brain files it away and forgets it in 20 minutes.

But when someone gives you a story with these four elements, your brain lights up:

Situation activates your spatial memory. You picture where this is happening.

Task triggers your problem-solving circuits. You start thinking about what you'd do.

Action engages your motor cortex. You mentally rehearse the steps.

Result releases dopamine if there's a payoff. You feel satisfied.

That's why STAR stories stick. They're not just information. They're an experience your brain lives through.

But Here's What Actually Makes Stories Spread

STAR gives you the structure. But structure alone doesn't make content go viral.

What makes stories spread is something inside that structure.

Burke didn't just follow STAR. He created a gap.

The distance between two points that shouldn't be possible.

Laid off with 2,800 people → 2,000 job offers

That gap is what stopped your scroll. Not the structure. The structure just helped him tell the story of how he crossed that gap.

The Three Gaps People Can't Ignore

Every viral story uses one of these:

Gap 1: The Status Reversal

Up → Down → Up (or Down → Up → Lesson)

"I built the agency to $500K, lost it all when my co-founder quit, rebuilt to $1.2M by doing the opposite."

The gap: $500K → $0 → $1.2M

Gap 2: The Hidden Process

Overnight success → 1,000 invisible hours

"My Reel got 2.3M views. But it was attempt number 47. Here's what the first 46 taught me."

The gap: Overnight success → 47 attempts

Gap 3: The Belief Flip

Old belief → Breaking point → New belief with proof

"I believed 80-hour weeks were necessary. Then I ended up in the hospital. Now I work 25 hours and revenue is up 40%."

The gap: 80 hours → 25 hours with better results

How to Use STAR + Gaps Together

Here's the formula:

1. Find your gap first. What's the distance between two points in your story that feels impossible?

2. Use STAR to bridge it.

3. Lead with the gap in your opening. Don't bury it.

This Week's Challenge

Keep telling stories that matter,
Epaphra

PS: And here's the twist: Burke's viral post didn't even get him his Nike job. He got that through their HR portal the old-fashioned way.