A few days ago, I had a post go viral on LinkedIn.
It clocked in at over 200,000 impressions, 600+ comments and reactions, and sparked hundreds of profile visits, reposts, and heated debates. In the grand scheme of social media, those numbers are tame. But for LinkedIn, especially with a post that wasn’t clickbait or fluff, it was notable.
It felt good.
I’m not gonna lie…I let myself enjoy it. But as the dopamine wore off, I started asking myself a deeper question:
What did I actually gain from going viral?
Let’s break it down.
The Surface Wins
A post with traction is validating. It affirms your voice, your perspective, and in a way, it tells you you're not crazy for thinking out loud.
It brought new eyeballs to my content. A few new followers, a handful of messages from industry folks, and even media attention. A few more people now know the name “Bob Manor” and associate it with someone who can spot patterns the mainstream hasn't caught yet.
-From a brand standpoint, it helped.
-From a personal validation standpoint, it felt great.
-But from a business standpoint? Let’s be real.
The Real Metrics That Matter
Despite the visibility:
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Only about 200 people clicked the link to read the full article.
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500 site visits from 185,000 impressions.
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Zero new newsletter signups.
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No direct movement on my flywheel.
The harsh truth?
95% of the engagement was from people completely outside my ideal customer profile.
They weren’t in auto. They weren’t dealers. They weren’t even decision-makers.
They were resource industry folks or political junkies who saw a keyword or got triggered by a map and jumped into the comments with pitchforks.
The exchange was stimulating. The algorithm loved it.
But for my actual business and long-term play?
It was noise.
The Trap of Vanity Metrics
Going viral can be intoxicating. But like any sugar high, it fades fast.
And if you’re not careful, you start chasing the feeling instead of building the machine.
That’s the danger.
I’ve had hard-hitting posts with just 800 views that brought in real-world results…new clients, reviews, signups, and direct conversations with high-value prospects.
Why? Because they spoke directly to the people I built my brand for.
Those quieter posts didn’t trend. They didn’t catch fire.
But they moved the needle.
This Newsletter is sponsored by Can-Am Dealer Services
So... Is Going Viral Worthless?
Not exactly.
Visibility can open doors if you know how to use it.
You can leverage the surge of attention into media opportunities, backlinks, contributor roles, even strategic relationships…if you’ve set the table properly.
And I have.
I used that post’s traction to send a message to a few key industry people who had previously ignored me.
Now they’re watching. Some are responding. One even got called out by name for sleeping on the idea I posted about days before the media picked it up.
That’s when going viral becomes strategic.
Lessons from the Firestorm
1. Don’t confuse noise for momentum.
Lots of activity doesn’t always mean progress. Track what matters.
2. Depth > Reach…when the right people are watching.
I’d rather have 100 impressions from the right eyes than 100,000 from randos.
3. The right post can be your Trojan Horse.
One smart piece of content, leveraged properly, can force your way into the room.
4. Comment sections have sparring partners for free.
If you’re working on controlling your ego and sharpening your calm, step into the fire. I’ve never had more reps at staying poised than in the face of keyboard warriors.
The Verdict
Going viral is overrated if you’re building for ego.
But if you’re building for long-game credibility, strategic authority, and controlled attention, it’s a valuable accelerant.
You just need to stay clear-headed while the flame is hot.
So yes, it felt good.
But what felt even better was realizing that none of this was random.
This post, this surge, this pattern of wins…it’s all part of a plan that’s been quietly unfolding.
And it’s just getting started.
That’s all for now
See you next Tuesday ;-)
About Bob Manor
Bob Manor is the founder of South Ontario Auto Remarketing, Can-Am Dealer Services, and is Co-Founder of Auto Auction Review. Bob is also the creator of the Freedom Formula. With over 30 years of experience in the car dealership world, Bob specializes in wholesale, dealer services, and personal branding. His mission is to help dealership professionals take control of their careers, build resilient personal brands, and achieve lasting freedom in business and life.
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