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There are few things that create more joy in the heart of a content creator than to discover that their work—whether it’s a painfully funny video, a blog post, or even a picture of the family cat—has gone viral.

Predicting exactly how and when content will go viral remains an inexact and often frustrating game of chance. For every @SochiProblems, there are thousands of would-be Twitter phenomena that die quiet deaths, unnoticed. For content creators who want to share their work with the world (while enhancing their own online success), it can seem like a kind of elusive magic.

Fortunately, while there’s no way to guarantee a give piece of content will go viral, you can, by taking five factors into careful consideration, help boost the chance that your content will go viral. By creating content that’s emotionally engaging, “shareworthy,” well-designed, and distributed at the right times and in the right places, you’re helping to stack the deck in your favor.

High-quality content should always be your first concern. And when it’s emotionally charged, it helps people relate, creates a natural reaction (positive reactions are better than negative ones in this context) and boosts interest, as well as the desire to share.

What makes it “shareworthy?” In part, the emotional response it elicits (as compared to cold, dry, or otherwise less-than-engaging content). But other factors, such as humor, relatability, a core narrative (everyone enjoys a good story, well told), and the actual, practical value of the content (consider the popularity of how-to content) can help transform a great piece of content into an awesomely shareable one.

And once you’ve created your amazing content, don’t forget to share it properly. Review the metrics from your accounts on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ help you keep track of when your customers or fans are visiting your site, as well as the times, and content, that draw the most interaction from them.

Going viral doesn’t have to be an impossible dream. Understanding what your audience values, creating high-quality content that speaks to their needs and interests, and distributing it at the right times (and in the right online venues) can help improve your chances of becoming the next big thing on the Internet.

Enjoy this infographic chock full of tips to get your content going viral, and let us know how you’re working to make your work more visible!