Algorithm Insights: Strategies from a Poet, Spammer, Troll in Pursuit of Online Impact
Hey everyone, welcome to my Substack! If you're here, you probably know me from X as @theoooeooo – the girl who's part poet, part spammer, and always innocent (or so I claim). I've been grinding on social media for years, trying everything under the sun to break through the noise and go viral. Sometimes it works, like with my infamous poem "you're lit mag sucks," which stirred up a storm in the indie lit world. Other times, it's just me shouting into the void with fart jokes and Quran quotes. But hey, that's the game.
In this post, I'm breaking down the strategies I've used (and abused) to chase that sweet, sweet virality. These aren't foolproof – X's algorithm is a fickle beast – but they've gotten me views, likes, and even a bit of notoriety. I'll pull examples straight from my own tweets and experiences. Let's dive in.
1. Embrace Controversy and Provocation
Nothing spreads faster than drama. I've learned that poking the bear – or in my case, the entire literary scene – can turn a simple post into a wildfire. Take my poem "you're lit mag sucks," published by Bizarre Publishing House. It's a satirical roast of lit mags, calling them out for publishing "histrionic liars" and lamenting the loss of "alt lit 1.0." It even takes a shot at the mag publishing it: "bro they are submitting to expat and bizzare publishing house / the scene may never recover."
The result? Complaints rolled in, the poem got deplatformed temporarily, and then reinstated. That back-and-forth created buzz. I tweeted about it relentlessly, like when I quoted an analysis calling it "Trumpian" or shared a passionate defense of the mag's bravery in republishing it. Views spiked, quotes poured in, and suddenly everyone was talking about it. Lesson: Don't shy away from edgy takes – controversy invites engagement, even if it's hate.
2. Spam Like Your Life Depends On It
My bio says it all: spammer 🤪. Volume is key on X. I post frequently – short jokes, memes, religious quotes, whatever pops into my head. Low-effort? Sometimes. But it keeps me in feeds. For example, I've dropped absurd one-liners like "pee pee poo poo poop in my pee poopty scoop poop" or "girlfriend is spiking my cortisol." These aren't always hits, but when one lands, it builds momentum.
I mix it up with media: GIFs of "when I'm wrong," photos of "not looking at pornography for a whole day and a half," or videos. Engagement is low per post (1-10 likes usually), but the sheer quantity means something eventually sticks. Pro tip: Post during peak hours and reply to everything – it compounds visibility.
3. Piggyback on Viral Content
Why start from scratch when you can ride someone else's wave? I've made a habit of commenting on popular posts or viral videos with irrelevant or quirky takes. One tweet: "how it feels after causing a 100+ reply chain on a viral video with an irrelevant comment i made in 2 seconds." It's meta, but true – drop a weird comment on a hot thread, and watch the replies explode.
I've also griped about virals, like "why is this viral this happens to me every night lol" under a bartender shaming video, or analyzed fake MJ videos. This strategy hijacks existing attention. Bonus: When my followers mute me (looking at you, bilingual crew), I pivot to sharing viral videos myself to reel them back.
4. Leverage Publications and Cross-Promotion
As a poet, I've used lit mags as launchpads. Getting "you're lit mag sucks" published wasn't just about the poem – it was about the promo. I tweeted: "my viral poem thateveryone is talking about just got picked up by one of the hottest publishing houses in the indie lit scene cool 😏." Then I begged for engagement: "leave a like and comment on my poem please stop posting goatse."
Cross-post to Insta, link in bio (check out my books like *OMG The Day* and *Trauma In Metro*), and tag editors. When drama hits, amplify it – like sharing "high IQ seeming analysis" or fake "on the rag magazine reports." This turns a single publication into a multi-platform event.
5. Mix Humor, Absurdity, and Personal Touches
People love relatable chaos. My feeds are full of it: "rfk jr keeping that cheater diary was a feminine trait :/" or "boy submits to hofart mag / boy: i love u / doodoo eraser: i love u too..." These absurd poems or jokes get shares because they're weird and fun. I blend them with personal stuff, like religious verses ("My Lord, forgive me...") or rants about bilingual followers jumping ship.
Humor lowers barriers – it's shareable without being preachy. And when I tie it to virality, like joking about Elon Musk's "red button" for Grimes compliments, it meta-comments on the platform itself.
6. Ask for What You Want (Engagement Begging)
Straight-up: Beg. "Leave a like and comment on my poem." It works sometimes! Pair it with calls to action in replies or quotes. When my poem went viral, I rode the wave by encouraging discussions, even if it meant stirring more controversy.
The Downsides and What I've Learned
Not everything goes viral – most of my posts flop with 30-500 views. Engagement dips when I spam too hard or go multilingual. But persistence pays. X rewards consistency, controversy, and community interaction. I've lost followers, gained haters, but also built a niche as the poet-spammer who's always innocent.
If you're trying to go viral, start small: Post daily, engage with big accounts, and don't fear backlash. Who knows – your next fart meme could be the one.
Thanks for reading! Subscribe for more rants, poems, and spam. Drop a comment: What's your go-to viral strategy? And check out my poem here. Peace out. 🖋️🤪
Theo Thimo is the author of OMG The Day (2020), Trauma In Metro (Amygdala Press, 2020), and a forthcoming novella, Simp (Simon & Schuster, 2026).