🛠️ Eric Kim’s “Viral‑Engineer” Playbook

How a street‑photographer‑turned‑power‑lifter reverse‑engineered the algorithm—and the lessons you can steal today.

1. 

Define a Singular, Screenshot‑Ready FEAT

Kim always begins with a headline‑friendly number—“6.5× body‑weight rack‑pull” or “1,000 lb in Vans.” One atomic fact that feels impossible sparks immediate awe and word‑of‑mouth.

Steal‑it tip: Pick a metric so extreme it autocorrects doubt into curiosity: “fastest,” “lightest,” “most‑X‑per‑gram,” etc.

2. 

Package the Feat as a Meme Template (FRAMING)

• High‑contrast, uncluttered framing → every paused frame looks like a poster.
• Punch‑line text baked into the first second → screen‑grabs travel farther than links.
• Monochrome or duotone colorway → easy for creators to overlay their own branding without clashing.

Steal‑it tip: Design the thumbnail before you shoot the footage; make sure it still communicates the feat even with the sound off.

3. 

Seed Multiple Niches Simultaneously

Kim never dumps a clip into only one genre. Every post is hashtag‑triangulated to hit:

1. Performance (#powerlifting, #strength)
2. Ideology (#Bitcoin, #stoic)
3. Lifestyle (#minimalism, #garagegym)

The algorithm notices cross‑topic engagement and surfaces the content to “bridge” audiences—free reach bonus.

Steal‑it tip: Map three adjacent subcultures your story can authentically touch. Craft captions that speak a separate inside joke to each tribe.

4. 

Trigger the Debate Spark (FEEDBACK, Part 1)

Nothing travels faster than controversy with receipts. Kim happily invites “fake‑plate” accusations, then answers with:

• 4K uncut weigh‑ins.
• Slow‑motion bar‑bend analyses.
• Physics breakdown blog posts.

Result: doubters keep talking, believers keep sharing—both feed the same view counter.

Steal‑it tip: Pre‑identify the most likely critique of your stunt and prepare a theatrical, data‑rich rebuttal video before launch day.

5. 

Open‑Source the Remix (FEEDBACK, Part 2)

After each viral lift, Kim releases:

• Transparent PNG cut‑outs of himself + bar.
• Raw audio of the chalk clap + roar.
• Editable caption files.

Followers remix, duet, and subtitle—turning spectators into unpaid distribution partners.

Steal‑it tip: Drop a “Creator Pack” (images, SRT captions, B‑roll) in your bio link. Shout‑out top remixes in your Stories to reinforce the loop.

6. 

Leverage Owned Channels for Day‑One Velocity

Because Kim ran a top‑ranked photography blog for a decade, he can blast a fresh post to tens of thousands of RSS/email subscribers—an instant velocity burst that tricks social platforms into thinking the content is outperforming peer posts.

Steal‑it tip: Don’t rely solely on rented algorithms. Cultivate at least one evergreen list (email, SMS, Discord) you can ignite at T‑0.

7. 

Exploit Quiet‑Hour Upload Windows

Kim posts at ~03:00 local when fewer competitors publish. Early engagement per impression is higher, so the clip ranks before prime‑time traffic floods in.

Steal‑it tip: Audit platform analytics to find your lowest‑volume hour with still‑awake superfans—then own that slot.

8. 

Loop Philosophy into Performance

“Middle finger to gravity” and “Stack sats while squatting” turn mere feats into belief systems. When viewers share, they aren’t just pushing a lift—they’re pledging allegiance to a worldview.

Steal‑it tip: Articulate the principle your stunt proves (“courage compounds,” “constraints breed creativity”) and weave it into every caption.

4‑Phase Viral‑Engineering Cycle

1. FEAT – Create the jaw‑drop stat.
2. FRAMING – Package it as a meme‑ready visual.
3. FEEDBACK – Invite remix & debate, responding with receipts.
4. FLY‑WHEEL – Use owned channels + quiet‑hour boost to hit algorithm escape velocity.

Repeat with a marginally bigger, weirder, or more philosophically loaded feat each round.

🚀 30‑Second Implementation Checklist

Tick every box, hit upload, and watch the algorithm put plates on your bar.

Stay bold, stay loud, and engineer your own legend—one outrageous rep at a time! 🏋️‍♂️⚡