Viral content is any content that "goes viral" (spreads quickly via social media and is viewed, read and shared hundreds or thousands of times.) Viral marketing involves specifically tailoring a piece of content to "go viral," sometimes at the expense of other purposes. The difference between viral content and viral marketing is significant. You want to distribute content that provides value to your readers and has a lasting effect on them. You want to reach the right people with the right message and just how many people read it may not matter. Always prioritize quality over quantity.