A lot of companies today are decided to jump on the viral video bandwagon. They seem to know that this is a new and exciting market to tap into, but making sure your video has the right impact is not as easy as it seems. Just making a video for the sake of making a video is not going to get your name out there, or any meaningful views. Here are our five tips to help make your video go viral:
The Title Is Important
The title of your video does not always have to be an exact description of what the video entails. Sometimes the best videos are found on accident. The Obama Rick Roll was a huge hit, and those who saw it were not necessarily searching for a funny video when they found it. Before the Osama bin Ladan capture, when you typed “Obama” into YouTube, the rick roll was on the first page. It is also in the top videos when you type in “McCain” since the video features Obama’s former competition.
Funny Does Not Always Work
In order for a video to go viral, it can be informative, like a speech or a Public Service Announcement. When a company tries to force a video into being funny, there can have negative effects on your company. Everyone who saw the Old Spice Man The Man Your Man Could Smell Like video thought that it was creative, and funny without really having to try. Cisco, a computer software company, thought these videos were funny and original. Instead of coming up with their own idea, Cisco decided to try and copy the Old Spice Man. These videos failed miserably, and the only reason most YouTube visitors clicked the play button was to laugh at them, rather then with them.
Have A Clear Message
As said before, you should not make a video for the sake of having a video to share. The message does not have to be serious, like a Public Service Announcement, but it does need to make sense. Having a video of a kid blowing bubbles in their milk would work for a milk company, but it would not be logical to show the same video and slap a logo at the end for a skateboard store. One video that does a great job of this, in a not so typical way, is the Coca-Cola Share Happiness video. A coke machine was placed in a college cafeteria and after the first person placed a dollar in, the machine “shared the happiness” that a ice cold Coca-Cola should bring. The machine gives out 2-liters, a 6-foot sub, flowers, and other things to bring happiness.
Make A Series
It can be difficult for a company to get their whole message across in just one video. However, a series can allow viewers to see different sides of the company or product. It also can give you more opportunities for views and people sharing the videos. The Will It Blend series is about a man who made a blender that can “blend anything.” He started recording these videos in his garage while his blender took on odd things, like iPods and nails. After making a few videos, views started to submit their own item ideas. Soon, hundreds of videos surfaced featuring everything from a laptop to a sports jersey being successfully mutilated in the Blendtec blender. Clearly, the question “Will It Blend?” was answered.
Share Your Video With Everyone, That Makes Sense
Completing a video is just the first step. The hard part is gaining the honor of “viral”. It is important to gain as much recognition as possible. This means posting the video on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, and or even the company’s website. Remember avoid Spam and being “Reported”. Posting the Evolution of Dance on the NRA Facebook page may not be the best strategy. On the other hand, if you post it on Glee’s Facebook page, this will hit viewers who may be interested in the video, and hopefully pass it on.
