Every video content producer and marketer desire to have a viral video that is shared and watched by millions of people. The reality is; creating a viral video is not as easy as most people imagine. This is not to say it is impossible. You can do it, but you must bear in mind that a lot of strategies, thought and creativity goes into it. Some of the guides on what makes a video go viral include the following.
Make It Short and Simple
The average internet user does not have the time to keep watching a long video. They want something nice, short and sweet. You should put yourself in the shoes of a user who is buying data bundles to access the internet. Would they want to spend it on a long video? The answer is probably No! A survey that was published by the New York Times established that by the first 10 minutes, almost 20 per cent of people on a video have left. If it goes beyond a minute, almost 50 per cent are not watching. The trick is to make sure that the interesting and captivating things are captured within the first few seconds of the video.
Make It Timely
People are likely to share something that they can easily relate with. If you want to make a viral video, look at what is trending right now, and weave your content around it. It can be centered around a popular topic or even a meme, and you will soon get people talking about it.
Dig into People’s Emotions
A video that is likely to trend is one that touches on human emotions. It can be joy, sorrow, compassion and other topics that will make them react. That is why some of the most popular videos are those of babies, pets, acts of kindness, bizarre stories and anything else that makes people feel upbeat. Generally, videos that make people feel good and happy receive higher shareability.
Make It Interactive
Your video is more likely to go viral if the content is interactive, and the target audience feels like you are communicating directly to them. This is especially important for people who are producing a video for marketing. You want every user to feel special and imagine that you produced with them in mind. This can be done by referring to your audience in the third person, using interactive graphics, and using language that makes them feel they are your friend.
Make It Creative and Informative
People do not want to watch a video just for the sake of it. They want to have a reason to share it. Give them a video that has new information that makes them learn something new. That is why “Do It Yourself” (DIY) videos tend to get more shares on the internet.
Use Different Platforms
Many social media platforms can make a video go viral. Do not restrict yourself to one. Explore all the varieties and push the video so that you reach a large section of people. Some of the popular sites that are likely to help your video go viral include Facebook, Blogs, Twitter, Tumblr, and YouTube. Use catchy search words so that if someone is looking for it on the internet, they are likely to find it.