COMMENTS
Very funny, guys! I just created a video post last night that incorporates 9 of the 10 points (left out #1)! Do I get a prize?
Here's the video:
http://johnhaydon.com/2009/07/save-time-commenting-tweeting-promoting/
Great list HubSpot!
I believe #9 is most critical...I use live video before screengrabs to accomplish this:
http://www.3dvia.com/blog/create-3d-from-pictures/ Thoughts?
Also, @JohnHaden: One note: I would zoom in tighter, as text was difficult to read.
you miss 7th and 8th quality
After spending more time than is sensible working with viral video, I'm not sure it's the best use of a limited marketing budget.
Viral videos have no ROI model and no way of measuring their impact. Better to create a video with a specific purpose (such as increasing conversion) and then testing to see if it does what it's supposed to.
I wrote about my breakup with viral video here: <a>http://blog.eyeviewdigital.com/2009/05/breaking-up-with-viral-video.html
Daniel: I disagree. All of the video I've created cost no more than my time. (We already had the computer and the camera.)
What about building inbound links (through bloggers writing about your content)? Or visitors to your blog, increasing your reach? Those are all the first steps to getting found! It's also great for branding and teaching.
Great list, I love the part, and believe it's most important -- you don't have to focus on quality or spending a ton of money. Too many squander money, never focusing on the real keys to viral video (the rest of your list).
Great post Rebecca! I would include an 11th which would be "Call-to-action" whether that is something built into the story or script of the video or something embedded into the player, ultimately you want to "direct" the viewer to take the next step - whatever that may be. This is critical if part of your viral campaign is to utilize video sharing sites like YouTube because you don't want the viewers brand engagement to stop there.
Your 3rd and 9th points are the most critical and most often overlooked. I took a look at this in my blog post with statistics
"How Much of a Typical Online Video Is Actually Watched?"
Eric: Good point. That ties into #10 I think. Have a CTA, but be very, very, very smart about what it is so your viewers have don't have push back hurting your video's "virility."
I'm struggling with #10 right now! The company I work for has been interested in doing videos, but they want to do old school, boring, infomercial style videos. I keep trying to get them to loosen up and not worry so much about branding and being so serious. People don't want to watch a bunch of "stuffies" pushing their wares.
@CliffMedling - thanks for the feedback on the video.
Wow. We have moses of Viral Video here folks! Can we analyze some of there? I mean yeah they are good pints, but not very in depth. Spoofs are good, however the reason spoofs work is becuase they can touch on popular culture. When you can tap into something that everyone understands, you are doing well, spoof or not.
Music is a great bandaid I agree. I use it all the time for my videos, becuase they suck without them. Why becuase, I couldn't bother to spend the time to make them good videos, so I throw on a music bandaid. But that doesn't make it viral.
Shortvideos are good, but that has more to do with screen size to attention span ratio more than anything. Most great virals are one long shot actually not cut. It really is a revival of the cinema verite or the Italian neo realists in that sense as a film style. As far as humor goes, can you answer me where in the world are the humurous aspects of Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance or for that matter Christian the Lion? Humor is difficult to get right. It's not like EVERYONE is just funny, but people do appreciate a great visual, or true story. That's why Susan Boyle is so big. Not the Eyebrow, it's the human story. Be bigger than life is a good one, but seriously dude? Isn't that what entertainment and films are all about in the end? That's what hollywood has been selling us for years? It's the creativity that people enjoy, not the stupid jackass tricks. People have seen all that on Break.com. Now hearding a bunch of sheep with LED lights into the shape of Mona Lisa, now that is Bigger than life. Not through a stunt, but through creativity. And that video did great views for Samsung's LED technology. I'm talking about Samsung Extreme Sheep LED Art video.
Here is 3 tips for viral:
1. Be creative and original with what you make.
2. Be aware of what device people will be watching it on. Different screen sizes, headphones, mobile, psp, etc.
3. Tell your friends.
If that doesn't work, do what the majority of people do. Find a viral that is working, and remake it.
By the way sorry for the spelling mistakes in the earlier. I hate writing, prefer visual, and I've been smoking congo grass all night long. thanks for the post though!
@philip light
don't e so quick to judge those stuffy videos. Depends on the target audience. Couple years ago I did some stuffy videos for a bank which I thought would never fly. turns out they made 2 billion in sales off those stuffy internet videos. Bastards only paid me 60k. Take the money and split, go make your own fun video. Unless your name on the credit? Don't worry. And if doesn't work, tell them "I told you so".
@GabeMac
Interesting point on the stuffy vids. Given the target audience, it could go both ways. The older generation of clients would probably prefer the stuffy video, but I doubt they're surfing youtube for videos in our niche. The younger generation clients might still find stuffy worthwhile, but the recruiting aspect would probably fail for being stuffy. I think too, that you never really know what the masses will want. Best to just put it out there and see what happens. Doing nothing, well, will result in nothing.
Great list ..
Good work keep it up..!
Great stuff! I too have wondered about this, ways to make things go a little more "viral". I am producing a little show called ThriveAMERICA... let me know if you are ever in Atlanta and could come out and discuss further.
here is a link to some recent videos we produced: http://www.youtube.com/blankstage24
Well done, great! The 4 G's [in dutch] are essential and with a focus on Humor.....
here is a link to the beste car virals..
www.autovirals.nl
really great stuff. specially this one "7) Don't get stuck on quality"
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