noni films & media: video production, social media, communications and marketing services on maui

So, What Makes a Viral Video….Viral?

March 30, 2010 at 1:47 am Leave a comment

If you’ve been exploring social media, you’ve probably heard the phrase “viral video”.  Maybe you heard someone refer to that wedding dance routine video as “viral”, or maybe you assumed it was an infomercial about the swine flu.

The power of video is unparalleled in the media, and nowadays viral videos even have their own “pop charts”(check out this one from Unruly Media).

Well, we know that viral video creation is more of an art than a science, but there are a few qualities that all viral videos share:

1. They have something worth watching and talking about. It’s a certain quality that you can’t help but pass on to your friends. It makes you laugh, it shocks you, it moves you. Viral videos must be contagious.
2. Assuming the viral video is created for promotion, the video also needs to allude to the brand or product (however so subtle) that is being marketed.
3. The viral video must be approached from the user’s perspective. The audience you are looking for are the ones that have to find the video funny, amusing, and attractive.

The social networking tools are there to make sharing your video as easy as clicking a button. What your video needs to have is that quality that make the viewer feel obligated – for the benefit of his/her peers – to pass it on. Here’s one I have passed on numerous times since its release…a video created by a few friends of ours from our Los Angeles days. Good luck topping their awesomeness!

Entry filed under: Media Services, Social Media, Thoughts, Tips & Tricks, Webisodes. Tags: Hawaii Video, hawaii viral video, maui film, Maui Video, maui viral video, Social Media, viral video.