How do you make a viral video?
These days, it’s easier than ever to achieve a measure of virality with any video you post. However, there’s a secret you need to know to make virality your reality.
So, what’s that secret?
To answer this, think about what motivates you – about what motivates the people you know. Think about the times you’ve donated to charities or given money to someone in need. You’ll start to notice that people act based on the emotions they can feel, and not based on the facts they can see.
When Descartes said, “I think; therefore, I am,” what people don’t know is that he finished that by saying “I feel; therefore, I act.” Okay, maybe not – but he could have!
Here are our top ways to leverage emotion in your videos.
Use The S.T.U.F.F.
What’s the S.T.U.F.F.?
The S.T.U.F.F. is our shorthand for the emotions that we think you should target in your video marketing. It’s our go-to answer when we’re asked how to make a video go viral.
The S.T.U.F.F. stands for sexy, touching, unique, funny, and fear. We don’t have a lot of room in this blog to break everything down, so we’ll leave you with a couple of resources to create the next viral video of the week.
First, watch this video. In it, we quickly break down the S.T.U.F.F. and other aspects of viral videos.
Next, check out our online course at this link. In the course’s free module, we break down the S.T.U.F.F. (and excellent video storytelling in general) in even more detail. Even better, you’ll get a discount on the full course if you finish the sample lesson.
Next, Viral Video is Polarizing
The biggest names in media are often the people who speak the loudest. We don’t just mean with words. Thought leaders talk and make points with their opinions and actions more than they do with their words.
To go viral, you should be polarizing. Think about Gary V and LeBron James. These icons went viral because of the opinions they expressed. The stronger the emotions they were able to generate, the more social capital they accumulated.
To borrow Gary V’s sentiments, just create content! In fact, you could make your next viral video today. Someone will always appreciate what you make.
We’ve created a great video on doing this effectively – you can watch it below.
The Technical Side of Virality
Finally, there are several more concrete ways to help you create a buzz in your marketplace.
- Is the topic of your video current? Does it relate to current events? If it does, then you might be in the money.
- Is the idea behind your video unique and new? While this isn’t necessary, if you can make new content – or view old content in a new light – you’re more likely to rack up views.
- Is your video positive, or does it elicit empathy? The better you make your viewers feel (there’s that word again), the more likely they will be to share that content.
- Is your content relatable? The more your audience can see themselves in a protagonist or a topic, the more likely they are to enjoy watching the video you show them.
Again, we cover these four aspects in the 90-second video blog below.
Wrapping Up Our Guide on How To Make Videos Go Viral
Viral videos are as much about persistence and luck as they are about strategy, so remember, when you’re trying to go viral, don’t give up. Keep putting out content, and you should continue to grow.
If you would like help making a video with viral potential, reach out to us here. We would love to answer all the viral video questions you may have.