Going Viral : Tips & Traps

Have you ever wondered why do some videos become wildly popular while others do not?

Hi, I’m Ravneet Oberoi, founder, French Fries Films and today I’m here to talk about how to get your video to go viral?

Step One: Don’t try to get your video to go viral.  

I understand that a viral video is every marketer’s dream but try as you might, you cannot force virality. Apart from a few lucky flukes, most viral videos include a tonne of hard work.

These days, there’s a whole lot of audio visual noise on the internet, and being found in this noise is almost like finding a needle in the haystack. In times like this, what you need to focus on is quality content that resonates with your viewers. You also need to look into important elements such as the length of the video, the frequency with which you need to promote it, the emotions you need to target and a whole lot of other things that would help create a video that is widely shared on the internet.

If you want your moment in the spotlight, here are a few tips that may help you, however, they aren’t a quick fix or a guarantee.

a.   Research. Research is key. Before making a video, identify what is current or trending. Content that might work and go viral today may not even be relevant tomorrow and fall flat. Also look for idea’s that have previously worked and continue to be a hit, irrespective of the time. Oh and here’s a pro tip: no idea is a silly idea.

b.  Understand the creative process and ask yourself: will people find this useful and share it with others? Never ask: will this go viral? If you hook in your audience with the content, you will always leave them wanting for more.

c.  A catchy title compliments an interesting storyline. People read the title or caption of your video, before watching the video. So, make sure it grabs attention.

d. Practise the art of storytelling. This basically means that every video should tell a properly structured story, beginning with a hook to reel in the viewers and ending with a call to action. Your story should play on the emotions of your audience. Humour, excitement, anger and FOMO are a few emotions that encourage people to share videos. Focus on them. Pro tip: Create a story which promotes your brand, without giving the “hard-sell”.

e.  Make your video visually appealing. It’s not that high up on the list of requirements but trust me, a high quality video with better graphics and resolution is more likely to be shared than an average video made on your mobile phone. Plus, don’t forget, the sound quality in the video is as important as the visual quality.

f. Last, but definitely not the least, promote. In fact, promote like a Kardashian. Don’t restrict yourself and utilize all platforms available to you. Ask your employees, colleagues, your networking circle to share your videos. Don’t let your ego hold you back.

The bottom line is, there is no magic formula to make a video go viral. Yes, there are strategies that might increase the possibility of your video going viral, but there is no guarantee that these strategies will work universally or even consistently. Anyone who guarantees that they can make a viral video for you is lying or at the very least, building you up for disappointment. But, if anyone has promised you such a success in writing, do share their details with us. We’re actively recruiting magicians at French Fries Films.

Do you think there is a secret formula to a viral video? Has your video ever gone viral? Share your stories in the comments below.