The Secrets Behind Viral Internet Videos: Understanding What Makes Them So Attractive

Have you ever watched an internet video that went viral, leaving you wondering how it gained so many views?

Understanding the Factors Behind Viral Videos

There is no single conclusion that tells us why some internet videos go viral. There are many factors to consider.

The video is likely by a famous person. The video might be recommended by a famous person or by the platform. The video might showcase the only reflection of a hot event.

Previously, a few hundred thousand views could be considered a hit. However, nowadays, a video that wants to be considered viral must achieve at least one million views within a week.

The Role of Title and Thumbnail

How your video looks on the surface is crucial. If your thumbnail and title are appealing, more people will be inclined to click and watch it.

Elements to Make a Video Viral

To make a video go viral, several key elements should be considered:

Define the Audience: Create content with your target audience in mind. Engage the Audience: Make the first 20 seconds of your video compelling, as this will influence whether viewers continue watching. Time Relevance: Ensure the video is timely, as this can enhance its viral potential. Entertainment: Make the video entertaining and universal to appeal to a broad audience. Catchy Lines: Use phrases that hit viewers' thought processes positively. SEO Optimization: Create an attention-grabbing and compelling title with relevant tags and an interest description as a teaser to your audience. Seed the Video: Share the video with journalists, influencers, and bloggers relevant to the video's content.

How Videos Get Millions of Views

The primary way a video gets millions of views and goes viral is through social media sharing and fan engagement. If the content is highly appealing, it will spread organically through digital word of mouth.

Harnessing the Power of Word of Mouth

According to Jonah Berger, author of Contagious: how to think like a marketer, act like a customer, and outsmart your competition, the key to generating word of mouth is not just getting people to talk, but focusing on what people are talking about and how it aligns with their social currency.

Social Currency

Social currency refers to how talking about a product or idea makes others see you. It is influenced by factors like appearing smarter, richer, or cooler, similar to the way we view cars and clothes.

Triggers

Triggers are reminders that prompt people to discuss your video. For instance, a video about coffee shown at Starbucks can spark discussions about the brand whenever people are there.

Emotions

Emotional content, such as inspiring, amusing, or anger-inducing, often gets shared more because of the high-arousal emotions they evoke. Conversely, low-arousal emotions like contentment reduce the likelihood of sharing.

Publicity

When people can see others interacting with a video, they are more likely to imitate it. Social proof from those around you can make a video more popular.

Practical Value

Creating content that is useful can increase its shareability. People enjoy helping others, so providing content that enables this can be highly effective.

Stories

Telling a story around your content can make it more shareable. People don’t just share information; they tell stories, so embedding the value of virality into your story is crucial.

In conclusion, understanding the factors that make a video go viral can help creators craft content that is more likely to captivate audiences and spread widely. Whether through social media or word of mouth, the right combination of factors can turn a regular video into a viral sensation.