Fast, Cheap and Viral

1. Viral content taps into basic human emotions and needs

"The most viral content appeals to our most basic instincts and emotions."

Emotional triggers: Successful viral content often elicits strong emotional responses such as joy, anger, fear, or surprise. These emotions compel people to share and engage with the content.

Universal human needs: Content that addresses fundamental human desires like belonging, recognition, or self-expression tends to resonate widely. Viral campaigns often tap into shared experiences or universal truths that people can easily relate to.

• Examples of powerful emotional triggers:
  • Humor and laughter
  • Nostalgia and sentimentality
  • Outrage and controversy
  • Inspiration and motivation
• Universal needs addressed by viral content:
  • Social connection
  • Personal identity
  • Validation and acceptance

2. Simplicity and relatability are crucial for viral success

"If you can't explain it to a five-year-old, you haven't understood it well enough yourself."

Keep it simple: Viral content should be easily understood and quickly consumed. Complex ideas or lengthy explanations often fail to gain traction in the fast-paced world of social media.

Relatable concepts: Content that reflects common experiences or challenges is more likely to be shared. When people see themselves or their friends in the content, they're more inclined to pass it along.

• Characteristics of simple, relatable content:
  • Clear, concise messaging
  • Familiar scenarios or references
  • Visual elements that quickly convey the main idea
  • Easy-to-remember hooks or catchphrases

3. Leverage existing platforms and communities for distribution

"Fish where the fish are."

Platform selection: Choose social media platforms and online communities where your target audience is already active. Different platforms have unique strengths and user behaviors.

Community engagement: Actively participate in relevant online communities to build relationships and credibility before promoting your content. Understand the norms and preferences of each community to tailor your approach.

• Key considerations for platform selection:
  • Demographic alignment
  • Content format suitability (e.g., video, images, text)
  • Engagement features (e.g., sharing, commenting)
• Community engagement strategies:
  • Contribute valuable content regularly
  • Respond to comments and questions
  • Collaborate with influencers or community leaders

4. Create content that encourages sharing and participation

"Make it easy for people to spread your message."

Shareability factors: Design content with sharing in mind. Include elements that motivate people to pass it along to their networks, such as emotional appeal, practical value, or social currency.

Interactive elements: Incorporate features that invite audience participation, such as polls, challenges, or user-generated content campaigns. This involvement increases engagement and personal investment in the content.

• Shareability enhancers:
  • Clear call-to-action for sharing
  • Easily digestible format (e.g., listicles, infographics)
  • Customizable elements for personal relevance
• Interactive content ideas:
  • Quizzes and personality tests
  • Hashtag challenges
  • Contest submissions

5. Timing and trending topics can amplify viral potential

"Ride the wave of what's already capturing people's attention."

Trend awareness: Stay informed about current events, popular culture, and emerging trends within your target audience. Quickly create content that taps into these trending topics for increased relevance and shareability.

Strategic timing: Consider the best times to post content based on your audience's online habits and the nature of your message. Some content may perform better during specific times of day or days of the week.

• Tools for trend monitoring:
  • Social media trending sections
  • Google Trends
  • Industry-specific news aggregators
• Timing considerations:
  • Peak social media usage hours
  • Seasonal relevance
  • Event-based opportunities (e.g., holidays, major sports events)

6. Consistency and persistence are key to building a viral brand

"Overnight success is usually the result of consistent effort over time."

Content consistency: Maintain a regular posting schedule and consistent brand voice across all platforms. This builds audience expectations and loyalty, increasing the likelihood of content being shared.

Iterative improvement: Continuously refine your approach based on audience feedback and performance metrics. Each piece of content is an opportunity to learn and improve your viral strategy.

• Elements of brand consistency:
  • Visual identity (colors, logos, style)
  • Tone of voice and messaging
  • Content themes and formats
• Metrics for measuring and improving performance:
  • Engagement rates (likes, comments, shares)
  • Reach and impressions
  • Conversion metrics (clicks, sign-ups, sales)

7. Adapt quickly and learn from both successes and failures

"In the digital world, those who adapt fastest win."

Agile approach: Be prepared to pivot quickly based on audience response and changing trends. What works today may not work tomorrow, so flexibility is crucial.

Data-driven decisions: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your content across various platforms. Identify patterns in successful content and replicate those elements in future campaigns.

• Key areas for adaptation:
  • Content formats (e.g., shifting from text to video)
  • Platform focus (e.g., expanding to emerging social networks)
  • Messaging and tone
• Learning from failures:
  • Conduct post-mortems on underperforming content
  • Test new ideas on a small scale before full implementation
  • Seek feedback from your audience and industry peers

8. Authenticity resonates more than polished production

"People don't connect with perfection; they connect with authenticity."

Genuine expression: Create content that reflects your true brand personality and values. Audiences are increasingly savvy at detecting inauthentic or overly corporate messaging.

Raw and relatable: Sometimes, less polished content can feel more genuine and relatable. This doesn't mean sacrificing quality, but rather finding a balance between professionalism and authenticity.

• Ways to convey authenticity:
  • Behind-the-scenes content
  • Employee or customer stories
  • Addressing mistakes or challenges openly
• Balancing authenticity and quality:
  • Focus on storytelling over production value
  • Use user-generated content strategically
  • Maintain brand standards while allowing for spontaneity

9. Viral marketing can be a cost-effective growth strategy

"Viral marketing is the ultimate leverage of other people's networks."

Low-cost, high-impact: Viral marketing can achieve significant reach and engagement with minimal financial investment. The key is creating content compelling enough for people to share voluntarily.

Scalability: Once a piece of content goes viral, it can reach far beyond your initial network, potentially exposing your brand to millions of new potential customers or followers.

• Cost-effective viral marketing tactics:
  • Leveraging user-generated content
  • Creating shareable infographics or memes
  • Initiating hashtag challenges
• Measuring ROI of viral campaigns:
  • Track earned media value
  • Monitor brand mention increases
  • Analyze traffic and conversion spikes post-viral event

Last updated: July 18, 2024