What’s that new video everyone’s been talking about? You’ve seen people in class watching them, and they’re telling you that you HAVE to watch it. People have posted it on your facebook wall or sent you links to it. When you clicked it, there were already hundreds of thousands (and sometimes millions) of views. What makes these YouTube videos so popular? Is it its entertainment value with something weird like unusual talents? Is it because it’s really funny or relatable? Or is it the hottest new song with an awesome music video? Whatever its significance, its addictive to watch and instantly “viral”.
Marketing companies have seen the appeal in this, and have made it their source of promotion. Some PR companies like The Commotion Group specialize in viral video marketing. They take the product of their clients, and try to make a viral video with it. If the video does not reach at least 100,00 views, they won’t charge for it. The co-founder of The Commotion Group, Dan Ackerman Greenberg, gave tips for making a video viral. First off, content is not necessarily king. It’s great if your video has excellent content, that’s what will bring people back to watch it; but if you want to get it “out there” first it’s good to “keep it short, design for remixing, don’t make an outright ad, make it shocking, and use fake headlines.” Secondly, you need to get your blog on the “Most Viewed” page. That’s particularly difficult if you just post a video, and let it sit on the Internet gradually collecting views. You need to advertise. Advertising is becoming less of a challenge in the modern world with help from social networking sites. You today have countless resources; by posting your YouTube video to your facebook or twitter page, linking it on your blog, or sending out e-mail lists or just showing it to your friends in person. Lastly, make what the viewers see before they click, interesting. You need a catchy title; something that will bait people into wondering what your video is about. Also, put up an tempting thumbnail. If your title doesn’t cut it, the picture just might.
Let me leave you with this thought. How do you personally hear about viral videos? What sort of ideas do you have we could use for promotions and advertising? (i.e. Events at school or products at school)The idea of viral YouTube videos has caught the attention Saturday Night Live. Watch the video below as they make fun of all of its “viral” aspects.
SNL-I Didn't Ask for This
Source:
Secrets for Viral Videos
Awesome topic. i love viral videos. I really only know them from other people like my friends and family. But i think it is a really good idea for companies to gain recognition. I think we should make one that is directed toward the school. it would be amazing if we could get one that the whole school could watch. I think funny music video is the best way to go. Im game!
ReplyDeleteI hear about viral videos through my friends usually. They always tell me when they see a funny video. My sister told me about GloZell and now I watch it all of the time. I think if we could make an advertisement for something and use viral videos, I think it would be a hit.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Phoebes presentation, it was very entertaining. I think that viral videos are popular because they get around so quickly, people see other people watching and laughing about them so they go on their computer and watch them. They eventually get very big. I love them so much and I especially loved phoebes presentation!
ReplyDeleteThe place I normally see viral videos first is on Facebook. Either someone will send a video to me, or I see a video that one friend has posted to another friend's wall. I think that marketing with viral videos would be an incredible way to advertise; however, most viral videos are things that are accidental or that people would not normally do. Making a viral video on purpose can be extremely difficult, but if marketers could find a good way to do it, whatever they are trying to advertise would be known extremely quickly.
ReplyDeleteI really like this presentation. It was very fun to learn about and I loved it. I feel like viral videos are great for laughs, but not for marketing. I do not think people will take it seriously for marketing.
ReplyDeleteI think it would make a good idea for the class to make a viral video, the only thing is that it might be somewhat difficult to actually get it to be a viral video. I hear about viral videos through friends and seeing people in class watching them and becoming curious and seeing what exactly are they watching. I also see people post them to others on Facebook and i stumble upon watching them and then telling others about it.
ReplyDelete90% of the time I hear about viral videos through my friends and people at school. Curiosity is the main reason videos get spread and become viral. A possible project for our class would be to work in our groups and attempt to make viral videos .We could have a competition to see which group's video get the most hits. If it was possible, we could also see who's video is liked best through the GAC network.
ReplyDeleteI usually here about viral videos from people posting videos on each others facebook walls or just hearing about them from my friends. The main thing I notice about a video is if it's funny or has some sort of cool effects to look more professional. I think some projects we could use viral videos would be for promoting upcoming events at school or a club.
ReplyDeleteI always watch viral videos. These videos get arround quickly by Facebook and by word of mouth. Sometimes me and my friends will go on youtube and just watch videos we've heard about and there always really funny.
ReplyDeleteI love viral videos. I watch them all of the time and they are very entertaining! I think it's cool how companies are starting to make viral videos to promote themselves. It is a good way to get yourself out there online through social networks and your community. I think making a viral for our class would be awesome but I feel like it would be harder to make. It would be great if we made it work though!
ReplyDeleteNormally when I hear about viral videos, I hear about them from friends, because I don't spend much time on the computer. I think it would be fun to do a video for class just to see what happens. I think it would be fun just to catch funny moments at school, and put them together to make it funnier. Your presentation was great!
ReplyDeleteI hear about viral videos through all of my friends on Facebook or on my email. I also hear about them at school because whenever there is a new popular video everyone is talking, singing, or quoting the next viral video. I think we could use viral videos to promote certain school events with funny clips of students or teachers. However, it is very difficult to create the perfect viral video. The funnier videos have to be spontaneous and surprising to be successful.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to many "YouTubers" including a guy named RayWilliamJohnson. He reviews viral videos twice a week and that's usually where I see them. I think videos go viral when people get hurt or a very cute animal is taking up most of the screen.
ReplyDeleteI love a lot of the viral videos that are out there. It would be great to make a viral video or try to make one with the class. Many people are being discovered on youtube, and I know of some people who get discovered with their acting. The one boy in the movie Avatar the Last Airbender had been discovered through his youtube videos. I think it is exciting to know that your videos could one day make you famous.
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