What Makes Content Go Viral?
Understanding why content goes viral is crucial for anyone looking to harness its power. Viral content is typically seen as a several key elements:
1Emotional Appeal: Content that elicits strong emotions-whether humor, awe, sadness, or anger-is more likely to be shared. People connect with content that resonates with an emotional level and feel compelled to share it using their networks.
2Relatability: Content that reflects the audience's own experiences or opinions tends to be shared more widely. When people see something they can relate to, they're very likely to pass it on.
3Unique and Novel: Fresh, innovative, or unexpected content grabs attention. Unique content stands out from the sea of mundane posts and captures the audience's curiosity.
4Visual Impact: Eye-catching visuals, including videos, memes, and infographics, are more shareable than text alone. People are drawn to content that's visually appealing and easy to consume.
5Timeliness: Content that taps into current trends, events, or viral challenges often performs better. Being timely can make your content relevant and increase its chances of being shared.
Types of Viral Content
To illustrate these principles, let’s look at some examples of viral content that captured the public’s imagination:
1"Damn Daniel": This 2016 viral video featured a high school student named Daniel wearing white Vans sneakers. The clip, which was simple but hilarious, quickly amassed countless views. Its success lay in the humorous, relatable nature and how it can tap into the social networking zeitgeist.
2Ice Bucket Challenge: The 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge would be a global phenomenon where participants dumped ice-cold water over themselves to boost awareness for ALS. The challenge's combination of novelty, emotional appeal (supporting a good cause), and viral participation resulted in widespread sharing and a significant increase in donations.
3"Charlie Bit My Finger": This 2007 video of the toddler named Charlie biting his brother’s finger became among the most-watched videos on YouTube. Its universal appeal, humor, and also the adorable reactions from the children made it a classic example of viral content.
4The Dress: In 2015, an image of a dress went viral because of its ambiguous color. The debate over if the dress was black and blue or white and gold sparked widespread discussion and was shared extensively across social media platforms.
How to Monetize Viral Content
Once you've created or encountered viral content, the next step is monetization. Below are some strategies to turn viral success into profit:
1Advertising Revenue: Platforms like YouTube and TikTok offer monetization options through ad revenue. When your content gains significant traction, you can generate money from ads shown on your videos.
2Sponsored Content: Brands are wanting to capitalize on viral content. In case your content gains enough attention, companies might approach you for sponsored posts or product placements. This can be a lucrative method to generate income while maintaining your audience's engagement.
3Merchandising: Viral content often results in a strong brand or meme. Take advantage of this by selling merchandise associated with the content, for example T-shirts, mugs, or any other branded items. This approach works well when the viral content has a strong, recognizable element.
4Affiliate Marketing: Make use of your viral happy to promote products or services through affiliate links. Whenever your audience clicks on these links and decides to buy something, you earn a commission. This is often particularly effective if the content aligns with services or products that your audience finds relevant.
5Crowdfunding and Donations: Platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi allow creators to monetize their content through direct support using their audience. In case your viral content has generated a strong, loyal following, you are able to leverage this to raise funds through donations or subscriptions.
6Content Licensing: In case your viral content has broad appeal, consider licensing it to media outlets or other content creators. Licensing deals can offer a steady income stream and help your content reach even wider audiences.
7Paid Collaborations: Partner with other creators or brands for paid collaborations. This could include joint projects, promotional campaigns, or exclusive content that may be monetized through various channels.
Creating viral submissions are both a skill and a science. By understanding the elements that contribute to viral success-emotional appeal, relatability, uniqueness, visual impact, and timeliness-you can improve your chances of producing content that resonates with a broad audience. Once you’ve achieved viral status, there are numerous ways to monetize your success, from advertising revenue and sponsored content to merchandising and internet affiliate marketing.
In a world where digital content can spread like wildfire, mastering the skill of viral content and it is monetization can open doors to new opportunities and revenue streams, making your viral moment both impactful and profitable.