How to make a Viral Video 101
Once you’ve made your video, you’re going to want people to watch it. Unless you’re a millionaire heirs with a night-vision camera, you’re going to need some help. There is a natural audience built into YouTube, but don’t expect them to immediately flock to your finely crafted piece of art. Here are a few quick tips to get the ball rolling.
- Send a mass email to everyone you know (and a few that you don’t know – eg: punkybrewster04@hotmail.com).
- Have your friends (and new enemies) view your video on YouTube, rank it and post a comment. This gives other YouTube users a heads-up that the latest and greatest creation has hit the interweb. It might also tip off elusive YouTube editors that a buzz is being born and that they should feature it on the homepage (good luck).
- Have your friends actually register at YouTube and mark your video as a favorite
- Encourage users to “subscribe” to your video series (this is a great way to get added exposure)
- Provide your viewers with an easy way to send out your video. Give them some ammo and remind them to: share this video. This can be at the end of your video, or it can be a simple message at the bottom of your bulk mail that says: please, please, please pass this along.
- Give them something to pass along. We crafted a short “summary” the last time we sent the email and it really worked. It saved people from having to re-type something and try to describe your project. Think about it this way: how would you describe a bunch of over-the-hill white guys playing basketball in Sunday night recreation league. Doesn’t sound that appealing, does it.
- Link to other videos and have people post video responses to your videos and video responses. Think about six-degrees of Kevin Bacon. If someone you know liked this one video that was linked to this other video, it might be that you’re just one Bacon away from fame. Ummm … bacon.
- Post and comment yourself on your own video. It’s sad, but it works. Funny stuff happens when you run out of comments to make about your own stuff.
- Have users link to your video from their blogs, myspace and facebook accounts. YouTube does a reverse trace on links and will actually include that in your ranking. Not to mention all the fly-by visitors that might view your video on one of those places. Myspace has a gajillion members. Once you tap into that market, you’re golden (or maybe one of the lesser semi-precious metals)
- Send them a list of 9 ways to promote your video. Ok, I love lists, but I always feel like they should be a round number. Meh.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Those sound like great tips for getting people to watch a video that may not be that great. The truly great and viral videos need a lot less coaxing to take off. Energy put into better writing or editing could achieve the same results.
March 26th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Thanks for the nimble tips Michael and Ed. Here’s another tip for your list.
It can help if you lay a bit of groundwork before the video release. Identify some authority sites and people that fit the niche of your video ideas. Frequent these sites and become a true part of their communities. If your video has that original ingredient that catches the imagination of the authority figures, you have a great chance they will share their respected opinion on their popular site to write a blurb about, link to, or even show your video.