The Internet has created a multitude of unconventional marketing opportunities for those who are looking to promote a product, brand or service. Viral videos are one such opportunity. They are short video clips that promote a company under the radar. These videos often don't even market a specific product or brand. They simply provide weird or compelling content that gets people talking. Viral videos are uploaded to the Internet with little fanfare, and marketers rely on fans discovering them for themselves and talking about them. While viral marketing of this sort is uncertain at best, you can create a compelling viral video with the potential to generate significant buzz.
Instructions
1. Keep your video short. Many viral videos, according to "The Wall Street Journal," are three minutes in length or shorter.
2. Use compelling content in your video. There is a wide gamut of viral video content, from a man performing the dance moves popular at different periods in history to videos marketing fake television shows. While it's impossible to tell exactly what type of content will make a viral video famous, "The Wall Street Journal" says that many videos have "some elements of cognitive dissonance" or "deliberately bizarre juxtapositions." Any type of content that gets people talking amongst their friends, or even scratching their heads, can be used in a successful viral video.
3. Use YouTube to advertise your viral video and others you create. While YouTube is the default video sharing website for viral marketers, simply posting the video on the site isn't enough. Include information at the end of the video telling users where they can find more of your videos and how they can subscribe to notifications that alert them to other videos being posted.
4. Create a clear, straightforward title for your video. The video's title should tell exactly what the video is and what it contains for maximum exposure. Vague titles won't generate interest and catch on if users don't know what they are clicking on.
5. Use popular keyword tags to optimize your video for search engines. Research which keywords might apply to your video and in your industry. See which ones draw the most hits from Web users. Include as many relevant keywords as you can in your video's tags to maximize the potential for others to find it on search engines.
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