Barnhart

How many times have you heard someone say “We’re creating a video that’s going to go viral.”? The idea is admirable: They want to produce a video that is fascinating enough that it will go from a simple upload on YouTube to a pop culture phenomenon, raising tons of awareness for your organization and getting the women on The View to talk about it. But can anyone really plan for a video to “go viral?” Not entirely. But there are a few things, besides featuring a mischievous kitten, that will at least increase your chances of creating something people find worth passing around:

1. Content – The video has to be shocking or funny or interesting to a certain group of people. You know you’re audience best – create something that will wow them.

2. Length – How long was the last “viral” video you watched? Probably between 30 and 90 seconds. People are only willing to give your video a limited amount of time. Make sure it doesn’t take too long to reach the payoff.

3. Tone – Don’t sell. YouTube viewers are remarkably savvy, and can quickly rat out a corporate pitch disguised as customer-created content. Use the video to get people talking about you or your product, as opposed to making a sale.

4. Publicity – I’ve had people ask me to just upload the video, and let the viewer numbers skyrocket. If only it were that easy. Tell everyone you know about the video, include a link to it in your e-mail signature, place the link on your website, send the link to influential bloggers, etc. It can take weeks/months for a video to gain momentum, and it usually starts slowly. Don’t give up!

And for a little inspiration, check out last week’s ten most watched viral videos, with a couple below.