• Bidstrup Halvorsen posted an update 1 month, 3 weeks ago

    In the digital age, creating viral submissions are the holy grail for marketers, content creators, and businesses alike. What exactly makes content go viral, and just how can you turn that viral success into revenue? This short article explores the anatomy of how to make viral content, showcases some notable examples, and offers strategies for monetization.

    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 important elements:

    1 Emotional Appeal: Content that elicits strong emotions-whether humor, awe, sadness, or anger-is more prone to be shared. People interact with content that resonates with an emotional level and feel compelled to share it with their networks.

    2 Relatability: Content that reflects the audience’s own experiences or opinions is commonly shared more widely. When people see something they can relate to, they’re very likely to pass it on.

    3 Unique 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.

    4 Visual Impact: Eye-catching visuals, including videos, memes, and infographics, are more shareable than text alone. Individuals are drawn to content that is visually appealing and easy to consume.

    5 Timeliness: Content that taps into current trends, events, or viral challenges often performs better. Being timely could make your content relevant while increasing its likelihood of being shared.

    Types of Viral Content

    As one example of 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 higher school student named Daniel wearing white Vans sneakers. The clip, which was simple but hilarious, quickly amassed millions of views. Its success lay in its humorous, relatable nature and how it can tap into the social networking zeitgeist.

    2 Ice Bucket Challenge: The 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge was a global phenomenon where participants dumped ice-cold water over themselves to raise 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 rise in donations.

    3 “Charlie Bit My Finger”: This 2007 video of a toddler named Charlie biting his brother’s finger became among the most-watched videos on YouTube. Its universal appeal, humor, and the adorable reactions from the children managed to get a classic illustration of viral content.

    4 The Dress: In 2015, an image of a dress went viral due to its ambiguous color. The debate over whether the dress was black and blue or white and gold sparked widespread discussion and it was shared extensively across social media platforms.

    How to Monetize Viral Content

    Once you’ve created or encountered viral content, the next thing is monetization. Here are several strategies to turn viral success into profit:

    1 Advertising 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 in your videos.

    2 Sponsored Content: Brands are eager to capitalize on viral content. If your content gains enough attention, companies might approach you for sponsored posts or product placements. This can be a lucrative way to generate income while maintaining your audience’s engagement.

    3 Merchandising: Viral content often creates a strong brand or meme. Take advantage of this by selling merchandise related to the content, such as T-shirts, mugs, or other branded items. This approach works well if the viral content has a strong, recognizable element.

    4 Affiliate Marketing: Make use of your viral content to promote services or products through affiliate links. Whenever your audience clicks these links and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. This can be particularly effective when the content aligns with services or products that your audience finds relevant.

    5 Crowdfunding and Donations: Platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi allow creators to monetize their content through direct support using their audience. If your viral content has generated a strong, loyal following, you are able to leverage this to boost funds through donations or subscriptions.

    6 Content Licensing: If your viral content has broad appeal, consider licensing it to media outlets or any other content creators. Licensing deals can provide a steady income stream and help your content reach even wider audiences.

    7 Paid Collaborations: Partner along 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 an art and a science. By understanding the elements that contribute to viral success-emotional appeal, relatability, uniqueness, visual impact, and timeliness-you can increase your chances of producing content that resonates having a broad audience. Once you’ve achieved viral status, there are many ways to monetize your success, from advertising revenue and sponsored content to merchandising and affiliate marketing.

    In a world where digital content can spread like wildfire, mastering the skill of viral content and its monetization can open doors to new opportunities and revenue streams, making your viral moment both impactful and profitable.