Going Viral: Method Behind The Madness

If you Google search "girl learns to dance," the first thing to pop up will be her video....

One of my former peers from undergrad, Karen Cheng, has been doing incredible things.

In the last year or so, she’s created and starred in a YouTube video that went viral (4M+ views), started her own online company (giveit100.com) based on the YouTube video, and has inspired many to pursue their passions and reach their goals.

Karen is an incredibly creative individual. Moreso, she is hard working, brilliant, and surprisingly candid regarding the lessons she has learned, the failures she has experienced, and the (not-so-secret) secrets to her success.

I follow Karen's blog regularly.

I was reminded of one of her blog entries in particular after last week’s digital marketing lesson and speaker from Red Bull. I am and always have been fascinated by what goes viral on the Internet. It's especially interesting to get the insider's scoop and learn that there is so much more than quality content that is behind going viral.

I strongly suggest that you read not only this particular entry but the blog in general; however, for those of you who are too busy, I’ve included the entry’s highlights below:

10 ways to make your video go viral

1. Don’t be “too good” for marketing
2. Understand how things go viral on the internet
3. Release on Monday or Tuesday
4. Figure out who has a stake in your video
5. None of this matters if your video isn’t good
6. Tell a story
7. Make your video shorter
8. Write a viral title
*9. Know what you’re willing to compromise (ß the most interesting, I think)
What are you willing to do for views? Are you willing to compromise on your beliefs? If so, which ones?
I made a compromise. I believe that grown women should not be referred to as girls. Then I named the video Girl Learns to Dance in a Year. It rolls off the tongue better than Woman Learns to Dance in a Year. I had decided I could live with that compromise.
I almost named the video Asian Girl Learns to Dance in a Year. I’m really glad I didn’t do that.
You have to decide what you can live with and what you can’t. Figure this out before you release because once you hit publish, you can’t take it back.
10. What to do once you go viral