Kony 2012 The Perfect Recipe For Viral Video Success

by

WoDavis

Invisible Childrens Kony 2012 video has exploded onto the online scene over the past week, having surpassed over 100 million views in only six days to become the most popular viral video of all time. Amidst an age where over 60 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute such a runaway success in a short space of time is no mean feat.

If done correctly, viral videos are a great way of capturing the imagination of a global audience with ease. In light of this, there are a number of tips that can be taken from the Kony 2012 video to ensure future viral videos can maximise their reach as quickly as possible:

Discuss and mention social media Throughout Kony 2012 social media is regularly mentioned. Whether encouraging users to share the video, through to discussing the growing popularity of Facebook and other social platforms, the video makes regular reference to these channels to subtly help push viewers towards sharing the video through these platforms. Continued mentioning of social channels may not be as easy to achieve through other videos, but including links to such platforms towards the end of or within the videos description is a great way to encourage sharing and acquire visibility with relative ease.

Get people talking Alongside the incessant sharing and discussion of the video through social channels a number of articles and news pieces criticising the video and the message its trying to portray have been written. While these articles may have attempted to belittle the narrative message of Kony 2012, at a basic level theyve only helped to increase column inches and help raise its awareness. Clearly controversy is a great driver at getting people talking and leading them to write about it, so why not follow suit? Be provocative, jump off the fence and take sides, all in the name of getting people talking and sharing. When youre looking to drive as many viewers to your video as possible, any publicity is good publicity.

Keep the message short and sharp One of the reasons Kony 2012 has proven so popular was the name of the video and its messages are so memorable. Kony 2012 and Find Kony are catchy titles and actions that can easily be encapsulated in a status update or a hash tag. Encouraging discussions around the video is essential in engaging users and facilitating growth, so keeping the title and key messaging as simple and easy to remember is vital maybe look to create your own hash tag? Whatever the method, ensure the user will remember it and are provoked into action after one viewing, not several.

Good production and direction Users may have been so taken in by Kony 2012 as it takes them on an emotional roller coaster, toying with the viewers emotions throughout. While the basis of the campaign may have the ability to do this anyway, they key to ensuring it works so well is through good direction and production. Whether its the appropriately chosen music, the use of bright colours or the understanding of when to use specific shots and emotive images, this is necessary in ensuring the correct messages stick in a users mind. As with any successful film, television show or music video, good production and direction can only help build on viewer enjoyment and willingness to share and discuss what theyve watched thereafter.

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Kony 2012 The Perfect Recipe For Viral Video Success