How Many Views is Viral?

You’ve probably heard the term “viral video” but what does that even mean?

And as a business owner should you even care? 

Every entrepreneur dreams of their business reaching the highest heights of success, and these days, one key marker of an influencer’s status is the number of views that their content gets. But what is considered ‘viral’ in today’s digital age?

Read on to find out exactly how many views you need before your product or message can be officially classified as ‘viral’, plus learn some exclusive tips and tricks on how to make it happen for your business!

 

How Many Views is Considered Viral?

For entrepreneurs looking to make a mark, achieving viral status is the ultimate goal. But what exactly does that mean? What magic number indicates a video, article, or meme has gone viral?

Well, the answer isn’t black and white. In general though, once you hit 1 million views your post is considered viral but that’s not the entire story.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about Viral videos:

A viral videois a video that becomes popular through a viral process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites such as YouTube as well as social media and email.

For a video to be shareable or spreadable, it must focus on the social logics and cultural practices that have enabled and popularized these new platforms, logics that explain why sharing has become such common practice, not just how.

Viral videos may be serious, and some are deeply emotional, but many more are centered on entertainment and humorous content. They may include televised comedy sketches, such as The Lonely Island‘s “Lazy Sunday” and “Dick in a Box“, Numa Numa videos, The Evolution of Dance, Chocolate Rain on YouTube; and web-only productions such as I Got a Crush… on Obama. Some eyewitness events have also been caught on video and have “gone viral” such as the Battle at Kruger.

One commentator called the Kony 2012 video the most viral video in history (about 34,000,000 views in three days and 100,000,000 views in six days), but “Gangnam Style” (2012) received one billion views in five months and was the most viewed video on YouTube from 2012 until “Despacito” (2017).

Chances are you’ve seen some of these videos Wikipedia talks about, but what was considered viral in the days of Chocolate Rain may not hold true today.

 

Viral Has Changed Over the Years

These days views aren’t the complete measuring stick to virality. People have flocked to YouTube and other online sites for all of their entertainment so racking up views is the norm these days for many types of content.

According to Search Engine Journal, “Today, if I selected the top 40 videos with the most views of all time, all you would see is a list of YouTube videos consisting of a mix of children’s content, like this Baby Shark video with 8.8 billion views.”

This also goes for music videos and content creators like YouTube personality Mr. Beast that easily rack up over a million views on every view he makes. Does that make those videos viral?

It’s about more than just views to be a viral hit.

 

Social media and viral videos

These days a viral video is one that has gained a large number of views in a short time, typically as a result of being shared widely on social media platforms. These types of content often contain engaging content that captures the attention of viewers and encourages them to share it with their friends and followers.

Successful viral videos and articles typically have clever storytelling or unusual or humorous content that is likely to appeal to a wide audience.

The key is a large number of views and shares in a short amount of time.

But what is considered a larger number of views for you may be VERY different than what’s considered a large number of views for Mr. Beast.

That’s where “viral for me” content comes in.

 

What is “Viral for me”?

“Viral for me” is a term used to describe content or media that has gained a large amount of attention, particularly on social media that is more than what you normally would get. If you’re previous best post received 3k views, and you have a post that gets 20k views that could be considered “viral for me.”

Using the target of “viral for me” can help you measure your reach without having to think anything under a million is a failure.

For many small businesses, they do not need a million-plus views to make an impact on their business.

 

Why do some things go viral while others don’t?

There is no one definitive answer to this question, as the factors that contribute to whether something goes viral are complex and varied. In order for something to go viral, it is also usually important for it to be shared widely on social media and other online platforms, and to spark a lot of conversation and engagement among viewers.

Ultimately, the key to going viral is creating content that truly resonates with people and strikes an emotional or intellectual chord in a way that compels them to share it with their friends and followers.

As far as what makes a viral video, then it’s gotta be something that you’ve either never seen before, a fresh piece of comedy, or something that relates to something topical. – Adam McKay

 

What are the benefits of going viral?

There are many benefits to going viral, including increased exposure and reach for your business or brand, as well as the potential to generate a significant amount of traffic and new leads.

Additionally, viral content can help increase awareness and sales. Overall, it is important for entrepreneurs and marketers to focus on creating unique and engaging content that is unique and authentic to your brand.

Doing so can give your business the chance to reap all of the benefits that come with going viral and becoming a top topic of conversation online.

 

Here are some tips and tricks to help your content go viral:

Stay up-to-date on what’s trending.

Are there certain topics that people are talking about right now? What types of content are being shared the most? Pay attention to these trends, and try to incorporate them into your own work in order to reach a wider audience. How can you work this into your content?

Tap into your network.

If you know people who have influence in certain circles, ask them to share your content with their followers and networks. This can be an excellent way to increase the visibility of your work and gain new viewers.

Utilize social media platforms.

Some of the most popular social media sites right now include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Make sure your content is optimized for these platforms and take advantage of features such as hashtags and video sharing to boost your exposure.

Engage with your audience.

As people begin to interact with your work, respond to their comments and questions in a timely manner. This is a great way to build trust and keep people coming back for more.

What are some of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to go viral with their content marketing strategy?”

 

Mistakes to Making Viral Content

There are a number of common mistakes people make when trying to go viral with their content marketing strategy.

One is creating low-quality content that people are unlikely to engage with or share. Another is relying on gimmicky tactics such as sensational headlines, clickbait, or overly promotional messages.

Many people make the mistake of trying to force their content to go viral by buying followers or aggressively promoting it across social media platforms, which can actually have a negative impact and reduce the likelihood of it going viral.

To avoid these mistakes and increase the chances of your content going viral, it is important to focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that truly resonates with your audience.

 

Famous examples of viral Marketing Videos

So yes, it’s easy to find funny videos that went viral like the OG Charlie Bit my Finger, an all-time favorite of mine, but what about videos for business?

Here are a few examples of videos that had viral success.

Dollar Shave Club Video

With a budget of just pocket change, Dollar Shave Club crafted an advertising gem that took the internet by storm! What made this commercial so successful? Humor. Not to mention the importance of telling your brand’s story in an entertaining and captivating way – something every business should aim for!

Poopori Video

This marketing video isn’t just pun-ny, it’s also a clever way of addressing an embarrassing situation many viewers can relate to. It doesn’t take much for the brand to make its mark – with cuteness and awkwardness combined in one ad, who could resist wanting to buy their product? We sure don’t know about you – but we’re seriously tempted!

Old Spice

Old Spice Man has become a cultural icon since the initial success of his viral marketing video! His signature blend of wit, speed and sizzling charisma launched him into our hearts – setting off an international craze. Unsatisfied with one hit wonderdom, Old Spice pushed their campaign to new heights by further pursuing this whirlwind romance between viewers and The Man Your Man Could Smell Like.

BlendTec

Mixing shock factor and humor together is a powerful combination – just ask Blendtec! They’ve gone viral for their ‘Will It Blend’ video series which feature tech being pulverized into dust. Somehow, the brand has managed to turn blending liabilities like iPhones and laptops into lucrative success stories with thousands of dollars worth of gadgets shredded in one blend-tastic session after another. There may be nothing quite as fun or offbeat when it comes to marketing strategy today; who knew watching something get destroyed could make such an impact?

Squatty Potty

Lastly, Squatty Potty has proven that a little bathroom humor can go a long way! This marketing video became an overnight sensation due to its unique and unexpected take on the standard toilet. With over 15 million views and counting, this is one viral marketing campaign that’s not to be missed!

What do all these viral videos have in common?

1. They were clever, unique, and well throught out
2. They put their own spin on something common (razors, pooping and washing – you can’t get more common than that).
3. They made people laugh
4. The were sharable – and oh did people share them.

And most importantly the content they made got them in front of millions of new people – and that means the possibility of millions of new customers.

So does your business need or want millions of new customers? Maybe and maybe not.

Should your business care about viral content?

As a small business owner, you’re probably wondering if you should care about going viral. Having a viral piece of content can help you reach more people very quickly with your business, but it’s possible you don’t need to be offically viral to make an impact on your business.

Aiming for “viral for me” content can be a great way to reach more people, set realistic goals for your content, and continue to innovate your content in fresh and unique ways.

So are You Ready for a Viral Video?

So whether you’re trying to reach a wider audience, appeal to new customers, or simply build your brand, remember that the key to going viral is creating unique content that resonates with your target audience and makes them want to share.

With the right strategy and approach, you can effectively grow your exposure and engagement – and boost your chances of going viral; even if that means going viral for you.