Quick, tell me what you think of when I say the words, “viral video.” Go!
Depending on your social media platform of choice (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and what age group you belong to (Gen Zers, Millennials, boomers) your answer may vary.
Whether you thought of clips from Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah, sea shanties being sung by people on TikTok, or the “I’m not a cat” lawyer figuring out Zoom, these answers all have one thing in common. They’re viral video moments that will forever live on in pop culture.
And guess what? You can go viral with your own videos for your brand and biz. Let’s talk about how with a few tips below.
Tip #1: Keep it short
So many viral videos are on the shorter side. It makes sense when you think about it. TikToks started as 15 second clips, but now the limit is set at 60 seconds. Any video longer than a couple minutes has a higher chance of losing your audience’s attention fast.
Think about how long the average YouTube ad is. We can’t wait to skip them to get to the video we want to watch…and they’re only about 10 seconds long.
The bottom line? Keep your videos about 10 to 20 seconds in length. People are more likely to watch shorter videos all the way through.
Tip #2: Check your lighting and sound
There’s no point in making a viral video if people can’t see and/or hear what you’re doing! Viral videos are all about views. If your lighting is too dark, your shot is out of focus, or we can’t hear what you’re saying, then it’s a waste of time.
On that same note, if you’re using music in your video, check the sound levels. When in doubt, keep it at a low volume. No one likes starting a video that turns out to be wayyy too loud and annoying! Instead of watching your video, they’ll probably close it immediately.
Tip #3: Make it relevant to your biz
How do you keep a viral video relevant to your business? Stick to your niche, and stick to what you know! There’s no point in creating a video that racks up millions of views if it doesn’t relate to your business.
If you’re stumped on what topic to use for a video, check out one of my last TikToks to hit almost 2 million views! It’s a simple food styling hack I came up with for a client photoshoot, but I realized that people love learning about behind-the-scenes photography tricks like this!
@lishcreativeIf nothing else, at least your lips would feel moisturized 😘💀 #learnontiktok #foodontiktok #photohack #phototips #phototrick #behindthescenes♬ Dynamite – BTS
Run a food blog? Film your favorite recipe or food prep hack. Are you a fitness instructor? Share your top home workout moves. Small biz owner? Talk about the typical types of clients you get. (Relatable, right?) Take a look at what people may find interesting about your business and try making a video about it!
Why go viral, anyway?
Honestly, I thought that creating a video with more than a million views on social media was for celebrities who already had millions of followers or cute animals. Anyone else who goes viral isn’t expecting it. It’s like capturing lightning in a bottle, right??
But I started posting on TikTok and I noticed so many other photographers and small biz owners racking up millions of views! Turns out, there kind of is a secret formula to creating viral videos not just once, but multiple times.
Going viral can help you spread the word about your brand. That leads to higher follower numbers, increased site traffic, more leads, more potential client inquiries…and more business for your business.
Doesn’t that sound awesome? Do you want that for your brand and biz? I want it for you, too! And I have a completely FREE checklist that can help you get started. Download my Viral Video Must-Haves checklist so you can learn even more about creating viral videos on social media!
