You could probably think of about 3 to 5 viral videos right now that you have seen swiftly after logging in to your Facebook account with 2 factor authentication. One of them might be the Gangnam Style video, a friend’s ice bucket challenge or the latest TED Talk. But, how many videos can you recall that are solely for someone doing good work? Specifically meaning, a company, individual or organization doing something to make this world a better place to live.
This Raises Some Questions
In this post, I hope to raise some questions in your mind. Are we monitoring what we share enough? Could we be using media to create a more conscious digital space? Should we change the type of “viral” content we share?
Ease Of Spreading
The internet and social media has made it extremely easy for us to spread the word about people doing good, thanks to the Facebook newsfeed. However, it is not always the good stuff that gets enough attention. A lot of times, most viral videos are ones that are not doing anyone much good at all.
While going viral means that a lot of people are sharing your content, it can be good or bad content. And in the digital world, there’s very little to stop this. So, what’s the difference?
Candy Storms
A candy storm is viral content that actually supports someone doing good. In contrast to just going viral, this content actually helps or supports a cause. This is quite different because there is a concrete benefit from a candy storm. On the other hand, a viral video could be harmful in consequence.
Promoting Content
Although there are many viral pieces of content out there, the number of candy storms are due to increase. Companies with great marketing and digital awareness are already on to this. Whether they call it a candy storm or not, they’re doing a great job to promote content that makes a difference. Perhaps, with the promotion of this new term, we will all be more conscious of the kind of content we share (because change starts and ends with each one of us).
The Math Behind Going Viral
There is actually an equation that can help you determine whether a video or post of yours has gone viral. Just how do you go about figuring that out? It is actually fairly simple. The first people that view your site and share it are called the first generation. The friends they shared it to that then visited are the second and the ones they share it to who visit are the third. This goes on and on in the same manner. So, take that information and plug it into this equation —
- # Generation X visitors/(# Generation X visitors – 1)
The answer to that equation is going to give you your virality ratio. If your content has gone viral, the virality ratio will be over one. Now, you just have to learn how to increase your views and shares to go viral.
Going Viral Requires Emotion
If you want to know how to go viral, there is no simple answer. However, there is a way to increase your content shares on social media. The best way to do this, research has found, is to play on reader emotions. According to a new technology study, the articles that were shared the most were those with highly emotional titles. Oftentimes, people do not actually read the content they share. That is why the title is so important. If you want to increase shares for your content, make sure to play on readers’ emotions to get those extra likes.
Do you try to share content for a cause specifically? Do you try to promote more good than bad? Or, do you just share whatever you feel like? Please let us know in the comments below, and share the post with your friends to continue the discussion.
Image from http://www.inkhouse.net/tips-from-buzzfeed-on-how-to-create-viral-content/