This post is contributed by Jason Dirkham.
Viral marketing is the new sensation for businesses looking to extend their marketing reach. For the uninitiated, this strategy uses existing social media networks to promote a product or service. The goal here is to create content engaging enough to cause internet users to share it rapidly. It’s one of the few brand promotion strategies that can guarantee explosive growth in an extremely short period. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done, as data from 5000 social videos suggest only 1% go viral. But the following tips can help you beat this statistic and use viral content to promote your small business.
Keep things simple
Most viral contents are simple and brief, with messages you can summarize in a few sentences. So, keep yours that way. While trying to attract customers, it’s best to keep your calls-to-action (CTAs) to a minimum to not distract your viewers, as this can reduce your content’s effectiveness. Try limiting your content message to one main takeaway. Also, avoid too many hashtags and overloaded text. The more info you add, the more cluttered your content will appear. If you want to create video content, it shouldn’t be over 30 seconds long. This way, you can get your message across without fluff.
Leverage strong visuals
Keeping your content simple doesn’t mean you should skimp on the editing. It would help if you leveraged strong visuals to help make your content more eye-catching and memorable. Captivating visuals, whether dynamic videos, striking images, or compelling infographics, can help you simplify any complex message. That means you should take enough time to edit your content to make them visually appealing and impactful, regardless of the product or service you’re trying to market. You can even outsource your editing to experts. For example, if you want to market real estate content, you can find experts capable of handling all your editing needs, from real estate photo editing to video editing.
Focus on unique content
You must be ready to break a few rules with your content to get the viral effect. Viral content often spreads because it’s unique and creative. You want to create something that most people don’t expect and is different from other companies’ marketing content. Of course, this will require a lot of brainstorming, depending on what your business is into. Whether it’s a humorous video or something more thought-provoking, the key is to capture attention and make an unforgettable impression.
Don’t forget the power of SEO
SEO is what gets you noticed on the search engines. Becoming more knowledgeable as a business is important because knowing how to utilize the best SEO practices will help you get your pages seen by your audience.
With that being said, if you’ve not got the resources or time to spend on SEO, then there are some great SEO packages to have the work outsourced instead.
Speak directly to your audience’s emotions
People are more likely to view and share content that resonates with them on an emotional level. That’s because most consumers rely heavily on their emotions when buying. So, any content that can draw a strong emotional response will more likely engage its viewers.
Think about some viral content you love and what drew you to them. Were they funny, wholesome, or heartwarming? Did they appeal to your sense of nostalgia? Did they make you cry? Viral content impacts viewers, and that’s what yours should aim at.
Know your audience and create what suits them
You need to understand your target audience and ensure your content is relevant. That means conducting thorough research into their preferences, behaviors, and interests. It’s easier to tailor your content to suit them and increase the likelihood of it being shared. People are more likely to share content that suits them.
