With a sprinkling of epidemiology and a pinch of math, we can predict and model what stories will go viral on the web and which ones won’t. I will share some data from the Guardian and we will talk about how newsrooms can embrace analytics without stooping to the lowest common denominator. There may or may not be cat pictures.

1. HOW THINGS
GO VIRAL
ON THE INTERNET

2. @stdbrouw

3. SCIENCE!

4. SCIENCE!

5. SHAREABLE

8. But do you
really like it?

9. IRONY
or is it?

13. CLICKABLE

14. LEARN
+
TEST

15. CRITICAL MASS

16. SOCIAL PROOF

18. HURRY UP!
(and learn and test)

19. K=I·C
virality = invites · conversions

20. I=M·R
invites = motivation · reach

21. a / (1 - r)
start / (1 - ratio)

22. a / (1 - r)
= 1 / (1 - 0.5)
=1+1

25. REALITY CHECK

26. I
invites

27. M
motivation

28. R
reach

29. WING IT!

30. NOPE

31. YEP

32. THIS IS HARD
(a lot + moves fast)

33. TRENDS
ARE BORING

34. SHAREABLE

35. CLICKABLE

36. VISIBLE

37. STORY & ANGLE

38. SLOW AND STEADY
(stable K beats high K)

39. THE SEED MATTERS

40. WHY THIS
IS SCARY

42. Thanks!
stijn@stdout.be
@stdbrouw