The document discusses the concept of viral content and how content spreads rapidly online. It provides examples of viral videos and images that received millions of views. While there is no exact formula, the document suggests characteristics of viral content include having a simple message, being emotionally powerful, having a high production value, and being easy to share on social networks. Luck also plays a role in whether content reaches critical mass to spread widely. The right strategies can help content go viral but viral success depends on global competition and luck.

1. Kathryn Wailes
Film 260
The Viral
Game plan

2. Image: “4 Generations” by Eric Danley via edanley’s
Vir
al was
used as an adjective....
...to describe
things that were
related to or
caused by a virus

3. ....Today,
Vir
alis ALSO USED as a
noun
to represent content
that is
rapidly circulated [on
the interneT]
rapidly circulated [on
the interneT]
rapidly circulated [on
the interneT]
rapidly circulated [on
the interneT]
rapidly circulated [on
the interneT]
- “Flu Fact #5” by Mike Licht via flickr.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

4. causes content to go
Many believe that
Vir
al...
Image By: beancounter (Pam) Via flickr
LUCK

5. ...While others believe
that making content go
SCIENCE
Vir
al
Image: “Science!” by Andrew Huff via
flickr.
is a

6. “It's like a batting average in baseball.
No one hits a homerunevery time,
but by understanding the science
of hitting you can boost your average.”
your average.”
your average.”
your average.”
Image: “Matt Kemp’s First Major League Home Run” via Orange Ninja’s
flickr.
Source: “Viral’s Secret Formula”-Jonah Berger

7. F
O
M
O
Image: “A Rainbow of Fruity Flavor” via Micky’s flickr.
ut
issing
ear
f
The
“FOMO Factor”
can help content go
Viral information: from film240 lectures
...Everyone will want to
view the content quickly
because no-one wants to
feel excluded, by being the
last to know.

8. Viral=exposure
Image: “Crowded” by: Phil Whitehouse
Via Phillie Casablanca’s Flickr
would you want
a viral video
I could be a
cyber celebrity!
I could increase business
exposure and profit!!
I’m not sure
I’d want to
read the
negative
comments
some would
have... but I
think I’d
make a
pretty funny
meme....

9. Image: “Past” via Barbara K’s photostream
(flickr).
• has a simple message
• is emotionally powerful
• has a high budget
• is effortless to share
Viral
content often:
information: from film240 lectures

10. Viralvideo “Charlie Bit Me”
525, 507, 000
now has OVER
VIEWS!!
roving the power of a SIMPLE MESSAGE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

11. Image: “Campaign for Real Beauty” via thegloaming’s flickr.Image: “Campaign for Real Beauty” via thegloaming’s flickr.
Dove’sDove’s
‘‘campaigncampaign
forfor
realreal beautybeauty’’
wentwent
...largely due to the effort to appeal to...largely due to the effort to appeal to
ourour EMOTIONSEMOTIONS
Viralin recent months...in recent months...
Proving the power of:Proving the power of: emotionally powerful contentemotionally powerful content

12. Image: “E*Trade Talking Baby commercial mirrored keyboard” by Sean Salmon via Seanaes’s
Superbowl ads suggest that HIGH BUDGETS
help the odds of the content
going....Viral

13. Image: “Matt Kemp’s First Major League Home Run” via Orange Ninja’s
flickr.
In order for content
to go
Viral
It must be
EFFORTLESS
to
SHARE
easy to find
plugged into many social
networks
has
tags
embed
ded
easy to
copy &
paste
the link
information from fall 2012 film240 webinar

14. Image: “You Tube Visit” via
T_Bazz:in[network]‘sflickr.
played a major role in
simplifying the process of
sharing videos and
consequently promoted
Viralcirculation.

15. Image by Jason Carlin via jasonEscapis’ flickr.
“Charlie the Unicorn” is
one example of a video
that went
Viralafter being uploaded to
YouTube.

16. Image: “Justin Bieber - In the stage lights” by Mattias Karlsson via Jetuma’s
flickr.
Justin Bieber
became famous after his home-videos uploaded
to
YouTube
went...
...Viral

17. Viral CYBer celeberities• Jenna Marbles (left) uploaded
a video “how to trick people
into thinking you’re good-
looking” onto YouTube a few
years ago and it went.....
Viral!!
• Now, Jenna’s career is
vlogging. She tweets often,
uploads videos onto YouTube
every Wednesday and blogs!
Many of her videos go viral
due to her numerous
Image: “Jenna Marbles” via Streamy’s flickr.

18. C
a
t
s
Image: “Cats” by Moyan Brenn via Moyan_Brenn’s
Source: “Cute Cats, Memes and Understanding the Internet”-Tom
Chatfield
“Type ‘cats’
into YouTube
and you will
see that the
top ten
results (out
of 1.4 million)
have been
viewed
OVER
200
million
times
between
them”
Viral
gone

19. Memes
“The humor may be hit or miss, but its
appeal among college students has been
undeniable.
The meme has been replicated on an untold
number of college campuses in the United
States and Canada,
with students “liking” campus-specific
Facebook pages in droves
and contributing their own variations via
QuickMeme.com and MemeGenerator.net,
where amateurs can easily build their own
gags from templates.”
Source: “Attack of the Memes” by Steve Kolowich
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/02/16/c ampus-themed-internet-memes-go-viral#ixzz2Tglb3DsB
.
Image: Melon Party : so viral it eats flesh by Torley Via flickr

20. The YouTube 50
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1974961,00.html
Charlie Bit My Finger
Evolution of Dance
David After Dentist
"Here It Goes Again"
Rickroll
Leave Britney Alone
Don't Tase Me, Bro
Keyboard Cat
Dramatic Chipmunk
Hitler's Downfall
Flea Market Montgomery
"Lazy Sunday"
Diet Coke and Mentos
Obama Girl
Lonelygirl15
Guinness World Record: Most Shirts Worn at One Time
Tillman, the Skateboarding Dog
Christian the Lion
Charlie the Unicorn
Trapped in an Elevator
Zinedine Zidane's Head Butt
Leprechaun Sighting
Justin Bieber
Daft Hands
Auto-Tune the News
Fred
"Chocolate Rain"
Will It Blend?
"Thriller" in Manila
Where the Hell Is Matt?
Miss Teen South Carolina
Baby Bobbing to "Single Ladies"
Zombie Kid Likes Turtles
"Hey Jude" Kid
"Yes We Can"
Hillary Clinton's 1984
Noah's Daily Photos
Bank Of America's "One"
Grape Lady Falls!
Randy Pausch's Last Lecture
"United Breaks Guitars"
Kittens, Inspired by Kittens
Potter Puppet Pals
Jill and Kevin's Big Day
Sneezing Panda
Otters Holding Hands
Literal Music Videos
OMG, Shoes
Baby Laughing
Susan Boyle's Debut
The Best ViralVideos

21. the right content
and strategy can
help make
content go viral.
But....
Image: “Pencils” via Gwenaël Piaser‘s
flickr.
...CONSIDERING
THE GLOBAL
COMPETITION,
LUCK IS
USUALLY (ALSO)
NEEDED.

22. Sourcesyoutube:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/t_bazz/4174849719/sizes/l/in/photostream
Generations:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edanley/4289324169/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Luck: http://www.flickr.com/photos/beancounter/2319418450/
cat: http
://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/5542263437/sizes/l/in/photostream/
baby: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanaes/3246211008/sizes
/z/in/photostream/jenna: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stre
amys/8592597257/sizes/c/in/photostream/
Science!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadhorse/2292191571/
meme: http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/5540344180/s
izes/o/in/photostream/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonah-berger/virals-secret-formula_b_3052685.htmlcats:
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120222-cats-memes-and-internet-schemes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emzee/278221145/
bieber: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jetuma/8718689420/
memes: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/02/16/c
ampus-themed-internet-memes-go-viral#ixzz2Tglb3DsB
who wants it?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/philliecasablanca/247
3728872/sizes/l/in/photostream/
flufact: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notionscapi
tal/3495321482/sizes/s/in/photostream/youtube50:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/package
s/completelist/0,29569,1974961,00.html
Dove Beauty: http://www.flickr.com/phot
os/thegloaming/274802220/sizes/m/in/photostream/
pencils: http://www.flickr.com/photos/piaser/3068757916/lightbox/
Homer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/orange_ninja/1587
40270/sizes/l/in/photostream/
unicorn: http://www.flickr.com/photos/escapist/2962029715/sizes
/m/in/photostream/
past: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krawcowicz/873606793
1/sizes/l/in/photostream/