What Type of Videos Go Viral on YouTube?
YouTube is one of the most popular search engines and video-sharing sites in the world with more than 5 billion videos watched and over 1 billion total hours of video consumed every single day. Viral videos pop up regularly on YouTube, and businesses are always hoping for success on their YouTube channels. But what type of videos go viral on YouTube and how can a business owner create video content that has viral potential?
It’s a question we get asked a lot at Beverly Boy Productions, and it’s also one of the most difficult to pinpoint an answer to. While we specialize in video production, producing viral videos is something that takes more than just professional production skills–it’s part art, part talent, and part luck. Give us a call to learn more at 888-462-7808!
Get a video production quote here!
What is a Viral Video?
According to Forbes magazine, there really are no set guidelines or statistics that define a “viral” video. However, this hardly means that viral videos do not exist! The fact is, viral videos have different statistics and parameters that make them viral. What one business considers viral may not necessarily be considered viral to the next business. For example, a small business may think that 100K views is a viral video success measurement. Likewise, a larger business may believe a video must reach 1M views in order to be considered viral.
The Basics
A viral YouTube video is one that spreads rapidly and very widely. So, a video with 100K views that accumulated over a period of 3 years is NOT viral. However, a video that accumulates 100K views overnight may be considered on the right track and potentially viral. However, there is no exact science or number that makes a video “viral.”
Our Thoughts
At Beverly Boy Productions, we think it’s very important to educate our clients on the potential styles or techniques that can be used in the production and distribution of a video to help or encourage it to potentially go viral, but at the end of the day, the video maker or producer does not directly influence whether it goes viral or not–the audience determines this. Therefore, if a production company or marketing firm ever tells you that they can produce a viral video for you, we believe you should walk away–or run away–quickly! Because promising that a video will go viral is a lie.
Types of Videos That Go Viral on YouTube
So, what types of videos go viral on YouTube? That’s a great question! We reviewed a list of the most viewed videos on YouTube as well as some statistics from recently “viral” videos to get an idea of the types and style of video content that are most likely to go viral. Here’s what we found:
- Live action videos are most frequently behind viral video production. Very, very few animated videos made the cut over the past several years.
- Many viral YouTube videos are the result of independent video creation, DIY projects, or a project that really had no “viral intent.” The creator was just having fun.
- Videos that deeply connect with the emotions of the audience are most likely to go viral.
- Many viral videos are later turned into internet memes.
- Most viral videos are created with some other intent, besides going “viral” in mind.
Do You Have What it Takes to Go Viral on YouTube?
That depends on the audience and what they think! At Beverly Boy Productions, we specialize in producing emotionally-connecting videos that will attract wide audiences to your brand. We know that this is a foundational element to viral video production, but we also recognize that several other needs must be met in order for a video to achieve viral success.
Let’s Work Together
Want to learn more? Give us a call at 888-462-7808!