Viral Videos - Rebecca Black

If you have not heard about Rebecca Black's song "Friday", you will. Technically, you are now - but believe me, I will not be the only thing to talk about it. I bring it as an absolutely perfect example of viral social media marketing. Almost overnight, the video went black woman from a very modest 3000 views on one amazing 5 million views on YouTube, and that is thanks almost entirely to the power of social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and YouTube.

In this post I will explain why the "Friday" went viral, and what the thought process behind it - all in the hope that you will come away with a better understanding of the ways that social media marketing can work for you.

As humans, we have the joy in the failure and the embarrassment of others. In fact, the Germans even have a word for "schadenfreude" (sha * cave * * froid uh) - literally, joy in the misfortune of others. Schadenfreude is exactly the reason that "Friday" has been viewed so many times that people wanted to see for yourself how terrible the song and then revel in this atrocity.

Let me give you another example. Have you ever wondered why "America's Funniest Home Videos" on the air for over twenty years? It is not because it's tough quality of programming; AFV will never win an Emmy. America's Funniest Home Videos on the air for more than twenty years, because people really see dad in the family jewels with a baseball bat and enjoy hit little Timmy face planting into concrete off his skateboard - it's Schadenfreude, baby!
To be clear, is schadenfreude not to go the only way, when crafting your viral video - Look up "Will It Blend" on YouTube, for example - but it's definitely one of the best ways to go, when crafting your viral video .

Exactly what Rebecca and the other people who want behind "Friday" to be out of their marketing campaign to tell, but one thing is certain: they want exposure, and that's exactly what they got. Viral social media marketing is all about awareness and brand proliferation.

Fame is a bankable asset, and you do not need or good sense to be famous. Do not believe me? Take a look at Kim Kardashian or William Hung. Both achieved fame for his bad Kim for her "accidentally released" sing sex tape and Mr. Hung for his awful comic as a contestant on American Idol. And you know what? They are both now bankable brands and millionaires. What does that have to apply with my company?
Each company is different - different foods, different locations and different corporate cultures - and your viral social media marketing campaign to be as unique and novel as possible, which means that by definition there is no "cookie cutter" process for the preparation of viral content.

The main point here is that the content you create for your viral social media marketing campaign should never smooth or eulogy. Do not put a promotional video, the benefits of your product or singing the praises of your service department - unless, of course, you plan to do it in a couple of comic god awful way. Remember that with viral content, absurdity, unorthodox, uniqueness, and humor are key.