A prime example of viral content that comes to mind is the "Dollar Shave Club" launch video in 2012. This seemingly simple ad took a humorous and relatable approach to men's razors, a mundane product category. Its sharp wit and mockery of traditional advertising's inflated claims resonated with viewers. The video spread like wildfire on social media, garnering millions of views and propelling Dollar Shave Club to instant recognition. The success stemmed from a combination of factors: emotional connection through humour, addressing a common pain point, and perfect execution for the online platform. It all came together to create content people loved to share.
One time, a video I shared of my cat performing a series of tricks in quick succession went viral. It amassed millions of views in just a few days. I believe its success was due to a combination of its appeal to animal lovers, the surprise element of a cat performing unexpected tricks, and the short, easily digestible format that encouraged sharing. Additionally, it was picked up by a few popular social media accounts, which significantly amplified its reach. This experience highlighted the power of relatable and entertaining content in capturing the internet's attention.
As a recruiter in the executive sphere, most of my blog and social media content is fairly niche. I'm aiming for a very specific audience. But one of my copywriters recently suggested we produce a piece aimed at fresh graduates and young professionals, and to my surprise, it wound it up being our most popular post ever. The reason, I think, is that it was aspirational. Sure, not too many people work in the upper echelons of business, but it's the dream of lots of go-getters. Writing for workers who aren't in need of my services -- yet -- gave me a much wider reach and chance to go viral.