What Makes a

Viral Video?

The most successful videos tap into audiences' emotions, like a fear of heights or road rage.

They offer a challenge to commonly-held views that makes the video stand out and give an added dose of controversy.

Viral videos also have compelling stories that drive the narrative and hook user interest through the twists and turns.

We’ve summarised a few examples where Newsflare videos went viral and asked our Editor-in-Chief, David Hickey, why.

Lion vs Baby

Emotion – Good old fashioned fear plays an important role in this video. The consequences of the lion accessing the toddler would be heinous if it were not for the glass. It is impossible to look away for fear of the worst happening.

Challenge – There’s a moral dilemma: were the parents right to do this? Are they putting the child in danger? Are they toying with the lioness? This can open a lively debate with viewers.

Story – Who knew a baby's head could "fit" inside the lioness' mouth and that, horrifyingly, the lioness wants to fit it in. A short story of averted danger and with a reassuring ending.

Lewis Capaldi and his adoring fans.

Emotion – When one of the best-selling artists sings his most recognisable song (with over 2.7 billion Spotify streams) interest is already gauged. When that artist cannot finish the anthem that everyone knows so well, in front of thousands of people, we are compelled to understand why.

Challenge – Most of us have heard of Capaldi's condition, Tourettes, but in an age of polished-to-perfection performances not many of us have seen a household name display symptoms publicly. Our preconceptions of the celebrity golden standard contrasts with real-life drama here and allows us to see Lewis Capaldi as a human being.

Story – The plot navigates from Capaldi singing his famous song, to him struggling to finish it. The twist is the audience empathetically taking over the vocal duties for him.

Million-pound baby

Emotion – F. Scott Fitzgerald tapped into our emotion about babies when he wrote his famous short story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. We are intrigued when babies are unexpectedly different from the norm, which is why a baby the size of an eight-year-old drew the attention of so many.

Challenge – The common-held assumptions about parenting and what is ‘normal’ are what drives us to reconsider our opinions here. We are also forced to think about the repercussions you wouldn’t immediately consider, like the financial challenges.

Story – The story is simple, it’s a family's struggle with their giant baby. But the details add a richness that invites the viewer to another world. The baby boy in this story wears his dad's clothes, can no longer be carried and is too big for the stroller: it’s an entirely new perspective on something so commonplace.

Find out more about the types of video that will resonate with your audience:

Email: daniel.braybrook@newsflare.com  

Phone: 07751 264356