What Viral Content Has Boosted Your Brand's Profile?
To uncover the secrets behind viral content that can significantly boost your brand's profile, we asked marketing and branding professionals for their experiences. From analyzing viral video campaigns to solving key user problems, here are five strategies behind going viral.
- Analyze Viral Video Campaigns
- Publish Data-Driven Case Studies
- Engage with User-Generated Content
- Showcase Company Culture with Humor
- Solve Key User Problems
Analyze Viral Video Campaigns
As the founder of Redfox Visual, a piece of content that significantly boosted our brand's profile was the "5 Viral Video Marketing Examples That’ll Sweep You Off Your Feet" blog post. Published in 2019, it has over 50,000 views and hundreds of social shares to date.
We analyzed brilliant video marketing campaigns from big brands like GoPro, Budweiser, and Coca-Cola. By breaking down why each video went viral, the post positioned us as video-marketing experts. It drove many new video production clients to our agency and strengthened our reputation in the Boise area.
For example, after reading our analysis of GoPro’s emotional “Fireman Saves Kitten” video, a local animal shelter hired us to produce a fundraising video. Our knowledge of viral video formulas and storytelling helped craft an engaging video that raised over $50,000 in donations for the shelter. The campaign’s success led to additional video work for other nonprofits.
One key lesson is that B2B content marketing should still aim to trigger emotions. Analyzing viral consumer campaigns provides insights into crafting memorable stories and messages. Content that stirs emotions tends to be the most shared, building brand awareness and trust in the process.
Publish Data-Driven Case Studies
As the founder of Anthem Software, a piece of content that significantly boosted our brand was a case study on how we helped a Fortune 500 client optimize their email marketing campaigns. By analyzing their data and list segmentation, we were able to improve their open and click-through rates by over 50% in under 3 months.
When we published this case study on our website, it received over 10,000 organic views and was shared on major marketing publications. It positioned us as experts in data-driven email marketing and led to a 30% increase in new leads over the next quarter.
For small agencies looking to build authority, creating content that demonstrates quantifiable results and expertise is key. Case studies with hard data and actionable insights tend to resonate most with clients and spread through word-of-mouth, fueling opportunities for growth. An educational content strategy centered around client success has been fundamental to scaling our business.
Engage with User-Generated Content
When it comes to a piece of content that went viral and significantly boosted RecurPost’s profile, one standout example comes to mind. A few years ago, we launched a social media campaign centered around a blog post titled '10 Social Media Marketing Challenges and Solutions.' The post was meticulously crafted with actionable tips, case studies, and infographics, making it highly shareable. What truly set it apart, however, was our engagement strategy. We invited our audience to share their own social media challenges and solutions using the hashtag #RecurPostSolutions, offering a free two-month subscription to the most insightful contributions.
The response was great. Not only did the hashtag trend on Twitter for several days, but the user-generated content we received was incredibly impactful. Users shared their stories, tagged us in their posts, and even created video testimonials. This flood of authentic content significantly amplified our reach and credibility, resulting in a 300% increase in web traffic and a substantial boost in new sign-ups.
Showcase Company Culture with Humor
I once created a humorous, behind-the-scenes video showcasing a day in the life at our agency. We highlighted the quirky personalities of our team members and included funny mishaps and candid moments. I believe the authenticity and humor resonated with people, making it highly shareable.
The video went viral, racking up thousands of views and shares within a week. This surge in attention significantly boosted our brand’s profile, leading to a noticeable increase in inquiries and new clients. In my opinion, the key to its success was its relatability and the genuine glimpse it offered into our company culture.
Solve Key User Problems
Working with early-stage startups, I've found that solving key user problems with a simple solution can lead to viral growth. In 2018, I helped design an automated investment management service at a Fintech startup.
We launched a free investment analysis tool, allowing people to link their accounts and get an instant assessment of fees saved if they switched providers. Within a month, it had over 50,000 users and press coverage in major publications.
The tool was simple but met an unmet need. By removing the hassle of manually tracking investment fees, it built trust and goodwill. We followed up with an email course on lowering fees, which converted 30% of users to paid memberships. Focusing on user needs and education over sales pitches can drive real growth.
