You've probably seen some viral videos on social media and wondered how they did it. How did they come up with such a catchy idea, attract millions of views, and earn money from their content? In this article, we'll show you some tips and tricks to create your own viral video and monetize your views in the context of the creator economy.
The first step to making a viral video is to define your niche and audience. What kind of content do you want to create and who do you want to reach? You need to have a clear idea of your unique value proposition and your target market. This will help you craft a video that resonates with your viewers and stands out from the crowd. You can use tools like Google Trends, YouTube Analytics, and social media insights to research your niche and audience.
As a creator, your goal shouldn't be to "go viral" or create a one-off hit video. There's a lot of luck involved with having a viral hit, so it's much more realistic and sustainable to consistently produce quality content and grow over time.
The next step is to plan your video content and format. You need to have a compelling story, a catchy hook, and a clear call to action. You also need to decide on the best format for your video, such as short or long, live or recorded, vertical or horizontal, etc. Depending on your niche and audience, you may want to use humor, emotion, education, or entertainment to engage your viewers. You can also use techniques like thumbnails, titles, tags, and captions to optimize your video for discovery and retention.
Creating video content is a multi-step process that involves careful planning and execution to achieve maximum impact. It's not just about hitting record and hoping for the best.
The third step is to choose your distribution platform and strategy. You need to know where and how to upload your video to reach the maximum number of viewers. You can use platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitch, depending on your niche and audience. You also need to have a strategy for promoting your video, such as using hashtags, keywords, influencers, ads, or collaborations. You can also leverage your existing network, such as your email list, blog, or social media followers, to spread the word.
Choosing the right platform and promotion strategy is crucial for your video's success: YouTube: #1 video platform for distribution and monetization TikTok: good for emerging creators looking to build audience FB/IG/Snap: great for incremental syndication Twitch: ideal for live streaming in specific niches
The final step is to monetize your video and views. You need to have a way to generate income from your viral video, such as through ads, sponsorships, donations, subscriptions, or merchandising. You can use platforms like Google Adsense, Patreon, Ko-fi, or Shopify, depending on your niche and audience. You also need to have a plan for scaling your video production and growing your fan base, such as by creating more videos, engaging with your viewers, or expanding your niche.
YouTube is the best video platform for ad monetization and building a sustainable audience. But if you have existing fans on other platforms, you can also monetize through subscriptions or memberships on platforms like Patreon and Memberful.