QandAs: Buzz

How do I make a viral video?

Answer:
We get asked this a lot. It seems that a lot of QandAs

readers want to make the next big MUST-SEE viral video. We're happy to answer the question, but we have to warn you - there are no guarantees.

The truth is there is no manual for making a viral video - much less one that will become globally, phenomenally, unbelievably , even-grandmas-in-Borneo-saw-it viral. However, based on previous viral videos and the things that (might) have made them viral, we have some suggestions.

Rule No. 1: Make it Funny
This is the common denominator among all of the most viral videos in web history. If it ain't funny, it ain't gonna become a viral sensation. Simple as that.

Remember the Star Wars kid in the basement? That viral video was genious because it was hilarious. It wasn't high-tech. It didn't have great special effects. Or paid actors. Or a plot. But it brings the funny in a major way.

Rule No. 2: Make it Timely
This rule is closely tied to No. 1. There are LOTS of funny videos out there - millions, even, when you search through YouTube alone. But to become a viral video, a funny video must also be very timely.

Consider the case of Britney Fan Crying. What made that viral video so, well, viral was that at the time it hit YouTube, it seemed the whole world was talking about the trainwreck that was the life and career of one Britney Spears. At that time, you couldn't even turn on CNN without hearing about the pop star's latest drama.

It was at the height of this Britney Spear mania that Britney Fan Crying hit the web. It gave people an outlet for their Spears angst - whether they were Britney sympathizers or folks annoyed by her very existence.

Another example of timeliness is the The Obama Girl. Just as America was discovering the Illinois Senator and presidential candidate, this woman was singing about what many Americans were feeling - "I've Got a Crush on Obama."

Timeliness is a great facilitator of the viral video phenomenon because news shows often turn to such videos when they need to feature the lighter side of things. Obama Girl became a sensation because of attention drawn to her video by People magazine, AOL, CNN and others.

Rule No. 3: Keep it Simple
Viral videos appeal to us because they look like someone we could do ourselves. In fact, that's a great part of the appeal. Do a YouTube search for any of the viral videos mentioned here and you'll find that they'll all spawned their own series of imitators. Viral video fans like to be able to make parodies or do commentaries. This makes the videos even more viral and ensures that the 15 minutes of fame might even last a few ticks longer.

Rule No. 4: Be Yourself
With the possible exception of Obama Girl, none of the viral video folks mentioned here sought the incredible, if short-lived, fame they achieved through their videos. Remember that you're never funnier than when you're being yourself. That's the key to tapping into the zeitgeist. In this global world, chances are if you are feeling a certain way (sympathy for Spears, love for Star Wars, adoration for a candidate), other people will, too. That's one more ingredient in your viral video stew.