What is Video Seeding and How Can I Use It?
A popular video marketing strategy that is currently being used by large corporations like Nike, Old Spice, Ford, and Microsoft is that of “video seeding.” “Video seeding” is placing product videos that exceed the 15-30 second ad time constraint that video sharing sites such as YouTube have, onto social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The goal of placing these longer web video ads onto social media platforms is to make them go viral, exposing the brand’s message to hundreds-of-thousands, even millions of viewers.
So how can you properly seed your video and make it go viral?
First of all, there is no guarantee that a video will go viral. In order for a video to do so, it must connect with the viewer on several levels that compels them to share the video with their friends. Some of aspects of the video that can help it go viral are:
• Delivering humor
• Giving someone an ego boost
• Offering a solution to a problem
• Being controversial
• Being dramatic
• Being provocative
• Making the viewer smile
• Plucking at an emotional string
If the video does not do the above with individuals, then it simply will not go viral. If it has one, or several, of the above it has a chance.
Once you’ve created your potential viral video, the next step is to “seed” the campaign. Why “seed” it? By placing your video on several social media outlets you give more people access to it, raising the chances that it will catch on with several people who will forward it on to their like-minded friends, who in turn pass it on, etc, etc.
Where should you seed your campaign? Consider seeding on these sites:
• YouTube
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• Blogs
• Digg, StumbleUpon, Delicious
You can also seed your video using your email lists and by including it in your weekly/monthly email newsletter (if you have one).
Keep in mind that it may take more time and money to produce a viral video, but the profits that will be seen if it takes off will be astronomical, offsetting the cost. If you need help producing a potential viral video, feel free to contact us at 1.877.477.STUDIO or fill out our contact form!