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Bob and Andrew chat with Tod Maffin about viral content. What are the key characteristics that make a piece of content go viral? Apparently content that goes viral share some unique traits. We find out what they are and how you can take advantage of this information while creating your own content.

About Tod Maffin:

President of engageQ, a digital marketing training and consulting firm
National technology columnist for CBC
Author of three books

Tod Maffin, author of 3 books. — Books by Tod Maffin

Speaks to more than 40 conferences around the world each year
Founder and CEO of MindfulEye, a multi-million dollar artificial intelligence firm

Tod has a few projects on the go. He is currently writing a new book and every summer he does an online training class throughout August. He is giving us a special discount for Maven Interview listeners. Use the promo code ‘Maven’ to get the discount. You can find the class over at Tod Maffin’s Summer School

Viral Content Strategy

Tod talks about how any content can go viral. People usually associate viral content with video but these concepts work with any type of content.

Tod used the skills he had developed as a former hacker from his younger days to deconstruct viral content and discover what elements are common to all the viral content that Tod studied.

The 6 Elements of Viral Content

1. ACC Matching

Audience, Content and Call To Action. All three of these items have to match

2. Single Simple Concept

They have to be very simple and don’t try to do too much

3. Sentiment

Silly, Serious or Stunning.

4. Reward Sharing

5. Embrace the Unofficial

Don’t send lawyers after people that are promoting your brand. Embrace them! Unless they are defaming your brand or making false negative claims then reward them for their use of your brand in order to leverage the publicity.

6. Deliver Successive Rounds

Change the campaign slightly and keep the viral wave going. Build on the success of the initial campaigns.

Post by Maven Interviews.

Tod gives us all examples of how these 6 elements of viral content have been in effect in successful campaigns and how others have failed because some elements were missing.

Iceland Tourism video

The Dollar Shave Club

The Dove Campaign

The Shreddies Diamond Campaign

Doritos Flavor Contest

Wheat Thins

Double Rainbow Guy

Fedex Box Sofa

What is the threshold for being considered viral?

The numbers for being considered ‘viral’ are relative and arbitrary. Going ‘viral’ shouldn’t be your goal with the content anyway. Your goal should be to sell X number of widgets.