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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
- 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.
