The WTF viral factor

Posted by admin | Filed under Techniques, Viral Campaigns

I have mentioned this before but thought it needed some highlighting. There are many factors that will increase your ads chances of going viral. We have talked of these before. For me one of the best is the WTF factor, (what the f**k)

It’s a really simple concept. Simply give your viral something that is either shocking or strange enough to make the viewer question what it is he is actually watching. This has a double effect

1. It increases your chance of the viral being passed on. By making the viewer question what the viral is you have forced me to engage with the viral. I am a good deal more likely once I understand what I am viewing to then pass it on to my peers who might also benefit from the entertainment, challenge etc

2. Multiple viewings. If the viral is done well enough and the WTF factor is strong enough I am likely to re-watch your viral a number of times.

Her are a few nice examples. Next the OMG factor

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Permalink | Comments (5) | May 4, 2009

5 Responses to “The WTF viral factor”

  1. Stuart Foster Says:
    May 4th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    Gotta say, random wtf is a great way to capture interest. As long as it is spread organically and through a number of back channels first. So cool when you find one though :) .

  2. admin Says:
    May 4th, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Completely. In fact organically is the only way really for wtf campaigns to work. The problem lies in the nature of a wtf campaign. i.e. if you try and force it’s seeding you will no doubt just end up offending communities. One persons wtf is another person “that is outrageous and in bad taste”

  3. Flash Mobbing | Viral Curve Says:
    May 7th, 2009 at 9:06 am

    [...] its appeal. The early users of Flash Mobbing had everything going for them. Effectively a real life WTF. The early flash mobs however (like grand central freeze) weren’t actually advertising [...]

  4. Viral WTF: Quique The Head | Viral Curve Says:
    September 25th, 2009 at 10:36 am

    [...] by Ricardo | Filed under Viral Campaigns The video I’m posting here has just the right WTF ingredient to make it viral, and it’s steadily climbing the viral video chart, standing now as the 8th [...]

  5. Viral or not: Weird cloud over Russia | Viral Curve Says:
    October 13th, 2009 at 9:37 am

    [...] or not One of the elements of a good viral is sometimes to have a strange thing on video, a truly WTF [...]

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