There is no secret formula to go viral on YouTube so quickly that it amazes the world, making people wonder how you made it possible. However, there is certainly a strategy that works, and we are going to discuss it in detail so that YouTubers and interested individuals can benefit from it.
First of all, content is key. Create high-quality, interesting, engaging, and unique content that drives traffic to your YouTube channel. The YouTube algorithm prioritizes videos that users watch repeatedly and for extended periods.
High-quality video and compelling content ensure that viewers won’t click away to other videos due to basic issues like poor audio quality or low resolution. Whether you’re creating a full-length video or a YouTube Short, quality is crucial in influencing viewers.
It is important to use YouTube Shorts, as billions of daily views reinforce the fact that YouTube is actively promoting short-form videos. You can create Shorts that are entirely separate from your long-form content or repackage longer videos into a series of shorter clips to engage your audience.
Regarding thumbnails, they serve as the first impression of your video, appearing before viewers decide whether to click on it. Thumbnails play a crucial role in attracting interest and encouraging clicks. This is also the image that appears when the video is shared on social media. An attractive thumbnail and an interesting title compel viewers to click, resulting in more views.
Thumbnails should have an eye-catching visual design. Including a face in the thumbnail helps, as YouTube’s algorithm appears to favor videos featuring faces over text-only thumbnails.
Keep the text on your thumbnails large enough to be easily readable. Viewers should quickly understand what the video is about. Additionally, the title displayed beneath the video should be informative and engaging.
SEO is another essential factor. Your YouTube video should include relevant keywords, hashtags, and an informative description to improve its visibility in search results. Avoid misleading descriptions and claims that do not align with the content of the video.
A crucial trick to making a video go viral is to include a strong hook in the first few seconds—ideally within 15 to 30 seconds. Many renowned YouTubers suggest that if viewers stay beyond this point, they are more likely to watch the entire video, anticipating the fulfillment of your promise.
It is important to deliver on the promise made to viewers and fulfill it in the middle or end of the video. A strong hook could involve teasing a payoff that comes at the end, posing an intriguing question early on that is answered later, or doing something surprising or humorous to capture attention.
When a YouTube video achieves a high average watch time and a high average percentage viewed, the YouTube algorithm rewards it. An average watch percentage of 50%–70% is considered good for a YouTube Short, whereas for longer videos (over 10 minutes), the percentage should ideally be around 40%–60%.
After posting an engaging and compelling video on YouTube, share it with your followers on other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Remember, virality is not just about view count—engagement matters. If viewers comment, like, and share the video frequently, YouTube pushes it to a broader audience, increasing its chances of going viral.
