What makes something go viral? | Dao Nguyen
People & Blogs
What makes something go viral? | Dao Nguyen
Last year, some BuzzFeed employees orchestrated a memorable prank involving baby goats in their boss Frank's office. What was intended as a short-lived office joke turned into a viral sensation as the event was live-streamed on Facebook, attracting a staggering number of viewers. The unexpected success of this video led the team to delve into understanding why certain content resonates with audiences and becomes viral. Rather than focusing on the content itself, they shifted their attention to the emotions and thoughts evoked in the viewers. This approach, termed cultural cartography, emphasizes categorizing content based on the job it does for the audience rather than traditional metadata like subject matter and format.
Dao Nguyen highlights the importance of understanding the emotional and psychological impact of content on viewers, ultimately leading to the creation of more engaging and relatable material. By prioritizing the audience's experience and the connection established through media, BuzzFeed has successfully leveraged cultural cartography to create viral content that resonates with individuals on a deep and personal level.
Keywords
viral content, cultural cartography, audience engagement, emotional impact, media strategy
FAQ
- How did the viral goat prank at BuzzFeed's office lead to the development of cultural cartography?
- What is the significance of shifting focus from traditional metadata to categorizing content based on the emotional impact on the audience?
- How has cultural cartography transformed BuzzFeed's approach to creating engaging and relatable content?
- What role does audience engagement and emotional connection play in the success of viral content?