Viral Brand Videos: How to Create Influencer Marketing Content That Gets Shared

You’ve probably seen it: A short, quirky video of a cat doing something ridiculous, or a clever ad that’s been all over your social media feeds. One minute, it’s not even on your radar, and the next, it's everywhere - shared by friends, influencer marketing campaigns, and even brands. It’s the kind of content that doesn’t just capture attention but keeps it, and before you know it, your feed is flooded with reposts.

But what’s the secret behind these viral videos? How can your brand create content that gets not just viewed, but shared by millions?

Creating a viral video isn’t just about making something funny or flashy - it’s about tapping into the right mix of creativity, relevance, and emotion. Whether you're leveraging social media marketing, content marketing, or working with an influencer marketing agency, the principles for creating viral content remain the same. Brands today focus on brand storytelling and leveraging the right strategies to drive engaged customers. If you're in the business of YouTube marketing or meme marketing, understanding what makes videos go viral is crucial to gaining traction.

Social media management plays a huge role in crafting a strategy that can amplify viral content across platforms like Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, and TikTok. Affiliate marketing also provides an excellent opportunity to leverage influencers and brands to drive more views. Let’s dive into the elements that can help your brand videos break through the noise, get shared across platforms, and ultimately, go viral.

Why Do Some Videos Go Viral and Others Don’t?

Emotional Impact

A great example of this is the AI Cat Videos, which blend humor and cuteness to grab attention and evoke joy. These videos use artificial intelligence to make cats do hilarious, unexpected things, and their emotional appeal (in the form of humor and surprise) keeps people engaged. It is great to catch attention.

Relatability Mom’s recipe

These videos are a social media favorite. Why? They tap into the nostalgia of childhood kitchens, making viewers feel warm and connected. When content feels familiar and personal, it’s more likely to be shared.

Shareability

A perfect example is the Bollywood Memes, which take iconic movie moments and twist them into funny, relatable content. Whether it’s exaggerated acting or famous dialogue, these memes are both entertaining and highly shareable, especially among fans of Bollywood.

Brevity In

Today’s fast-scrolling world, shorter is often better. Dance challenges like the “Chanel” by Tyla (which went viral on Instagram Reels) are great examples. These videos are short, catchy, and easy to recreate, making them perfect for quick consumption and even quicker sharing.

Focus on Emotions, Not Just the Product

The first step in crafting a viral video is to focus on evoking emotions. Videos that make people laugh, cry, or feel inspired are far more likely to get shared than those that are just product-focused. Take Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches campaign, for example. It wasn’t just about selling soap—it was about changing how women saw their own beauty. The emotional depth of the video resonated with millions and sparked a worldwide conversation about body image.

Tips:

• Focus on universal emotions: joy, inspiration, surprise, etc.
• Create a narrative, not just an ad.
• Ensure the emotion aligns with your brand values.

Keep It Short and Engaging

The best viral videos don’t drag on—they get straight to the point. In a world where people’s attention spans are shrinking, videos that are quick, fun, and engaging have a higher chance of going viral. For example, Apple’s "Shot on iPhone" series featured stunning visuals captured on an iPhone—quick, visually appealing, and to the point.

Tips:

• Keep it under 2 minutes—ideally, 30-60 seconds.
• Make the first 5 seconds captivating to hook the viewer instantly.
• Avoid fluff—get to the point quickly and make every second count.

Be Relatable and Authentic

People share videos they can relate to. If a video feels too “corporate” or fake, it’s less likely to spread. Authenticity matters. Take Nike’s "Dream Crazy" campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick. It wasn’t just about selling shoes; it was about promoting a message of standing up for your beliefs and daring to dream. It felt real and resonated deeply with viewers who identified with the message.

Tips:

• Keep your messaging true to your brand voice.
• Use real people, not just actors or models, to create a deeper connection.
• Address common problems, desires, or experiences that your audience can relate to.

Use Humor (When It Fits)

Humor is one of the most powerful tools for making a video go viral. People love to share funny content, but it has to be the right kind of humor. Take Old Spice’s "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" campaign. The surreal, over-the-top comedy grabbed attention and had people laughing, which made them want to share it. Similarly, Durex’s witty and cheeky approach in their ads, like the "For Play" campaign, uses humor that’s bold and clever while aligning with their brand personality.

Tips:

• Keep it lighthearted and relatable—don’t overdo it.
• Make sure the humor matches your brand’s personality.
• Use humor that will resonate with your target audience.

Optimize for Social Media

A viral video won’t spread unless it’s optimized for the platform. Each social media site has its own format and audience preferences. For example, TikTok loves quick, creative videos, while Facebook audiences may enjoy longer, more detailed content. Zomato has mastered the art of social media by using humor and timely trends to connect with their audience, especially younger viewers. They create fun, relatable content that taps into pop culture and current memes, often combining food with witty, light-hearted posts. Their strategy shows how a brand can build a fun and memorable identity by staying relevant and engaging with their audience.

Tips:

• Tailor your video for each platform—Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube all have different best practices.
• Use hashtags to help your content get discovered.
• Ensure your video is mobile-friendly, as most people watch videos on their phones.

Encourage User-Generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) is a great way to get more mileage out of your video. When users create and share their own content related to your brand, it extends the reach of your campaign without much effort from your side. Think of Coca-Cola’s "Share a Coke" campaign, where people were encouraged to find bottles with their names on them and share the experience online. This helped create an army of brand advocates sharing their own Coke stories.

Tips:

• Encourage your followers to create and share their own videos, using a branded hashtag or challenge.
• Feature user-generated content on your brand’s page to increase engagement.
• Make it easy for users to participate by creating simple, fun campaigns.

Include a Clear Call to Action (CTA)

After all the effort you put into creating your video, don’t forget to tell viewers what to do next. A strong call to action (CTA) can encourage them to share, comment, visit your website, or take some other action. For example, the Ice Bucket Challenge had a clear CTA: challenge someone else to dump ice water over their head or donate to ALS research.

Tips:

• Make the CTA clear and actionable—don’t leave people guessing what to do next.
• Encourage sharing, commenting, or engaging with your content.
• Keep the CTA aligned with the message of your video.

Creating a viral brand video isn’t about luck—it’s about knowing your audience, crafting content that connects emotionally, and making it easy for people to share. The key elements of viral videos—emotion, relatability, brevity, humor, and authenticity—are all factors that, when combined, give your brand the best shot at going viral.

Whether you’re focusing on YouTube marketing, leveraging Instagram reels, or exploring the power of meme marketing, remember that affiliate marketers and influencers can help amplify your content. The world of content marketing and social media marketing is full of opportunities to create meaningful engagement with your audience.

The rise of Short Videos and Shorts has made platforms like Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube the perfect environment for viral content. As more brands embrace these short-form video trends, it’s crucial to stay relevant and adapt to the platforms where your target audience engages the most.

With the right strategy and a bit of creativity, your brand’s next viral video could be just around the corner!