VIRAL MARKETING PART 2- RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

WHAT GOES INTO WEB POPULARITY

On a commercial level, the web is fair game to getting public attention. It's a great place to showcase and audition your talents under little or no budget.  There is little policing, zero budget restrictions and even questionable copyright monitoring.  A great example are the many FAN-MADE MOVIES that impressively counterfeit popular movie plots and elements. 
Among them are the endless YouTube Star Wars movies that George Lucas probably never approved:
- Star Wars - Versus: The Way to Shadow 
- Dark Resurrection vol.1
- Star Wars - The Old Republic 
- Star Wars: Threads of Destiny

Because YouTube is FREE to post (or publish, podcast etc), the real investment goes into coming up with original concepts and execution and producing convincing quality work to earn HITS (and steady subscribers).  The good news is that you are in the exact point in time where you have many references to model after- and even more how-to's (like this one) teaching you exactly how to make it... many of these instructionals are found directly in YouTube.

A successful YouTube Channel must cover these fundamental bases:

1. BE INTERESTING: Raise eyebrows!  At the very least, your videos must have good topics and enjoyable content. Audience enjoyment ranges from humor, stunning visuals, exciting action, educational or just downright FUN!

2. HAVE A SHOW WITH A REAL AUDIENCE BASE (also known as a SUBSCRIBERS): To market anything means to know your target audience- and to get some idea of the demographics (who they are and what they want)

3. PRESENT WELL : Videos are all about presentation. Have a good spokesperson or voice-over is a good thing to have.  Graphics also help a lot.  But overall, you need to keep the audience engaged.

4. BE ENTERTAINING: By now, the YouTube community has just about anything and everything as far as information, where your shot at being noticed means competing for their attention.  Even the driest topics can be presented in an engaging manner to keep them wanting more.  To be entertaining could mean humor, style, graphics/visuals, great cuts or just simply- FUN.

5. NEVER BE SALESY: The last thing you want to do in your channel is to look like a commercial. People tune out of this.  To promote your business, you must must must come up with innovative ways NOT to look like a TV commercial.  The YouTube community has even less tolerance for solicitation.  If you are publishing a commercial, try to keep it fun!

6. COVER THE PROPER TECHNOLOGY BASES (Sound, Picture quality and good edits): By now, the DSLR community has exploded where high school and college students are producing A+ quality productions and are gathering millions of hits for their creative work.  Channels that get real subscribers contain videos that truly cover the essentials for quality video. (TBD)

Building a channel can truly work if you have time (or $$)- but if you believe in a plan, go for it.  If not, you can use the limited videos you have to post in your blogs, newsletters etc.

http://imworx.com/

NEXT:
PART 2: What Goes into a DIY (Do It Yourself) Home Studio
PART 3: Anatomy of a YouTube Video
PART 4: How2 Customize your YouTube Channel
PART 5: How to Market your YouTube Channel