How can your brand go viral with an infectious video?

To understand what it takes, I think first we have to very quickly review how this all started.

About eight to 10 years ago, with the Internet well established, embarrassing "America's Funniest Home Video" style videos starting popping up online. Posted to elicit a laugh, the videos were primarily reality-based incidents caught on tape that were too good to be true – but they were in fact reality – at least the ones that commanded widespread attention.

In the years that followed, (2004-present) individuals, groups/teams/communities and companies saw the ease with which the Internet could spread the videos and they choreographed/produced videos to achieve the same kind of response – thus benefitting their cause…sometimes that cause being profits.

No matter the production value, the beauty of viral videos is that there is still some naturalness to it – there is a greater sense of reality than television or movie production.

My advice to brands intending to produce viral videos is…BE YOURSELF. It was the best advice given to me when I was a television anchor and reporter. Don't force the issue.

Find a way to show your brand's personality and make a video that reflects that in words, pictures and sounds.

What does your brand stand for…how can you showcase that? What message are you trying to convey...how do images and sounds demonstrate that?

These are the beginning steps brands need to take before hitting record on the camera. There are millions of directions to take attempts at viral videos. Rarely these days do they happen by accident; instead they are well thought-out productions that allow brands to be themselves.

Is your franchise company prepared to move forward with a viral video that shows your brand's personality? All Points Public Relations, a Chicago-based PR firm focused on working with franchise companies, is experienced in planning, executing and driving powerful results with strategic public relations and social media tactics.

Give us a buzz and we can talk about planning, producing and promoting a viral video.