Some people still ask for a viral, I hope to explain why that is wrong...

1. It’s NOT a Viral The lesson that people don’t seem to be learning

2. Authors Note: I hope this is the last time we have this debate, and those who through no fault of their own weren’t aware will soon be… ;)

3. A Viral is not a thing

4. Going Viral is what it does

5. “ Can you make a Viral?”

6. “ No.”

7. “ Why?”

8. You cannot make a viral.

9. You can make content … and hope it goes viral, or push the content to try and make it go viral.

10. If you get sick, you don’t say “I’ve caught a viral”

11. You catch a virus. A germ. A bug. A piece of ‘organic content’…

12. It is the passing of content between people that is ‘the Viral’

13. Your content must be just as contagious to work

14. It is a Virus, but it spreads virally Summary:

15. SO

16. Brand Manager:

17. If you really really really must

18. Ask not for a Viral

19. But for a Virus

20. Agency:

21. If you offer to “make a viral”, you are misleading your clients

22. Unless you want to guarantee those 100k views…

23. (Your finance director probably won’t)

24. The Rules: 1. Don’t ask for a viral 2. Don’t offer to make a viral 3. Have ideas 4. Make content 5. If the content is good, it may go viral

25. Thank You Rob Mortimer [email_address] Image Sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anders-vindegg/3408838186/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/manyfires/178734860/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/lost_mitten/3858156964/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/1porchlife/3326990709/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/igotmebabe/2924938589/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristoframon/3526530172/ http://www.freewebs.com/simpsonsknowall/doh.gif http://media.photobucket.com/image/eureka%20moment/emilycool_2006/LightBulb.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/salaboli/2306575265/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/catsfather/137395611/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcoveringa/3243701953/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridapfe/3386201469/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/doberagi/1404539812/