• by Ross Fadner , October 29, 2008

What’s your viral strategy? Uploading a video to YouTube and hoping for the best is no longer sufficient, viral video experts agreed at the OMMA Video show in Los Angeles.

 

As YouTube’s Shiva Rajaraman noted, the number one question at YouTube is: “How do I make my video go viral?” According to Danny Fishman, President of Broadband Enterprises, it’s going to cost you. “You’re not going to get anything for free,” Fishman told the audience of advertisers and marketers. “Not going to happen. You have to pay for something out there.”

 

The distribution strategy is key. Mark Rotblat, VP of Business Development for TubeMogul said getting onto blogs and effectively utilizing social media are key components to aiding the viral process. Then there’s post-promotion PR, he said, which includes buying spots and placements.

 

But even these strategies won’t guarantee success. As Todd Steinman, COO, M-80, pointed out, “making guarantees that something will go viral is not possible.”