Imagine this scenario: You’ve just uploaded your latest video to your social media platforms, following your usual weekly routine. After posting it, you go about your day, expecting its performance to be on par with your other successful videos.
To your surprise, something extraordinary occurs – your channel experiences a sudden surge in popularity. Your TikTok views are skyrocketing, and the likes and comments keep pouring in. In just a matter of hours, you’ve gained hundreds of new followers, and it feels like a whirlwind.
The explanation is quite simple: your video has gone viral. With an increasing number of users flocking to your profile, it’s crucial to seize this moment. In this article, we’ll explore what happens after your video goes viral and how you can effectively maintain and nurture this newfound engagement with your audience.
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One Hour After Your Video Goes Viral: What to Expect
When content goes viral, it has the potential to reach a significantly broader audience, which translates to increased views, followers, and comments. This surge in engagement happens rapidly, often taking just a few hours for a captivating video to achieve viral status.
The initial signs of virality are typically evident within the first few hours of posting, especially on platforms like TikTok or YouTube. As your content garners views, TikTok’s algorithm, for instance, takes notice and begins promoting it, leading to even more views and watch time.
During this critical period, it’s crucial to drive as much traffic as possible within the first hour. This boosts your chances of appearing in the platform’s suggested or recommended sections, further increasing your visibility. The goal is to maintain the momentum of your viral content to continue gaining prominence.
However, managing a sudden surge in popularity can be overwhelming. While your previous posts may have catered to your regular audience, the larger following demands consistently high-quality content. Failing to deliver this may result in decreased viewership, and the algorithms of platforms like YouTube and TikTok could deprioritize your content. It’s vital to meet the expectations of your expanding audience to sustain your newfound success.
How Many Views and Likes Are Considered Viral?
The concept of virality on the internet is dynamic and ever-changing. Millions of views on TikTok, for instance, don’t necessarily equate to a video being viral. Conversely, some videos with fewer views can have a higher viral impact than others.
The landscape of influencer marketing has expanded significantly since 2019, making it less challenging to reach the million-view mark. There are now countless videos with millions of views, and social media platforms no longer deem them as unique. While roughly 5 million views could propel a video to viral status, the speed at which your viral video spreads also plays a crucial role in achieving this status. Virality is, indeed, a multifaceted phenomenon in the ever-evolving online realm.
The Lifecycle of a TikTok or YouTube Viral Video
The journey of all videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok follows a common trajectory. It’s during this trajectory that you can assess their potential for going viral based on their behavior.
The First Hour: The initial hour of a video’s release is crucial as YouTube and TikTok provide a significant initial boost. This boost is a test to gauge the response from a wider audience. The more authoritative your channel, the greater this initial boost.
First Week: The behavior of your video during the first week is heavily influenced by the initial day. Typically, on the second or third day, a video hits its lowest point in terms of views. If a video received little to no views initially, the platform may deprioritize it. However, if viewers engage with your content and you reciprocate, you can sustain its viral potential.
First Three Months: Around three weeks in, if your viral video maintains a healthy flow of regular views, the platform will classify it as “good” and continue promoting it. Depending on your channel’s authority and the video’s appeal, it should reach its full viral potential within six months to a year. The journey from upload to virality is indeed a process with distinct phases.
What to Do After Your TikTok or YouTube Video Goes Viral?
The hour following the viral success of your YouTube video is critical, and it’s a time to take action. To maintain and replicate such success with your other content, consider these tips:
Try to Figure Out What Caused Your Viral Video
TikTok creators worldwide employ a range of techniques in their quest for virality. Crafting distinctive content of the ideal video length is a common strategy, with hopes that one of their videos will eventually strike gold. However, predicting what will go viral is far from easy. To decipher the factors contributing to your video’s viral status, you need to investigate what made it stand out.
If your viral video was a departure from your usual content, identifying the cause may be relatively simple. However, if the content is in line with your typical uploads, unraveling the secret might prove more challenging. For YouTube videos, it’s advisable to analyze your other uploads to discern the specific elements that set the viral one apart.
Try Replicating the Success
The YouTube algorithm is likely to retain your video’s history, so if you aim to sustain your success, it’s essential to consider replication. Returning to your regular content may result in a significant drop in views.
For instance, if you run a channel focused on hair-related content and your video went viral by showcasing makeup content, it’s advisable to stick with makeup-related content. Deviating from this could lead to a rapid loss of momentum, preventing your channel from accessing a broader audience.
Engage with People On Your Channel
In the initial hours following your video’s viral moment, it’s crucial to capitalize on the influx of views and engage with your intended audience. This is the prime opportunity to connect with them.
To achieve this, consider actively participating in the comments section by responding to each individual. Welcoming new users and acknowledging their presence can encourage ongoing interaction with your content. However, if they sense neglect, they might quickly lose interest in your account.
Expect a Drop Off
Videos often experience a decline in popularity once the initial excitement subsides. While one video may receive a million views in a flash, it’s essential to be prepared for various outcomes. It’s also quite common that some viewers will only engage with your viral hit and not explore your other content.
It’s important not to take this personally; it’s a common occurrence. Instead of dwelling on this, maintain your focus on growth and concentrate on what lies ahead.
Expect Haters on Viral Videos
After your YouTube or TikTok videos go viral, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll attract some haters. This phenomenon affects even the most successful creators. It’s essential not to let these negative individuals affect your confidence.
Always keep in mind that for every hater, there are dozens of people who genuinely love your content. Engaging with haters can often escalate the negative comments, potentially harming your online image. Therefore, it’s usually best to focus on the positive feedback and interactions.
Final Verdict
Going viral with a video can be quite elusive because it’s challenging to predict what will resonate with the audience at any given moment. Nonetheless, the first hour after posting is crucial in determining a video’s potential for going viral.
If you don’t see a surge in popularity during that first hour, it’s less likely that your video will go viral. On the other hand, if the video shows promise, it’s essential to engage with your audience to maintain its momentum.
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