Tips on How to get a semi-viral video

[JB Clem]

One of my newest videos is semi-viral with over 90,000 views. It has a lot of dislikes(mainly from bitter Mexican fans). But I've gained 30 subscribers from this video so it works out even with the dislikes.

Here's some key tips.

Keyword density in the descriptions: The key is having the keywords in the description box so the person searching for the video will find your video. Like if a person is looking for a video about Arjen Robben Dive, or Robben Dive vs Mexico. Then fill out the description with those keywords. So it will rank on the Youtube search engine when the viewer is searching for the video. But don't meta-tag. Because your video will have the high likely of getting flagged, as it violates Youtube's TOS.

Have a Thumbnail that will capture a viewers attention: This is the most important thing that will get the viewer to click on your video. My thumbnail was of Footballer Arjen Robben diving which is relevant to the video I'm talking about. If it was just a photo of me or something non relevant to the topic. Then that video would get alot less views plain and simple.

Talk about a Trending Topic: The World Cup is a trending topic right now. And thousands of people will search keywords about a trending topic like Arjen Robben diving or Robben dive vs Mexico. It's easy to find about whats trending on sites like Twitter and Buzzfeed. And I had a feeling that people will search for a video about the World Cup. So I made a video about it.

Timing: Timing is everything. The best time to upload a video about a trending is within the first two hours where there will be less competition for the ranking of your video on the Youtube search engine. I managed to upload within the first two hours before other channels did and managed to get more views because of this.

These tips will help out some of the smaller Youtube channels who have trouble getting a video noticed on Youtube.

 

[Shane]

So your tips are basically : mislead viewers...

The dislikes aren't mexican fans.. they're people who expected to see a football clip like what was on the thumbnail and in the first 5 seconds of your video, not a vlog/ you talking.
btw misleading thumbnails are against the ToS

 

[Little Recordings]

So your tips are basically : mislead viewers...

The dislikes aren't mexican fans.. they're people who expected to see a football clip like what was on the thumbnail and in the first 5 seconds of your video, not a vlog/ you talking.
btw misleading thumbnails are against the ToS

Dont forget that rather talking about ir doing something you like/know/passionate about, just pick a trend that is up currently, and work with it, even if you do may not know anything about it, still join the bandwagon.

 

[JB Clem]

So your tips are basically : mislead viewers...

The dislikes aren't mexican fans.. they're people who expected to see a football clip like what was on the thumbnail and in the first 5 seconds of your video, not a vlog/ you talking.
btw misleading thumbnails are against the ToS

Look at the title of the video. It's clear to anyone looking that the video was an opinion video. Because it said "Arjen Robben's dive wasn't the reason why Mexico lost 2-1". Misleading a viewer would be something like "Arjen Robben dive vs Mexico Highlight" or "Holland scores against Mexico 2-1" , then having some guy talk about the video and not show a clip.

What I'm doing is not much different than what popular channels like Whatthebuck or Phillip DeFranco does with their titles and thumbnails.

And the thing was that I actually had a picture of the clip diving. Because I couldn't upload the video clip because of FIFA copyright striking everything related to the World Cup now.

 

[Little Recordings]

OP listen, maybe, and probably true, that you post this with good intentions, and are truly trying to help us, and thank you for that, we appreciate that.

The reason why I and the other lads react the way we are (firstly the internet makes us all a little cycnical *******) is because what you are doing is wrong, and as @Shane.C pointed out, breaks infact a few rules.

And also, its the equivalent "go spam comments of popular channels, beging for subs and views" kinda thing, which is not cool and I do not think any like to see or to do or done to them

 

[Shane]

I couldn't upload the video clip because of FIFA copyright striking everything related to the World Cup now.

The want to protect their multi-million, likely multi-bullion dollar IP and the tv networks that pay millions for the right to broadcast it? how dare they

 

[JB Clem]

OP listen, maybe, and probably true, that you post this with good intentions, and are truly trying to help us, and thank you for that, we appreciate that.

The reason why I and the other lads react the way we are (firstly the internet makes us all a little cycnical *******) is because what you are doing is wrong, and as @Shane.C pointed out, breaks infact a few rules.

And also, its the equivalent "go spam comments of popular channels, beging for subs and views" kinda thing, which is not cool and I do not think any like to see or to do or done to them

Looks like you guys are taking this the wrong way. I already explained how my video isnt misleading, and I just wanted to help you guys out. But if what Im doing is wrong. Then I guess that Sourcefed, The Young Turks, Phil DeFranco, and Whatthebuck doing is wrong. Because I was influenced by them using thumbnails in that matter.

 

[Little Recordings]

Look at th

e

Looks like you guys are taking this the wrong way. I already explained how my video isnt misleading, and I just wanted to help you guys out. But if what Im doing is wrong. Then I guess that Sourcefed, The Young Turks, Phil DeFranco, and Whatthebuck doing is wrong. Because I was influenced by them usingbthumbnails in that matter.

Well, its one of those things that if the thumbnail doesnt represent the nature of the video, then its not cool. And in your case, as an a example, you are using a bit of a clip from the game a thumbnail, and say what you want but, you know and I know thats a misleading thing. When I click on a picture that looks like its from the game, I expect the clip from the game and not a person talking over it. Thats why you use it, and not a custom thumbnail to reflect the fact that it is vlog. So, it does end up coming of as misleading.

And yeah bigger youtubers do that also, a lot of people also cover the whole video in one giant transparent annotation that as soon as click, redirects from the video to subscribe page. And they know you would click on it, because people usually click on the video to pause it, and there is nothing more annoying than have the whole video close because of that.

And it doesnt matter if its a big youtuber or a small if you are using misleading thumbnails, using gimicks with annotations, unrelated tags or spamming other video, you may have good intentions, but you come of a c**k-head kinda.

Thats why your video has so many dislikes, that all the people who were mislead into your video. You might have gotten 30 new subs, but you p****d of a large amount of people, and if thats okay with you, then sure its fine, its jsut that in the end of the day, it does come of as a dickish move, because it kinda is.

 

[JB Clem]

Well, its one of those things that if the thumbnail doesnt represent the nature of the video, then its not cool. And in your case, as an a example, you are using a bit of a clip from the game a thumbnail, and say what you want but, you know and I know thats a misleading thing. When I click on a picture that looks like its from the game, I expect the clip from the game and not a person talking over it. Thats why you use it, and not a custom thumbnail to reflect the fact that it is vlog. So, it does end up coming of as misleading.

And yeah bigger youtubers do that also, a lot of people also cover the whole video in one giant transparent annotation that as soon as click, redirects from the video to subscribe page. And they know you would click on it, because people usually click on the video to pause it, and there is nothing more annoying than have the whole video close because of that.

And it doesnt matter if its a big youtuber or a small if you are using misleading thumbnails, using gimicks with annotations, unrelated tags or spamming other video, you may have good intentions, but you come of a c**k-head kinda.

Thats why your video has so many dislikes, that all the people who were mislead into your video. You might have gotten 30 new subs, but you p****d of a large amount of people, and if thats okay with you, then sure its fine, its jsut that in the end of the day, it does come of as a dickish move, because it kinda is.

Look at the top left of the thumbnail. I put "Its more than that" for a reason. To tell the viewer that this is an opinion video. And if you did see that clip expecting to see a highlight, then its not my fault as from the title I put on it. It stated that I was giving my two cents on the match. Most videos with clips like that would say highlights. And there is no highlight on my title nor description.

And most of the comments on my video were p****d off Mexican fans that felt their team was robbed. Not people that are angry that they aren't seeing the highlights of the match.

 

[MrThomsen]

I'm with @Little Recordings and @Shane.C on this one.

Look at the top left of the thumbnail. I put "Its more than that" for a reason. To tell the viewer that this is an opinion video.

That's pretty much impossible to see man. As @Little Recordings said, I don't think that you did it in the intention, but the fact is that it is misleading. When you see a snapshot of the clip on the thumbnail and the first words are "Arjen Robben's dive", many people won't look closer.