Ten Tips for Creating Viral Content in Australia
Creating viral content is the holy grail for many marketers and content creators. But what works in one country might not resonate in another. Australia, with its unique culture and online landscape, requires a tailored approach. Here are ten tips to help you create content that captures attention, generates shares, and goes viral within the Australian market.
What is Viral Content?
Before diving in, let's define what we mean by 'viral'. Viral content is content that spreads rapidly and widely through online channels, often shared organically from person to person. It's not just about getting a lot of views; it's about sparking conversations, inspiring action, and becoming a cultural touchstone, even briefly. While you can't guarantee virality, you can significantly increase your chances by following these guidelines.
1. Understand Your Audience
This is the most crucial step. You can't create content that resonates if you don't know who you're talking to. Understanding the Australian audience means delving into their demographics, interests, values, and online behaviour.
Research Australian Demographics and Interests
Age: What age groups are you targeting? Gen Z will respond differently to content than Baby Boomers.
Location: Australia is a diverse country. Consider regional differences and tailor your content accordingly. What resonates in Sydney might not resonate in rural Queensland.
Interests: What are Australians passionate about? Sports (especially AFL, NRL, and cricket), humour (often self-deprecating), the outdoors, and social justice issues are all popular topics.
Values: Australians generally value mateship, fairness, a 'no worries' attitude, and a healthy dose of scepticism. Authenticity is key.
Analyse Existing Popular Content
Pay attention to what's already working in Australia. What types of videos are trending on YouTube? What articles are being shared on Facebook and Twitter? What hashtags are popular on Instagram and TikTok?
Use social listening tools: Tools like Mention, Brandwatch, and Sprout Social can help you track conversations and identify trending topics.
Monitor Australian news and media: Stay up-to-date on current events and cultural trends.
Analyse competitor content: See what your competitors are doing and what's working for them. Don't copy, but learn from their successes and failures.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming all Australians are the same: Australia is a multicultural nation with diverse perspectives. Avoid stereotypes and generalisations.
Ignoring regional differences: Tailor your content to specific regions where appropriate.
Failing to research your audience: Don't just guess what your audience wants. Do your homework.
2. Tap into Current Trends
Riding the wave of a current trend can significantly increase your content's visibility. However, it's crucial to do this authentically and avoid being perceived as opportunistic.
Identify Trending Topics and Hashtags
Use Google Trends: Google Trends allows you to see what topics are trending in Australia in real-time.
Monitor social media: Pay attention to trending hashtags on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
Follow Australian news and media: Stay up-to-date on current events and cultural trends.
Participate Authentically
Don't just jump on a trend for the sake of it. Make sure your content is relevant and adds value to the conversation. If it feels forced or inauthentic, it will likely backfire.
Create Timely and Relevant Content
The key is to create content that is both timely and relevant to the trend. This means acting quickly and creating content that resonates with the audience.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Jumping on trends too late: By the time you create your content, the trend might already be over.
Being inauthentic: Don't try to be something you're not. Authenticity is key.
Exploiting sensitive topics: Be careful when participating in trends related to sensitive topics. Avoid being insensitive or disrespectful.
3. Evoke Emotion
Content that evokes emotion is more likely to be shared. Whether it's humour, joy, sadness, anger, or inspiration, tapping into people's emotions can make your content more memorable and shareable.
Use Storytelling
Stories are a powerful way to connect with your audience on an emotional level. Share personal stories, case studies, or fictional narratives that resonate with their experiences.
Create Humorous Content
Australians love a good laugh. Humorous content is highly shareable, but make sure your humour is appropriate for your audience and brand.
Inspire and Uplift
Positive and uplifting content can also be very effective. Share stories of success, resilience, or kindness that inspire your audience.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Being overly sentimental: Too much emotion can be off-putting.
Using shock value: While shock value can generate attention, it can also damage your brand reputation.
Being insensitive: Be mindful of your audience's feelings and avoid creating content that is offensive or hurtful.
4. Create Highly Shareable Visuals
In today's visually driven world, high-quality visuals are essential for creating viral content. This includes images, videos, infographics, and GIFs.
Use High-Quality Images and Videos
Make sure your visuals are visually appealing and professionally produced. Invest in good equipment or hire a professional photographer or videographer.
Create Engaging Infographics
Infographics are a great way to present complex information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format. They are also highly shareable.
Use GIFs and Memes
GIFs and memes are a popular way to add humour and personality to your content. They are also highly shareable on social media.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using low-quality visuals: Poor-quality visuals can make your content look unprofessional.
Using irrelevant visuals: Make sure your visuals are relevant to your content.
Ignoring accessibility: Ensure your visuals are accessible to people with disabilities.
5. Optimise for Mobile
With the majority of Australians accessing the internet on their mobile devices, it's crucial to optimise your content for mobile viewing. This includes ensuring your website is mobile-friendly, your videos are optimised for mobile, and your content is easy to read on a small screen.
Ensure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly
Use a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. Test your website on different mobile devices to ensure it looks and functions properly.
Optimise Videos for Mobile
Use a video hosting platform that optimises videos for mobile viewing. Use shorter videos and add captions for viewers who watch videos with the sound off.
Use Large Fonts and Short Paragraphs
Make your content easy to read on a small screen by using large fonts and short paragraphs. Use bullet points and headings to break up the text.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Ignoring mobile users: Failing to optimise for mobile can alienate a large portion of your audience.
Using Flash: Flash is not supported on most mobile devices.
- Having slow loading times: Mobile users are impatient. Make sure your website loads quickly.
By understanding your audience, tapping into current trends, evoking emotion, creating highly shareable visuals, and optimising for mobile, you can significantly increase your chances of creating viral content in Australia. Remember to stay authentic, be respectful, and always add value to the conversation. And for help with your overall online strategy, consider our services.
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