Why Cat Videos are More Popular Than Yours

Another cat video went viral. How is it that those videos get more hits than your thought-out, professionally filmed masterpiece? Mashable posted this video yesterday that provides the answer: Jessica Mason of YouTube for Good explained during the Social Good Summit that it’s their universal appeal. She says your video can be just as successful if it follows the same three core principals:

Tell universal stories. Mason explains that “cats, animals, babies. They do well on YouTube because they transcend boundaries.” The language and culture are irrelevant. Some of the most powerful videos don’t even use words to get the message across.   

Engage regularly. Develop a relationship with your audience. They’ll come to trust you and your brand. She recommends posting at least once a week. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. “Sometimes quality isn’t the most important thing,” she notes. A camera phone can often do the job.

Be surprising, original and action packed. Keep your video fast paced and unique. Mason says, “People don’t tune into cat videos to see a cat meowing at the screen and you shouldn’t be uploading videos of people sitting their staring at the screen.”