There’s a common misconception about getting your online video seen by thousands—it’s often believed you need a massive budget to achieve this. In reality, all it takes is a great idea to capture attention, and you can reach a huge audience without having to spend much money at all.
In this blog, we’ll explain what are viral videos and highlight some of the most iconic examples and benefits, including:
- Blendtec’s phone blending video
- Atomic Tom’s live music performance on a train
- The quirky viral music video ‘The Fox’
- Complaints about broken Google+ comments
Editor’s Note [20.01.25]: This article has been updated to reflect the changes in viral video marketing strategies as it stands in 2025. Initially published on 23 January 2014 and last updated on 07 October 2024 with popular examples of viral videos at the time, this latest version includes new insights into the rise of short-form video content, platforms like TikTok, and the role of cultural authenticity in creating viral content. It also expands on case studies of modern brands leveraging viral videos effectively, such as Currys, LC Sign, and Ryanair, while exploring the balance between short-form and long-form content for audience engagement. Just skip to the bottom half of this article for our latest updates showcasing the benefits of viral videos for business.
- 1 What are viral videos?
- 2 Brilliant examples of viral videos
- 3 Top 5 tips to get started with viral video marketing
- 4 Viral videos in 2025 — What’s changed?
- 5 Examples of successful viral brands on TikTok in 2025
- 6 Is long-form content irrelevant in 2025?
- 7 Short-form vs long-form video content
- 8 5 more tips for creating viral video content in 2025
- 9 Final thoughts
Simply put, viral videos are videos that have succeeded in generating lots of views, most likely through social sharing, email and instant messaging.
Typically, a viral video will consist of content that has the following characteristics to encourage sharing:
- Humour or entertainment value: People love sharing content that makes them laugh or keeps them entertained.
- Uniqueness or shock factor: Something unexpected or out of the ordinary grabs attention. Whether it’s a surprising twist or a bold concept, the unusual often encourages viewers to pass it along.
- Emotional connection: Videos that stir emotions, be it joy, nostalgia, empathy, or even outrage (think of controversial topics), are more likely to be shared as they create a bond with the viewer.
- Relatable or shareable themes: Content that feels relevant to personal experiences, trends, or shared interests tends to do very well, especially when it aligns with current cultural moments or memes.
- Short and engaging format: Our attention spans are limited, so videos that are concise and captivating from the start have a better chance of being watched and shared in full.
Most importantly, most viral videos were never intended to become viral.
Viral videos quite often never intended to become viral. Some of the most popular examples of viral videos are impulsive or emotional outbursts by people, shared in the heat of the moment, which then capture attention and get shared, re-shared, and so on.
Although not business-related, I’m sure many of us will have seen the “Leav Bitney Alone” video, which was posted 13 years ago. It now has 6.2 million views and is still attracting comments even today.
In the Blendtec phone blending video above, you will see one of the many Blendtec videos demonstrating how durable their blenders are by blending random objects (typically electronic equipment). This viral video example generated the shock value required for something to go viral. It also demonstrated how good and durable their blenders are.
A lot of people would see blending an iPhone 5 and think of it as idiocy. Instead, you should be looking at it and seeing genius. Let’s look at the facts, at the time of writing this their videos have reached a combined total of 227,597,880 views. Taking just one of those videos such as the iPhone vs Samsung S3 video, we can see that that video has reached nearly 8 million views.
Let’s say the combined cost of the devices came out at £1,000, would you pay that to reach 8 million people in one video? Seems like a bargain to me. How much would you have to pay through traditional marketing methods to reach that many people and have them want to share the content?
A second viral video example can be seen in a music video for the band Atomic Tom.
A third example shows the viral and quirky music video ‘The Fox’, which generated over 340 million views on YouTube.
Back in 2013, many YouTubers made complaints about the broken comments on Google+ integration gaining as many as 2 million views in two months.
In the music video by Atomic Tom, the band are on a train and instead of playing their instruments to create their music, they are using virtual instruments on a number of iPhones to create the music and perform it live on the train. The video has nearly 6 million views and it probably cost them nothing as most people have devices capable of doing this.
Not only is it a great way to reach a large audience, but it’s also a great example of standing out from all the other predictable videos online and setting yourself apart.
The examples listed above show ways you can utilise YouTube to reach huge audiences with little to no budget. With the recent surge in short-form videos, micro-moments and platforms like Instagram, you have even more ways available to you and your business.
#2 – Think original and encourage sharing
You just need to sit down, think outside the box, and come up with something that will stand out from your competitors and have that “share factor”. Think of something that generates natural promotion through sharing on social media sites and word of mouth.
#3 – Brainstorm video ideas with your team
A good marketing strategy is to get together with your team and try to think of something wacky, something unusual. Most businesses are stuck with a very traditional vision of how marketing and promotion should be done. The reality is, that times are changing, and in order to be current, you need to take risks.
#4 – Seek specialist support to get the ball rolling
Once you have an idea, you might need support – budget permitting, you can always seek the support of a digital agency to help with the content creation, campaign ideas and promotional activity to ‘get the ball’ rolling. The fact is, once a few people have seen a viral video, you can expect somewhat of a snowball effect. From there on, you can rely on organic user sharing to spread your video.
#5 – Get users subscribed and keep them informed of new updates
Not only will your video capture attention and promote your brand, but users can also subscribe or follow, meaning they will be notified if you or your company puts out additional content in the future. This is a great way of gaining more visibility once your viral video succeeds.
It’s been several years since we published our original article on viral videos, and we wanted to take an updated look at them and answer questions like, how exactly can they benefit your business, and how can businesses appeal to audiences that are jaded by traditional advertising.
There’s a lot of new information to cover, but first, here’s a quick modern refresher to familiarise yourself with what viral videos look like in 2025.
Having a viral video is akin to capturing magic in a bottle — you aren’t always sure how it happened, and you’ll be hard-pressed to replicate the success. But even one viral video is enough to propel your brand’s awareness, increase sales, or cultivate a following.
In the years since we first published our article asking the question “What are viral videos”, we’ve seen a surge in popularity in short-form video content. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have become the go-to places to produce and consume viral videos. These platforms are becoming more appealing to advertisers and brands, and for good reason.
“Short-form video delivers the highest ROI compared to other marketing trends, and will secure more investment in 2024 than any other format”.
Short-form content now delivers fantastic ROI while also being a suitable format for viral videos, helping to spread the word about your services and raise brand awareness.
Brands should consider using short-form viral video marketing. Photo by Aaron Weiss on Unsplash
Short-form is a great format but is also a good fit for a wider repurposing strategy for content.
It’s no surprise that audiences consist of people with different preferences and schedules. Virality is context-dependent and you should utilise every tool and content format. This is why it’s important to entice users with long-form content and short-form content simultaneously across different networks.
The distribution of your content and its format will also depend on your demographic and their age.
“38% of all adults that are online in Great Britain say that they are watching short-form content daily, with that rising to 68% among 15-24 year olds”
Keeping track of your target audience and where they are is essential when creating content that converts to business.
Many marketers wonder what the point of such content is, and what are viral videos good for. The benefits of viral videos are numerous. A huge benefit of viral content is reaching new audiences without requiring significant financial investment.
Many successful brands regularly produce viral content on short-form video platforms such as TikTok.
Here are some of the best viral videos utilising the platform to promote their brand through viral content. These examples highlight the benefits of viral videos and what they can do for your business.
LC Sign
As a company that produces signs for businesses, you might think it would be challenging to create viral content. The idea of signage doesn’t exactly fill you with excitement. Well, LC Sign is a fantastic example of how to approach your marketing from a unique angle, and even sell to users that wouldn’t otherwise be interested in your product.
LC signs – yet another example of viral videos that gain success
LC Sign’s viral videos and general success is a result of understanding the digital environment that they are selling within.
TikTok is generally a more laid-back and casual environment with lots of humour-based content. Much of the content produced by LC Sign uses memes and well-known quotes from pop culture and walks the line between comical and offensive.
@lcsign_lightbox Led menu👍😍😍@beanexplains #lightbox #ledlightboxes #businessigns #businesstipsforyou #businessproposal #smallsbusiness #slimlightbox #factory #factorylife #lcsign #funny #foryoupage #pvc #menudisplay #us #funnyvideo
This Enhance Your Small Business with LED Light Boxes video is a great example of taking a product that, conceptually isn’t sexy or interesting yet still becoming viral as a result of a unique approach that is relatable to their audience.
Currys
Another example of viral videos posted to TikTok is from Currys – Marketing to Gen Z: Tips and Strategies.
This was written in a style that was intended to appeal to Gen Z. This success is in part due to the fresh approach of not speaking in generic marketing lingo and instead opting for a more natural language that is understood by the audience. This helps to generate trust and a connection between the brand and the audience watching.
Currys’ comments show the benefits of viral videos for business
Currys has been able to harness the same strategy to create multiple viral videos across different networks.
@currys
Remember — what works today might not work tomorrow. It is important to keep up to date with the needs and wants of your audience and their sensibilities while understanding the digital platform on which you publish content.
Ryanair
Ryanair Airlines has produced numerous viral videos as a result of mocking some of the most popular customer complaints they receive – Welcome back to the party. This is a different approach to the usual inauthentic pandering that most businesses are guilty of resulting in a younger audience taking notice and a stronger sense of trust and authenticity.
@ryanair Welcome back to the party 😈 #ryanair
These are light-hearted videos that mock regular complaints that are mainly a result of customers booking the wrong seating or being late for their flight.
WWE
WWE has had several big social media successes and viral videos over the years including Nah bc honestly same 🤩👏👏👏 #WWE #TiffanyStratton #MITB, and they continue to gain huge numbers of views and viral content. One of WWE’s techniques to achieve this is to embrace the reaction of fans. This is great as it provides an element of social proof while being relatable to the many fans who watched the same event live.
@wwe Nah bc honestly same 🤩👏👏👏 #WWE #TiffanyStratton #MITB
WWE is a great example of understanding audiences and providing content that is regularly viral with a high engagement rate.
Paralympics
The Paralympics Tiktok account has enjoyed numerous successes due to shock value, self-deprecation, and humour.
Many viewers share the content in shock as the content seems to make light of the Paralympics sport while also highlighting the incredible ability of athletes with immense physical challenges. For example, Para Triathlon: Swim, Bike, and Air Piano with Beethoven.
Leaning into imperfections creates a sense of authenticity lacking in most large brands.
@paralympics Para Triathlon is swim, bike and air piano. 🎹
Many followers of the Paralympics account enjoy the unorthodox nature of the content and this randomness is what results in an engaged audience that is looking forward to what will be posted to the network next.
Paralympics comments – examples of viral video marketing working
Is long-form content irrelevant in 2025?
Does the surge in popularity of short-form content mean long-form is a thing of the past? Quite the opposite.
In a world where misinformation and fake news are increasingly prevalent paired with the oversimplification of complex topics, long-form content provides a deep dive into experiences and services that wouldn’t be possible with short-form content.
YouTube Shorts – a great place to create viral video content — Photo by Collabstr on Unsplash
An example of how to go viral with YouTube videos would be The Joe Rogan Experience YouTube channel.
Brands and industry leaders are given a platform to talk and go in-depth on complex issues as we recently saw with the Mark Zuckerberg interview that covered Facebook’s decision to change their policies and approach to fact-checking and censorship.
YouTube videos are a great fit for viral long-form content due to the huge audiences on the platform and the lack of video length restrictions.
Short-form vs long-form video content
The right format for your viral video content doesn’t just depend on your demographic and their interests, it depends on where and when each individual consumes content.
Many people work full-time jobs and have children with very little time for long-form content. In this scenario, short-form content will have a higher chance of reaching them and appealing to them for the pockets of time that become available. Other parts of your audience may have more free time and prefer long-form content.
These content types aren’t mutually exclusive — you can harness both to reach subsets of your demographic with improved engagement rates. The best viral videos are authentic above all else and can work within any content format.
There are some key differences between short-form and long-form content
This is why it’s useful to cover all bases if possible by way of unique content tailored to each format type – even if it means repurposing existing content.
The perspective on short-form and long-form content shouldn’t be focused on which is better, but on how to leverage each to reach parts of your audience you may have previously been unable to. The type of video content that goes viral is context-dependent so there’s not a ‘one size fits all’ answer to creating such content for your audience.
Benefits of short-form video content
- Quick and to-the-point content with good engagement
- Easy to create (can utilise repurposed content from long-form)
- Aligned with the modern demand for instant information
- Short-form platforms foster viral content regularly
- Easy for inclusion in ‘reaction’ content and spin-offs (reposting)
Short-form content is a good fit for viral content due to its ease of sharing. These videos are short enough for most people to watch in full and share on external platforms such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms.
Benefits of long-form video content
- Provides more context to complex subjects
- Allows for comprehensive content such as podcast interviews
- Long-form content is great for SEO
- Increases brand loyalty
- Can be repurposed for short-form optimised content
These benefits don’t necessarily pertain to viral content exclusively but are examples of how each type of content can provide numerous benefits that also have a chance of going viral.
There’s no secret formula when it comes to creating viral content. It’s a combination of being in the right place, at the right time paired with a lot of luck. As with any marketing endeavour, understanding your audience and their preferences is crucial to maximise your chances of creating viral content.
Here are some top tips for creating viral content in 2025 and beyond.
#1 – Hire the right people
You may be managing your business well in many areas, but connecting with your audience requires a natural understanding of their likes, and internet culture as a whole, and connecting with them at their level using their language. Look at the viral Currys video we mentioned earlier which was written by a social media/marketing team that understands slang, memes, and terms prevalent on the platform they are marketing on.
Do the terms Skibidi Toilet and Brain Rot sound confusing? If, like most of us, they do then chances are you could benefit from hiring a culturally aware social media team that is naturally more connected with a younger audience to increase your chances of creating viral content.
A lot of viral content comes by posting reactionary content, or simply taking existing content and adjusting it to make a statement. A good example is Sony’s recent viral post using a scene from The Social Network movie – 🙃 #TheSocialNetwork #AndrewGarfield #JustinTimberlake | The Social Network.
@sonypictures 🙃 #TheSocialNetwork #AndrewGarfield #JustinTimberlake
♬ Add THE SOCIAL NETWORK to Your Library Today – Sony Pictures
This came after Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta would be removing fact-checkers from their platforms while also adjusting other policies which has led to widespread criticism.
This is an example of being in tune with current trends, and news while making a statement through your content. This shows that even decade-old content can be used to produce viral video content with the clip generating 25 million views in just 3 days.
Timeliness is essential here, which is why regularly having a team to produce content can help you strike while the iron is hot, and react to the news before it becomes old news. This also means you should have a presence on all social media platforms.
A good way to create viral content is to harness existing viral content.
Reaction videos or video remixes can be a fantastic way of reaching a wider audience on platforms that foster viral content such as TikTok and YouTube.
On platforms like TikTok, using an existing sound on the network will list you alongside other content that features that same sound/music. This works much like hashtags, grouping your content with similar videos for maximum exposure.
#4 – Be creative
Don’t be bogged down with what you ‘should’ do and instead focus on being authentic.
Authenticity is king in 2025 so make sure to channel that inner funny bone and don’t overthink it! People love funny videos, it’s that simple. With younger audiences, being creative and authentic is a breath of fresh air that wins you trust and a following.
Experimentation is part of the process. You will no doubt create videos that don’t do as well as you wanted, but persistence is important. If you look at most authors of viral content, their video pages are often filled with low view numbers. This shouldn’t deter you from providing content true to your brand’s messaging and humour.
Social proof isn’t a new concept, but one that is extremely effective if used correctly.
Harnessing the reactions of your audience to spread the experience of your products and service gives first-hand impressions from customers that are authentic and frequently go viral if you have a compelling product.
The Fushigi Ball Commercial from over a decade ago is a good example of how a small video featuring excited participants can produce excitement and intrigue among audiences.
Final thoughts
Creating viral videos is a result of being persistent, engaging, and creative while harnessing topical conversations and trending news. Your wider video marketing strategy should be comprehensive — make content for every type of user’s schedule. Produce content that can be consumed on the bus, train, or even in the coffee room on a work break.
Also make sure that you have long-form content available for members of your audience that have more available time, or those that want a more detailed look into your product or service. Cover all bases to reach your audience in any situation or circumstance to maximise your viral potential. This also means being present across many platforms and having a YouTube channel.
Remember, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to unlock guaranteed viral content. Focus on producing engaging and audience-tailored content that resonates due to understanding your customers and their personalities.
Don’t get lost analysing things such as the best time to get views on TikTok — while this is an important consideration, great content doesn’t care about timing. Focus on your content first and foremost to achieve success.
Viral success is part science, part serendipity. Experimentation is how you hone the former and invite the latter.
For more great examples, see our viral internet marketing article.
What are your thoughts on viral video content? Do you have a favourite short-form TikTok video? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below or across any of the social media profiles.
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