My Husband's 4-Second Video Got 476 Million Views (Here's Why It Makes No Sense!)
Let's talk about going viral. As many of you know, my husband Matthew runs Scale Builder's Guild, a YouTube channel where he dives into the world of RC trucks with reviews, tutorials, and epic driving adventures (almost 100k subscribers strong!). He's also active on Instagram, sharing photos and reels with his 120k followers.
Here's the thing: Matthew's reels typically get 20-80k views, which is great! He's even had a couple of runaway hits with 651k and 4.3 million views. But a few weeks ago, something unexpected happened. He posted a quick video, under 4 seconds long, not the height of production quality, and repetitive (think: same clip playing over and over). It wasn't groundbreaking content by any means (you can watch it above). In fact, we've been having a good laugh about it for weeks now! Here's the kicker: that video went on to rack up a mind-bending 476 MILLION views.
Now, you might be wondering what the secret sauce is. The truth is, there probably isn't one. As someone who works with social media algorithms for a living, even I'm scratching my head on this one. It's a perfect example of how the internet can be a delightful mystery.
Here's the takeaway for all you content creators out there: Don't let the pursuit of perfection hold you back. Sometimes, the most unexpected things resonate with audiences. This experience has been a hilarious reminder that virality often feels like lightning in a bottle. You can spend ages crafting content, and it might not take off. But then a quick, silly video like Matty's can explode.
So, what are my tips for creating engaging Instagram reels?
Experiment! Don't be afraid to try new things and see what sticks with your audience.
Focus on entertainment value. Make people laugh, smile, or learn something new.
Be authentic. Let your personality shine through.
Post consistently. The algorithm rewards accounts that are active and engaged.
Interact with your followers. Respond to comments and messages, and participate in trends and challenges.
Why This Short, Repetitive Video Might Have Gone Viral
While there's no single answer to virality, there are a few interesting things to consider about Matthew's video:
Short-form content is king: Attention spans are shorter than ever, and Instagram Reels are perfectly positioned to capitalize on that. Studies show most viewers only watch the first 3 seconds of a video. A concise clip like Matthew's might have been more likely to grab attention and hold it.
Repeat viewing: The short, looping nature of the video could have encouraged people to rewatch it multiple times. Did something change? Was there a hidden message? Repetitive content can be strangely mesmerizing, similar to the visual version of ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response).
Remember, there's no guaranteed formula for going viral. But by putting out content you're passionate about and embracing a bit of imperfection, you might just surprise yourself (and the internet!)
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go congratulate Matthew on his newfound internet fame (and maybe convince him to film a sequel to his accidental mega-hit).
Viral Success!
But wait, there's more! Since the video took off, Matthew's racked up an incredible 3.4 million likes and grown his Instagram following to a whopping 161k followers (and counting!). Not bad for a 4-second reel, right? As of May 31th, 2024, the video has reached a mind-boggling 521 million views! We're still baffled by the whole thing, but it's a fantastic reminder that anything is possible on the internet.