Mark Rober, a YouTuber with 20 million subscribers, averages 37 million views per video. His formula for going viral involves a three-step process:
1. **Viral ideas**: Mark has a system for identifying viral opportunities, filtering through ideas, and picking the one most likely to go viral. His ideas must pass four main criteria: having an extreme element, being optimized for new viewers, being previously proven, and having a clear title and thumbnail.
2. **Editing for the algorithm**: Mark edits his own videos to hold the viewer's attention throughout. He uses a fast-paced intro with multiple cuts, and adds an underlying story to give the video purpose. He also blends multiple viral video concepts into one.
3. **Perfect packaging**: Mark's thumbnail and title are crucial to his video's success. He uses concise titles, emphasizes the extreme aspect, and adds excitement and danger. His thumbnails are designed to grab attention, with contrasting colors, a washed-out background, and a clear image of himself. He also uses the "three element rule" to keep the thumbnail simple.
By following these steps, Mark Rober has been able to consistently create viral videos that attract millions of views.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Mark Rober averages 37 million views per video on YouTube.
2. Mark Rober gained 300,000 subscribers in two days after putting out a video.
3. Mark Rober has a three-step formula for creating viral videos.
4. Mark Rober's YouTube strategy is worth studying because he's part of a very exclusive club.
5. Mark Rober started his YouTube channel by accident in 2011 with a Halloween prank video.
6. Mark Rober is one of the few creators who consistently get more than 20 million views on their videos.
7. Mark Rober has a system for coming up with viral ideas, which involves filtering through ideas and picking the one that has the best chance of going viral.
8. Mark Rober's videos must pass four main criteria before they get made: they have an extreme element, are optimized for new viewers, have wide appeal, and if he can't visualize the title and thumbnail, he doesn't even start filming.
9. Mark Rober edits and writes his own videos despite having nearly 20 million subscribers.
10. Mark Rober rewards the viewer for choosing his video by delivering on the promise right away.
11. Mark Rober uses a storytelling structure in his videos, including a problem, discovery, explanation, and payoff.
12. Mark Rober's videos have multiple payoffs to keep the viewer engaged.
13. Mark Rober uses perfect packaging for his videos, including a concise title and a thumbnail that grabs the viewer's attention.
14. Mark Rober's title is 44 characters long, which is under the 55 characters that data shows is the optimal length for a viral video title.
15. Mark Rober's thumbnail follows the three-element rule, with only three main elements at play.
16. Mark Rober often changes his thumbnails if he's not seeing results.