Viral videos are the new 'golden goose' of media, with thousands of companies dreaming of the chance to have a viral video. There's only one problem, and that's coming up with some solid viral video ideas.With viral videos racking up potentially millions of hits on the likes of Youtube and Vimeo, it's any marketer's dream to make a killer video that'll drive a ton of traffic to your site.What's the secret?The key is making shareable videos. The more people that share the video, the better the chance you'll have a viral hit.With organic Facebook engagement at its highest on posts with videos (13.9%), it's time you got involved.With that in mind, this article will take you through seven viral video ideas for your business that'll have you creating your own 'Rickroll' in no time.

Who Says Viral Video Ideas Need to Be Original?

One point to drive home when looking at creating viral video ideas is that you don't need to reinvent the wheel. We have seen a lot of videos going viral which have the same base ideas just using different content.The ideas we present below are principles that these video campaigns have used for different viral video campaigns in the past. There's no shame in taking some of the best bits from your favorite viral videos and applying them to your ideas.Ready? Let's go!

1. Create a Funny Video or Parody

Users on social media platforms are highly engaged with video in 2017. With Youtube accounting for two-thirds of all premium videos watched amongst millennials and 8 out of 10, 18-to-49-year-olds watching YouTube in an average month, you need to be involved.With Youtube having over a billion users, almost a third of all the people on the internet, that's a lot of people who are crying out for interaction. Catch their attention by creating a funny video or parody.These types of videos are at the top of the list because of how effective they are in driving traffic to your website. Most users want the content they consume to captivate them.Remember, the main thing you want people to do with your video is to share it. They are much more likely to do this if they find your content engaging and funny.You could incorporate hilarious moments from your company, team-building mess-ups, or even bloopers. Just remember to keep the comedy value broad, nothing will put the fire of your viral video out quicker than an insider 'accountant' joke that the general public just doesn't understand.If you're concerned about the costs of creating a video, make sure you consider what you're trying to produce first, and then get advice from there.

2. Produce an 'Unboxing' Style Video or product Review

This is a trend that has blown up over the last few years.These types of viral video ideas are great because they provide tremendous value. Unboxing videos are useful as when something adds value, it is usually shared.You could even think outside of the box and do a product review style video on your business but with a quirky, comedy undertone. If your video becomes a success make sure to thank us here first!

3. Consider a Time-Lapse Video

Over the last few years, time-lapse videos have become increasingly common as a platform for viral videos. A great example of a popular time-lapse is this video of 100 years of Korean beauty.These types of viral video ideas allow you to look back at important moments and milestones, either in your business or your personal life. With everything from 9-month pregnancy to badly signposted junctions, a creative time-lapse video could become a hit!

4. Setup a Live Video Stream

In 2016 when Mark Zuckerberg introduced Facebook Live, many of us seriously undervalued the effect that it could have on promoting content.Look at what Candice Payne achieved when her Facebook live video of her laughing in a Chewbacca mask racked up over 164 million views, and the masks sold out across the country.Although unintentional, these types of viral videos can achieve massive traction.

5. Run a Giveaway or Contest

Nothing screams interaction like giving away free stuff. Contests are an easy way for any business no matter the size to dabble in viral video ideas.When you are selecting your prizes, make sure to consider what type of audience you want to attract.You can either make it specific to your ideal audience, for example, travel companies might give out backpacks. Alternatively, you can make your prize appealing to a broad audience, such as an iPad.Make sure the message in your contest is clear. Let the people know what you want them to do.

6. Link Your Video to One That's Viral Already

It's no surprise that when one video goes viral, hundreds more follow suit shortly afterwards. With hundreds of parodies, remixes, and mash-ups appearing on the web over the years, if you can act quickly this is an excellent opportunity to boost your brand.People often relate to videos that reference something they remember; it gives them a sense of belonging. When creating your viral video consider what other viral video ideas have recently become popular and think about how you can incorporate that into your video.

7. Interweave Trending Pop Culture into Your Video

Trends move fast in 2017. In previous years we have seen videos piggybacking on successes such as the walking dead or game of thrones in their videos, instantly picking up a fan base that's already established.This type of viral video content provides you with a vast audience, allowing you to tap into multiple markets at once and you may get people's attention who wouldn't have considered your video before.

Time for the Next Viral Sensation

Understanding these seven different ideas for making a viral video should give you the inspiration you need to get started creating the next big hit. If not, you can check out some inspirational videos to get your cogs turning.Let us know in the comments what some of your all-time favorite viral videos are and what you think the next significant trend for viral videos will be for 2018.