Social Media Marketing Tip: Cute Kids and Funny Animals On YouTube (Videos)

Just about everyday I receive some sort of email/Twitter spam stating they could help me “grow my business with social media” and ask me for an extraordinary amount of money to find out how. In my opinion, it’s all just a scam,  a bunch of con artists looking to make a quick buck off the gullible. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) is NOT about how to grow your business, it’s about content, it’s about people sharing content, content they find entertaining, content worth sharing. If you look at YouTube’s Most Viewed (All Time) videos, you’ll see they’re all entertaining videos, none of product pitches or corporate brand videos.

Cuteness = Lots of viewers

Marketeers today are looking for the best way to make their campaigns viral, looking for the secret ingredient to getting people to send their links to a friend. Below I’ve listed some videos on YouTube of some popular videos that have a large amount of views. I’ve worked on many marketing campaigns and the goal is to get people to view your pitch, it would be fantastic if I could get 10,000,000+ people to view a campaign in little as 2 months as is the case with video #1 (surprised kitty). With Surprised Kitty (video #1), it’s getting 183,000+ views a day, why, because it’s soooooo frickin’ cute!

The tip is to be cute, to be something worth sharing. I’ve seen lots of marketing campaigns that are just so boring, although some of great value/good deals, just nothing I would send to a friend, more of something I would probably bookmark and maybe lookup later. I am not here to tell you how to be cute, this is something you’ll need to find on your own, and hopefully you will.

Your video does not have to be long, as you see, video #1 the Surprised Kitty is 17 seconds, the highest viewed video (139,000,000+) on YouTube is only 55 seconds (video #2 below), a 16 second video of a panda sneezing (video # 7) has 46,000,000+ views, and who could forget the 5 second video of the Dramatic Look gerbil with 18,000,000+ views.

Something is better than nothing

I know I’ve fallen into the trap being a perfectionist and taking forever to post something because I always find ways to make it better (to me). Most of the popular videos are NOT planned videos, most are spontaneous raw footage. For Surprised Kitty, it’s only 17 seconds long and I’m sure the author probably thought about not posting it and had no clue it would get 10 million views in 2 months. I have a friend who had a cute video of her adorable daughter dancing, though she is not a YouTube person and most likely will never be upload it to YouTube (it’s currently only on Facebook). Then again, what is a “YouTube person”, I’m not sure there is a definition.

I wonder how much cute videos are out there that will never get uploaded. For me, growing up my mother had a camera on us ALL THE TIME and filmed just about everything we did growing up. In a way, I’m glad my mother doesn’t have a YouTube account, I dread the day she does, because I know there’s tons of embarrassing stuff she has on tape, ooooooh boy!

I have an amazingly adorable pet, a dog named Ashley who I wish I could capture on video, though every time I try she is too distracted by the camera. I’ll try and try again until I get that cute video of Ashley doing something cute!

Share!

So, to my point, the true power and secret in social media is people sharing, not only those who pass around links, it’s really the power of the people that upload the content, the people who for a brief moment let us view a part of their life, may it be funny or not, the act of sharing is the real secret of the new dawn of today’s internet. Below are some YouTube videos I found that are of cute babies and cute animals that have some great numbers on views, some  videos have 200+ comments a day (video #2 & video #3).

NOTE: STATISTICS PULLED FROM YOUTUBE USING THIER DATA API.

Please email me other videos you think should be on this list.

Video #1

Surprised Kitty (Original)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8 (17 seconds)
Uploaded: Oct 14, 2009 by rozzzafly (149 days ago)

Views: 21,260,774

142,689 / day   -   5,945 / hour   -   99 / minute

Comments: 211,114 (151 per day)
Favorites: 22,553 (1,416 per day)

Video #2

Charlie bit my finger - again !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM (56 seconds)
Uploaded: May 22, 2007 by HDCYT (1,024 days ago)

Views: 167,861,117

163,926 / day   -   6,830 / hour   -   113 / minute

Comments: 779,997 (300 per day)
Favorites: 307,713 (761 per day)

Video #3

David After Dentist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs (119 seconds)
Uploaded: Jan 31, 2009 by booba1234 (405 days ago)

Views: 53,497,203

132,091 / day   -   5,503 / hour   -   91 / minute

Comments: 420,947 (208 per day)
Favorites: 84,494 (1,039 per day)

Video #4

Hahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk (100 seconds)
Uploaded: Nov 01, 2006 by BlackOleg (1,226 days ago)

Views: 110,214,033

89,897 / day   -   3,745 / hour   -   62 / minute

Comments: 384,534 (115 per day)
Favorites: 141,154 (313 per day)

Video #5

Skateboarding dog plays video game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdgO3cEYYTw (70 seconds)
Uploaded: Nov 18, 2009 by tillmanskateboarding (113 days ago)

Views: 1,321,897

11,698 / day   -   487 / hour   -   8 / minute

Comments: 4,813 (15 per day)
Favorites: 1,760 (42 per day)

Video #6

Very Funny Cats 64

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ajcsmYCTY (232 seconds)
Uploaded: Dec 04, 2009 by yourfriendy (97 days ago)

Views: 275,389

2,839 / day   -   118 / hour   -   1 / minute

Comments: 1,196 (4 per day)
Favorites: 409 (12 per day)

Video #7

The Sneezing Baby Panda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk (16 seconds)
Uploaded: Nov 06, 2006 by jimvwmoss (1,221 days ago)

Views: 54,723,987

44,818 / day   -   1,867 / hour   -   31 / minute

Comments: 317,665 (51 per day)
Favorites: 62,965 (260 per day)

Video #8

The Mean Kitty Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qit3ALTelOo (210 seconds)
Uploaded: Sep 05, 2007 by smpfilms (918 days ago)

Views: 32,030,050

34,891 / day   -   1,453 / hour   -   24 / minute

Comments: 335,980 (167 per day)
Favorites: 153,869 (365 per day)

Video #9

Chubby cuppy cake boy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysqh1uzqGrc (45 seconds)
Uploaded: Oct 17, 2008 by leogunawan (510 days ago)

Views: 15,752,947

30,888 / day   -   1,287 / hour   -   21 / minute

Comments: 109,485 (150 per day)
Favorites: 76,750 (214 per day)

Video #10

Funny Cats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTasT5h0LEg (166 seconds)
Uploaded: Dec 29, 2006 by kjpar7 (1,169 days ago)

Views: 32,606,643

27,892 / day   -   1,162 / hour   -   19 / minute

Comments: 110,659 (30 per day)
Favorites: 35,070 (94 per day)

Video #11

The two talking cats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3U0udLH974 (55 seconds)
Uploaded: Jun 28, 2007 by TheCatsPyjaaaamas (987 days ago)

Views: 26,446,784

26,795 / day   -   1,116 / hour   -   18 / minute

Comments: 167,918 (44 per day)
Favorites: 44,162 (170 per day)

Video #12

Twin Baby Boys Laughing at Each Other

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7mOzWQSnaQ (68 seconds)
Uploaded: Jun 30, 2007 by wildminer (986 days ago)

Views: 29,266,729

29,682 / day   -   1,236 / hour   -   20 / minute

Comments: 55,891 (11 per day)
Favorites: 11,610 (56 per day)

Video #13

Ninja cat comes closer while not moving!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muLIPWjks_M (74 seconds)
Uploaded: Sep 10, 2008 by BullehNL (547 days ago)

Views: 11,786,132

21,546 / day   -   897 / hour   -   14 / minute

Comments: 150,505 (52 per day)
Favorites: 28,680 (275 per day)

Video #14

Dramatic Look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40 (5 seconds)
Uploaded: Jun 06, 2007 by magnets99 (1,009 days ago)

Views: 19,965,238

19,787 / day   -   824 / hour   -   13 / minute

Comments: 123,956 (27 per day)
Favorites: 27,435 (122 per day)

Video #15

Cat VS Cop: Fight For Your Right! LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l7prksbcDo (112 seconds)
Uploaded: Nov 17, 2009 by DailyVsNews (114 days ago)

Views: 467,461

4,100 / day   -   170 / hour   -   2 / minute

Comments: 1,608 (9 per day)
Favorites: 1,070 (14 per day)

Video #16

Kitten Surprise!! ( how to break up a cat fight ) The Original

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLDbGqJ2KYk (38 seconds)
Uploaded: Aug 09, 2007 by Rizzzalie (946 days ago)

Views: 15,672,289

16,566 / day   -   690 / hour   -   11 / minute

Comments: 80,914 (33 per day)
Favorites: 32,039 (85 per day)

Video #17

"NORA: Practice Makes Purr-fect" - Check the sequel too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM (169 seconds)
Uploaded: Jan 28, 2007 by burnellyow (1,138 days ago)

Views: 16,953,102

14,897 / day   -   620 / hour   -   10 / minute

Comments: 74,542 (25 per day)
Favorites: 29,093 (65 per day)

Video #18

i are cute kitten

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZSbC09qgLI (98 seconds)
Uploaded: Jul 24, 2008 by nalts (595 days ago)

Views: 9,786,139

16,447 / day   -   685 / hour   -   11 / minute

Comments: 42,401 (49 per day)
Favorites: 29,155 (71 per day)

Video #19

Very Angry Cat - FUNNY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hPxGmTGarM (30 seconds)
Uploaded: Oct 06, 2006 by videowhip69 (1,252 days ago)

Views: 21,059,308

16,820 / day   -   700 / hour   -   11 / minute

Comments: 54,824 (39 per day)
Favorites: 49,892 (43 per day)

Video #20

Talking Cat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU2EtLHVoiI (33 seconds)
Uploaded: Mar 15, 2007 by sarakling76 (1,093 days ago)

Views: 12,932,698

11,832 / day   -   493 / hour   -   8 / minute

Comments: 61,406 (19 per day)
Favorites: 21,616 (56 per day)

Video #21

Husky Dog Talking - " I love you"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXo3NFqkaRM (48 seconds)
Uploaded: Feb 08, 2008 by gardea23 (763 days ago)

Views: 12,229,290

16,027 / day   -   667 / hour   -   11 / minute

Comments: 86,347 (30 per day)
Favorites: 22,979 (113 per day)

Video #22

Skateboarding Dog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQzUsTFqtW0 (88 seconds)
Uploaded: Jun 28, 2007 by rnickeymouse (987 days ago)

Views: 10,756,586

10,898 / day   -   454 / hour   -   7 / minute

Comments: 50,175 (15 per day)
Favorites: 15,215 (50 per day)

Video #23

My cat Tiggy talking / speaking saying hello

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV71mpbvl-g (26 seconds)
Uploaded: May 19, 2007 by youryouyou (1,027 days ago)

Views: 9,447,708

9,199 / day   -   383 / hour   -   6 / minute

Comments: 43,511 (19 per day)
Favorites: 19,534 (42 per day)

Video #24

Sweet Tired Cat [-.-]Zzz - S*Innekattens Persians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GWPOPSXGYI (27 seconds)
Uploaded: Oct 10, 2006 by VideoBooN (1,248 days ago)

Views: 9,906,173

7,937 / day   -   330 / hour   -   5 / minute

Comments: 53,357 (9 per day)
Favorites: 12,200 (42 per day)

Video #25

Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdfw9WxdKYg (92 seconds)
Uploaded: Dec 04, 2009 by thejacksonstoo (97 days ago)

Views: 64,918

669 / day   -   27 / hour   -   0 / minute

Comments: 399 (0 per day)
Favorites: 59 (4 per day)

Video #26

Kitty Cat Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpA2tMrQ4RU (89 seconds)
Uploaded: Oct 13, 2005 by nujerzeydevil (1,610 days ago)

Views: 7,962,018

4,945 / day   -   206 / hour   -   3 / minute

Comments: 62,981 (11 per day)
Favorites: 17,846 (39 per day)

Tagged as: API, cute, stats, viral, YouTube