Why Upworthy is the Fastest Growing Media Site in History, And Rightfully So
The viral-video website, Upworthy, has been the topic of conversation in today’s social media-driven society. So, what is all the buzz about? Upworthy offers anything from inspirational videos to thought-provoking political fares to get you thinking about what really matters in life.
Haven’t heard of it? Well, here’s a little insight to fill you in:
“Things that matter. Pass ‘em on.”
Two sentences. Six words. One successful mission.
The purpose of Upworthy is not to generate traffic to their site, but to generate traffic on social media. Each week, Upworthy browses the Internet for videos highlighting important issues, revamps them, and voilà – a million hits.
Trending just about everywhere
A better question: how haven’t you heard of it? In June, Fast Company reported that almost two years after its June 2012 launch, its up to 22 million monthly viewers. It’s trending on Tumblr, Twitter, and predominantly Facebook.
Its secret is in the “curiosity gap.” The idea is to post a headline long enough to tell the story, but not enough to give it all away. As an example, here’s a video posted recently to market the dangers of speeding:
They thought they were hanging out with friends, but ended up attending their own funeral
It’s good, eh? You can appreciate it even if you don’t speak French.
Upworthy vs. Buzzfeed: Who does it better?
Its largest competitor, by far, is Buzzfeed – the other largescale social news and entertainment website. Buzzfeed’s endless stream of quizzes and clever GIFs can be seen constantly circulating through social media. Although highly entertaining, after the millionth “Which character are you?” quiz, you’ll welcome the counterweight offered by Upworthy.
Food for thought
What’s my point, exactly? Choose to focus on the good, relevant and meaningful. At best, I hope the site will brighten your day. At worst, you’ve gained a few topics of conversation.
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