Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Louise Benjamin / In 2013, creating a 57-second video can lead to more than $150,000 in profit for the creator and the creator can be anyone. This money-making opportunity comes from a recent popular trend known as a “viral video,” defined as a phenomenon of a video becoming highly popular through rapid, user-led distribution via the internet. However, research has not determined a clear model for creating a non-professional viral video. Interviews and YouTube analytics revealed how the video “I’m Farming and I Grow It,” a non-professional video created by three Kansas boys, was spread. Using the theories Uses and Gratifications and Two-Step Flow, this case study then analyzed the comments posted on the viral video and a content analysis of the comments identified the key factors mentioned by users, which contributed to the videos’ millions of views. The results conclude the key components for making a non-professional video go viral are “opinion leaders” spreading the message and video content that elicits positive feelings such as joy, humor, or praise. This study also provides a model to help a non-professional video go viral based on previous research and this case study.

Diploma thesis deals with dynamically developing medium -- Internet and focuses on its marketing usage. At first the thesis describes development of the Internet worldwide, in Czech republic and analyzes czech Internet users. Then follows description advantages and disadvantages of the Internet as a marketing tool and media analyses. The thesis also describes various kinds of Internet marketing tools as viral marketing, buzz marketing, social networks and others. In section buzz marketing is focus on insight into real work in media communication agency . The gained information are used as a theoretical background in practical part where is carried out secondary and primary research regarding impact and characteristics of viral videos. The final outcome is summary of key findings and set of recommendations for designing successful viral video based on previous analyses.