Web Content Is Like Quidditch: The Golden Snitch

Part 3 of my blog series on how Web content is like Quidditch is about to get underway. If you missed an installment:

Part 1: An explanation of Quidditch and discussion of Bludgers/Obstacles

Part 2: Content chasers (creators) and keepers (curators)

Now, we’re going to talk about the most important of the balls used in Quidditch – the golden snitch. The golden snitch is described as “wicked fast, and nearly impossible to see.” This ball has wings, and flits away to avoid capture. The seeker is the player that has the job of catching the golden snitch. Catch the snitch, and you score 150 points for your team, and the game is over.

In the world of Web content, the golden snitch is that piece of content that so resonates with users that they share that content out with their friends. That is the piece of content marketed not by you, but by your audience – it’s gone viral! That’s the golden snitch of content – the “hallelujah moment.” Create that piece of content, and you’re winning the content game. It’s tricky though. Just like the golden snitch, there’s no magic formula for “catching” viral content. You can’t wave your magic wand and say “viral!” and expect people to share your content. There are some common themes that run through past content pieces that went viral. It has a visual element (video and infographics work well.) There’s some strong emotional connection – either it makes you laugh out loud, or it tugs at your heartstrings. It’s relevant – it’s what people are already talking about. (I talked about this as a defining element of good content.)

Have you caught the golden snitch of content? What did it look like? What would be the characteristics of content that would make YOU share it? What kind of content stories could Mozilla tell that would have the potential to be shared?

One more Quidditch post to come!