This Southwest flight attendant, Zach Haumesser, gives the passengers on this flight into Chicago the final instructions as the plane is approaching the gate. Except, he does it in the voices of nearly a dozen Looney Tune characters.
Why did this video go viral?
Here are eight reasons that caused this and similar videos to go viral. You can apply these same principles to go viral too:
1. Novelty - Most airline announcements follow the standard approved language with a rehearsed tone of voice. Zach used his skills to be different within the requirements of his job.
2. Timing - It was done at the end of the flight which makes it easy for people to upload and share before they leave the plane or when they're between flights. Research shows that the beginning and end of an event are more memorable than the middle.
3. Dominance - Think about it. As a passenger, you're strapped into your seat. You cannot move under threat of breaking the law. You're not in control of the massive vehicle that you are being transported in and you cannot see much outside the plane. Others are literally in control of your life. Then, suddenly, you are given a gift that you can share with your seat mates, family or friends. You are again put in control of your mind and emotions. The energy of the moment shifts. You want to share this experience that gave you control again.
4. Social capital - Most of us are trying to find ways to build new or long-term relationships. One of the most common ways to do this is by sharing useful information or something that others will find meaningful so that people see us as valuable. And, humor is both useful and meaningful.
5. Escapism - We want to escape the normality of our lives. So, when someone transports us to another dimension with the use of their skills, we enjoy the journey and deeply appreciate the time away. This is why movies, sports, books and magazines are multi-billion dollar industries. Customer experiences can provide that form of escapism. When you watched the video above, you likely escaped from whatever moment were in.6. Inspiration - Zach is an inspiration on many levels. He is going out of his way to evoke humor and happiness in his guests. He is also freely going above and beyond in his role and using skills not required to just do his job. He has obviously practiced and developed his talent to be able to use so many different character voices for such a long monologue.
7. Positivity - Last but not least, positivity is shared more frequently than negativity. But, it is not good enough to just be positive. The viewer needs to experience the sense of dominance if they are to share it with others.
Do you need all of these reasons to go viral? Probably not. But, you do need the right combination of several of them.
What's the 8th Reason Southwest Flight Attendant Videos Go Viral?
It's not the first time a Southwest flight attendant has done something that went viral across the internet. Below are two other famous clips.
This flight attendant tells jokes the whole time she is providing instructions before takeoff. She acknowledges many things most of us think during flights: "It's been a long day," or "Airline service sucks," or "There's no room in these seats."
Acknowledging all of these things in a humorous way diffuses the situation and changes the perspective most people have. It creates another reason that videos like this go viral.
8. Shared experiences - When we share an experience with people, we build a connection and begin to develop trust. We feel a bond because oxytocin is released and it creates that feeling that we crave: being connected with another person.
Just for fun, these two flight attendants tell jokes as they prepare for take off. They have worked together long enough to coordinate their efforts. You can see that they tell a few of the same jokes as the flight attendant in the previous video because Southwest flight attendants let each other know what works to entertain guests. Then, at 6:42, they go on to trigger a sense of patriotism. This drives powerful emotional reaction that many people deeply appreciate. Be sure to watch each passenger thanking the flight attendants as they leave.The shared experience these flight attendants evoked continue to create tremendous value for Southwest.
1. Viral exposure to prospective customers
2. Memories that influence future purchase decisions
3. Reputation enhancement that attracts more like-minded employees so the cycle continues and the reach expands
These elements require the creation and promotion of an environment that promotes the development of individual talents, the expression of unique skills and the celebration of the best in each other.
Other posts you may enjoy:
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BOOK: The Complete Experience: Unlocking the secrets of online reviews that drive customer loyalty
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Tony Bodoh is a two-time, #1 best-selling author and the founder or co-founder of five companies ranging from customer experience consulting to small business training to television. He easily navigates the international stage speaking at both personal growth seminars as well as the uber-nerdy technology conferences.