Mike Bender and Doug Chernack, two veterans of the entertainment industry, have succeeded where so many internet gurus have failed.  They went viral.  And they did so in a very unconventional way.

Read It And Weep

It took two days to set up a Facebook account.   They didn’t know how to create a blog.  Internet marketing. SEO.  What’s that? Yet the duo managed to attract 1 Million page impressions the first week live, and now, little over a year since their April 2009 launch, they have millions of hits a day and a new book published.  What’s more?  It’s downright hilarious!

The site is called Awkward Family Photos and, as the name suggests, features “painful, regrettable, and horrifyingly awesome snaps of family bonding.”  All photos are user contributed and the site boasts submissions from all around the world.

The photo that started it all

So how did they get started?  It all began with this picture of Mike, and soon lead to a blog documenting their families, dare I saw, awkward photos.  Worried simply about getting users to submit photos, a friend who worked at a radio station in Providence, Rhode Island, offered to post a link on their website.  Their site got picked up by other radio stations and spread like wild-fire.

As Mike and Doug were learning each step of the way, the site inevitably started crashing.  The design was less than perfect.  The functionality had bugs.  But Mike attributes this, in part, to their success.  They believe whole-heartedly in maintaining an ”awkward” presence, and the site’s layout being reminiscent of an old family album contributed greatly.  A take-away message here is to launch good, solid content, and worry about design aesthetics and functionality second.  Doug calls the site “patched together, almost sloppy,” but attributes this to the awkward nature they strive for.

So what does it take to make something go viral?  Mike and Doug have obviously done it once, and they are getting set to do it again.  With plans to launch a network of ”awkward” sites, these are the key requirements they deem as necessary in a new idea:

1. The idea/concept must be universal.  It must be something everyone can relate to.

2. It’s important to connect on a personal level.  You want the reader to think, “I’ve experienced that before,” or “I’ve done that.”

3. It should go without saying, but you want to make people laugh.  Is it a quick fix that can easily cheer up someone’s day?

4. Keep the content fresh.  Don’t let the site get stale.

So there you go.  If you want to make something go viral,  you have to connect with others.  You have to make them laugh.  But most of all, you must think outside the box.  Can  you do something fresh, new, and repeatedly iterate?  If so, follow their guidelines and you could be the next Awkward Family Photos!

The Book

Awkward Family Photos, as mentioned previously, has recently published a book.  With 192 pages of awkwardly funny photos, I can guarantee this will make you laugh.  For the last two weeks the book, self titled Awkward Family Photos, has made the New York Times’ bestseller list.  Chapters include “Mom and Dad”, “Birthdays”, “Graduation”, “Weddings”, and a dozen other entertaining situations.  Click here to see where to purchase this book.

Here are a few examples of what to expect in the book.  For more, visit AwkardFamilyPhotos.com!

Batter Up

It's XMAS: Deck the Halls

What Goes Up

Share on Facebook |     Share on Twitter