What makes an app go viral?

A million dollar question isn’t it? Yet, the hit-rate of an aspiring viral app to an actual viral app may be less than 0.1%. So what makes an app go viral? Why and how do some apps make it and the rest just don’t. Why do we all feel like we belong when we talk about Angry Birds and that sense of belonging only makes us talk more about it and increase its virality. I mean, from my 2-year-old nephew to my 50-year-old mom are in love with Angry Birds. Why such crazy passion towards some strange birds and pigs?

I could find a few common points between a few viral apps and this blog is to list them out. If you can think of more, please share them by commenting on this blog. The main ones being:

• Easy to Learn – These apps are easy enough for anyone to play and clever enough to make sure you feel at least a small amount of intellectual stimulation. Look at ‘Draw Something’ for example. This app went viral with zero marketing. People just love playing Pictionary with strangers and their Facebook friends. It’s easy even for someone like me with two left hands (I suck at art) yet makes me feel good because people still manage to guess!
• Addictive – Can you put your iPad/iPhone down when you are using these apps? They keep you engrossed for a long time and they make you come back. Again and Again. There’s always a new goal, a new level, a new drawing, a  new something that makes you come back
• Unique – These apps have a novelty value attached to them. We have not really seen these things before. Rather, I have seen birds, I have seen angry and I have seen the sling shot but the lethal combination of the three, attacking the pigs. NEVER!!!

It’s easy to say, get the combination right in your app and who knows, it may be the next viral app. Maybe it is as easy as that. Yes, there sure would be a learning curve (Rovio created 50 other games before they thought of the Angry Birds) but getting these 3 elements in the app may help create the next addictive, unique and viral app!