8 Ways to Make Your Mural Go Viral
Pandr Design Co., “Smile, You’re in San Diego” mural which was painted for a Visit San Diego campaign.
Murals are a powerful form of art that can bring a community together and promote an important message. With the rise of Instagram and Pinterest (amongst other platforms) murals have the potential to reach a much wider audience than ever before. In this blog post, we will explore some strategies for making a mural go viral and converting those views to potential customers!
1. Choose a powerful message
The first step in making a mural go viral on social media is to choose a powerful message. It's important to choose a message that resonates with a large audience. The message should be clear and easy to understand, and it should be something that people can relate to on a personal level. We’ve found success with murals that include the words “you” and “we” as they are inclusive of the viewer. It shouldn’t feel like an advertisement, but a gift to the community.
2. Choose a prime location
The location of your mural is also critical for making it go viral on social media. The mural should be in a highly visible location, such as a busy street or a public walkway. It should be easily accessible to people, so that they can take pictures with the artwork and share them on social media. A prime location can also help to generate buzz around the mural, as people are more likely to talk about it if they see it in a high-traffic area. If you don’t have access to a prime location, freestanding murals are always an option. Feel free to check out some examples here.
3. Use bold and bright colors
Using bold and bright colors can help to make your mural go viral on social media. Bright colors are eye-catching and they can make your mural stand out from other buildings in the area. How much brown and grey are you used to seeing in your city? A colorful mural will surely stand apart. Bold colors can also help to convey the message of the mural, as they can create a strong emotional response in viewers.
4. Incorporate a hashtag
Social media is all about hashtags, and incorporating a hashtag into your mural can help to make it go viral. The hashtag should be short and memorable, and it should be something that people can easily remember and use when they share pictures of the mural on Instagram. You can use the hashtag in the design of the mural, or you can include it in a plaque or sign next to the mural. Our preference is usually to place it in the bottom left or right hand corner so it doesn’t interfere too much with the actual artwork. People are usually pretty good about tagging the business and utilizing hashtags.
5. Make it interactive
Interactive murals don’t necessarily mean angel wings. It can be as simple as leaving negative space in the design for people to stand. You could also place a bench or swing in front of the mural. Check out this one we did for the Atlanta Braves. The goal is to encourage people to share pictures of the mural on social media, so keep it light and fun.
6. Partner with influencers
Partnering with influencers is another great way to make your mural go viral on social media. If it’s a good fit, influencers can help to promote your mural to their followers. A lot of influencers are usually looking for new photoshoot spots, so you can let them know that your mural would make for a good backdrop. #everythingiscontent! There are also vloggers/influencers who focus on featuring public art and new things in their cities.
7. Host an event
Hosting an event around the install of your mural can also help to make it go viral. You can host an opening ceremony for the mural, or you can organize a block party or street fair to celebrate the artwork. Events can help to generate buzz around the mural and encourage people to share pictures of the event on social media. Typically people get excited about new public art and want to support the unveiling. Local media may even want to cover the event and artwork reveal.
8. Share behind-the-scenes content
Lastly, sharing behind-the-scenes content can help to give people a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the mural. A lot goes into mural painting! You can share pictures or videos of the artist working on the mural, or you can share interviews with the artists or community members who helped to make the mural possible. Behind-the-scenes content can help to create a sense of excitement and anticipation for the finished artwork. Time-lapse videos are a really great way to show the process and are super easy to film on a phone. Check out a few of ours here.
With the above thoughtful intentions you should be well on your way to creating buzz around your new mural. Once people seek out your mural for photoshoots, it will become a destination, and if you’re a brick and mortar hopefully they’ll end up spending money in your shop. Murals are a wonderful way to convert customers! Plus, who doesn’t love making the world a brighter place?