Clara Dao On Handling The Emotional Rollercoaster That Comes With Going Viral
As a TikTok and YouTube sensation, Clara Dao is no stranger to going viral.
However, while the self-love advocate is incredibly grateful for having been in that position, Clara shared exclusively with TheThings that going viral can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on our present mental states. We sat down with Clara to hear more about the emotional rollercoaster that comes with going viral, and how other content creators can better prepare themselves for what's to come.
Clara Recounts The First Time Her YouTube Content Went Viral
Nothing short of a self-love icon today, it should come as no surprise that Clara Dao's first viral video was centered on body positivity. "It was a video on being flat-chested," she explains. "At the time, no one else was really talking about that particular topic, so it became my niche."
Five months after being posted, Clara continues, the video "blew up."
"It got 1.9 million views virtually overnight, and in a week I gained over 40,000 subscribers."
Clara Explains Why Going Viral Negatively Impacted Her Mental Health
While Clara's YouTube channel experienced a ton of growth over a short period of time, the nature of virality made that growth short-lived, and unfortunately, "the next week, it was 'back to normal'."
"I was very grateful for the growth, obviously," Clara reflects, "but the suddenness of it all was really hard on my mental health."
"When the growth slowed, I thought I was doing something wrong."
Clara Shares How Other Content Creators Can Prepare Themselves For The Emotional Rollercoaster
It's so important, says Clara, to manage expectations. "Eventually, things do calm down [after going viral]", and that's something content creators need to be aware of, from the start.
Something else to be aware of, Clara goes on, is the importance of consistent posts. "Looking back, I realize how unprepared I was to go viral," Clara shrugs.
"More savvy content creators would have created content after gaining such a big following, but I didn't make another video until 6 months after that."
Pondering that her reluctance stemmed from wanting to create the 'right' content, Clara sighs that the pressure to create high-performing content too often overshadows the very reason most content creators get started in the first place: to have fun. "Never overlook the joy of putting out content," she urges. "It doesn't have to perform well!"
Clara Reveals That She Doesn't Regret Her Response To The Rollercoaster
Asked if she would do anything differently, now that she is more prepared, Clara responds, "I often reflect on this, and to be honest, I don't think I would change anything."
"There were several opportunities I may have missed, but I don't have any regrets."
That's hardly surprising, given she's subsequently gone viral on a number of occasions - plus, now that she's better equipped to deal with the rollercoaster, Clara can truly enjoy the moment, rather than agonize over views and likes.
Clara Pinpoints The Best Platform For Virality
While Clara stresses the importance of knowing what lies ahead when it comes to going viral, she's also passionate about seeing other content creators succeed, and if virality is the goal, she's happy to impart some pearls of wisdom.
"TikTok offers the best chances of going viral," she shares. "Content blows up there really fast."
As for Instagram, "that takes a bit longer." However, at the end of the day, Clara concludes, "if you can think about what makes you special, that will resonate with someone, on any platform."
Well, aspiring content creators, there you have it! Go forth, go viral, and go easy on yourself.
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