It’s been almost eight years since the world witnessed Sarah Churman hearing herself for the first time. The video capturing this emotional moment has been viewed nearly 28 million times—truly a viral video! Churman was the recipient of an Esteem hearing implant, which replaced three tiny ears bones and relays sound vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea. Even if you saw this video back in 2011, it’s worth watching again.
The Impact of Emotional Video
Did Sarah Churman’s video have a lasting impact? Yes! Videos that connect with viewers emotionally have staying power. Not only does the video continue to get views, but the popularity of Churman’s video also affected her personally. When she received her second ear activation, a number of cameras and a news crew were in attendance. Churman even went on to write about her experience in Powered On. She even started her own blog that included corporate ads. Not surprisingly, hearing aid company Invisiblehearingaid.com jumped at the chance to advertise their products on Churman’s blog. The reach of Sarah Churman’s video continued to extend.
Sarah Churman Promotional Force
What about the Esteem hearing implant? Did this affect their reputation? It sure did! Both Esteem and the supplier Envoy Medical got a huge publicity boost when Churman’s video went viral. All of a sudden, implanted hearing aids and cochlear implants were something the public knew about. In this instance, video is used to explain the Esteem and how it works.
More Videos Like Sarah Churman’s
In the wake of Sarah Churman’s life-changing experience came an entire wave of videos that let the viewer share the experience of people hearing for the first time. Especially popular are the videos of babies and their parents. Once again, the emotion captured and conveyed by video is inspiring people to watch, like, and share.
Viral Videos are Emotional
One of the common elements in viral videos is emotion. Sarah Churman’s video had a ripple effect that impacted more than just Churman. It brought a new awareness to the hearing impaired and a new focus on hearing health. The video acted as a promotional tool for the Esteem implant and Envoy Medical. All of this led to a surge in similar videos being shared. That’s the power of video. If you’re interested in learning more about how to use emotion in a video that promotes your product or service, call us today for a free quote.
This post has been updated since originally published in 2011.
