--- title: "Going Viral: Meetings Mean Business Joins BuzzFeed Community" id: "27448" type: "post" slug: "going-viral-meetings-mean-business-joins-buzzfeed-community" published_at: "2015-03-03T18:42:56+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T13:36:54+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/03/03/going-viral-meetings-mean-business-joins-buzzfeed-community/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/03/03/going-viral-meetings-mean-business-joins-buzzfeed-community.md" excerpt: "When it comes to creating viral content, one name stands out: BuzzFeed. Rather than try to mimic the social media site, the Meetings Mean Business campaign decided to go a different route. It joined BuzzFeed Community." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "content strategy" - "Marketing" - "Meetings" - "Mid-Level Professional" - "Social Media" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Going Viral: Meetings Mean Business Joins BuzzFeed Community What’s the saying? If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. > By writing our own posts, we are able to highlight the importance of the meetings and events industry in a fun, innovative way that connects to millennials and new business leaders. The folks behind the [Meetings Mean Business (opens in a new tab)](http://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/) campaign wanted capture the essence of the viral media site *Buzzfeed* and apply its strategy of creating super-shareable content to spread the MMB message. Rather than rely on pure chance or try to [latch onto another viral sensation](http://associationsnow.com/2014/03/science-behind-viral-association-video/) , MMB decided to jump on a new tool called [BuzzFeed Community (opens in a new tab)](http://www.buzzfeed.com/community/about) , which lets registered users and organizations post *BuzzFeed*-style “listicles” to the site’s Community page. From there, articles can be picked up by the site’s editors and promoted to the *BuzzFeed*homepage. MMB’s first Community post, “[5 Things Your Next Meeting Is Giving Back to You (opens in a new tab)](http://www.buzzfeed.com/meetingsmeanbusines/5-things-your-next-meeting-is-giving-back-to-you-1bdmn) ,” went live last week, and, like any great listicle, it was filled with plenty of entertaining GIFs. “By utilizing the *BuzzFeed* Community, Meetings Mean Business is able to reach a different readership than we have in the past—56 percent of *BuzzFeed*readers are between the ages of 18 and 34,” Nan Marchand Beauvois, senior director of national councils and general manager of the Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations, said in a statement to *Associations Now*. “By writing our own posts, we are able to highlight the importance of the meetings and events industry in a fun, innovative way that connects to millennials and new business leaders.” Could it work for your association? Getting involved in Community, Beauvois said, gives associations a unique way to engage with a younger audience that they might not normally connect with. The platform’s creators shared four tips on “[How to Go Viral (opens in a new tab)](http://www.buzzfeed.com/help/viral#q1) ” that everyone can learn from: - **Make it a listicle.**The internet loves lists. According to *BuzzFeed*, nine out of 10 lists will go viral. - **Use the internet to your advantage.**Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Reddit, Tumblr… The list of popular social media sites keeps getting longer. Get involved in all of them, and build a presence. - **Appeal to readers’ vanity.**Internet users love talking about themselves, which is why *Buzzfeed*’s ubiquitous quizzes are so popular. After taking a quiz, users often share their results on social platforms, and then their friends and followers will see it and do the same. - **Stay relevant.** Be topical, and make a comment on something current. A viral post contains several key components: an engaging, current headline; an eye-catching thumbnail photo; a detailed, yet succinct description; and a little bit of humor. Has your association tried to reach a different audience with a tool like *BuzzFeed*Community? Share your experience—or any other tips you have on going viral—in the comments. (Buzzfeed) [Rob Stott](https://associationsnow.com/author/rob-stott/) Rob Stott is a contributing editor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rob-stott/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#content strategy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/content-strategy/) [#Marketing](https://associationsnow.com/tag/marketing/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/) [#Social Media](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-media/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoThe Adaptive Leader: Integrating Values and Strategy to Thrive Under New LeadershipDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/the-adaptive-leader-integrating-values-and-strategy-to-thrive-under-new-leadership/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [PodcastThe Next Chapter What’s Ahead for Future-Ready AssociationsSeptember 25, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/25/the-next-chapter-whats-ahead-for-future-ready-associations/) - [VideoAssociation Leadership and Strategy Alignment with Tim HopkinsFebruary 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/02/12/association-leadership-and-strategy-alignment-with-tim-hopkins/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2015%2F03%2F03%2Fgoing-viral-meetings-mean-business-joins-buzzfeed-community%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !