This morning at SXSW I attended the session "How to Create A Viral Video". The panelists were Jonathan Wells, Margaret Gould Stewart and Jason Wishnow. If you don't recognize the names, you're likely familiar with TED, YouTube - and one band's very viral video http://ow.ly/1jkhe

2 things about viral video.

1. Viral video is sometimes the result of pure luck or accident. Right place, right time, iPhone, Flip camera or Blackberry in hand. Think of the Con Edison footage of the 'miracle on the Hudson' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUwBJY8IoiU

2. Viral video is also the result of (drum roll please!) - great content. Yes, great content. TED Talks is great content. Great content is either created or curated - good news for those of us who question whether there are any original ideas left.

Here's the key: once you create or curate or stumble upon great content, let it loose! To spread a good idea (or video) you can't keep it exclusive.