Viral Marketing

[bob477]

Hey,
Lately I've been hearing a lot of news about viral marketing. What is it about? has it got something to do with word of mouth marketing? What is so "Viral" about it ? But seriously, can it help my online business in any way?

[sdouglas]

Yes, you got part of it right. Viral marketing is kind of a word of mouth thing but for the digital age. It is termed viral because of its self replicating nature. Basically you create a ‘buzz’ about your product so that it becomes more talked about. Crude versions of viral marketing include gossip or urban legends or rumors etc. Online, you have to create product awareness in relevant social networking sites and voluntarily make them pass the word along.

It has shown some good results in the past but whether it will help your business or not will depend on how you use it.

[oneseer]

Hello people! I guess all of you have been busy in deep slumber for the past 3 months or so…What happened mates??? No participation!!! I do not see Viral Marketing being even described properly on this forum leave aside comments being posted!!! Now for all those who are not even aware about the V of viral marketing, let me tell you guys that this is something which can become a killer if used in the right way… This aint a Trojan, but is referred to a marketing tactic which makes use of social networking websites to spread awareness about a brand or a particular idea amongst the masses so that people purchase it.

So now we all know what the target is…don’t we??? This is used to increase the marketing and sales and is basically a productive form of a virus. Once the first step is taken, then it keeps on replicating and spreads like wild fire…just like the virus that quickly spreads throughout the computer. It is one of the cheapest ways these days to spread alertness about something and also perhaps the most effective…You can score with people if you have a highly creative and smart strategy which will help you sell your product! Everyone makes use of viral marketing these days. It has become a sort of a lifeline for all those who wish to popularize their product within a span of days!!! Without viral marketing, there would be no existence of the word marketing…I hope you all understand what I am trying to say!!!

[michaelw]

Yeah…All of us who visit these forums are not idiots that we would not understand what you are trying to explain!!! And just in case you are not ‘aware’ about VM, I can tell you that this marketing can be done in the form of interactive flash games and advergames, video clips, software that can be promoted as a brand, ebooks, images and also text messages. There is an old saying in the business that people who come across a particular brand promote the product with 3 other people if they like it and 30 people if they do not like it…

So all the baloneys, if you get the idea of the creative strategy wrong with your product promotion, then it is time o shut shop and do other things. It depends all on the mouth… The product needs to be so good that the person who sees the promotion just cannot stop raving about it! This way, all those people who come to know about the product through the concerned person’s mouth get excited and try to check out the product… The more the excitement is, the better. If they like it and buy it, they tend to tell their friends and so on and so forth. So it is like this that the whole things acts like a wildfire and spreads fast. So if you have the confidence on your creativity, then just go ahead and make full use of this to get the maximum results! Do it…do not think too much.

[tim.brooks]

Don’t think too much????.......I think the opposite applies in this case! A lot of thinking needs to be done if you want to make any profit out of using viral marketing. Guaranteed, it’s a tough act to follow, but once you get it right, you see results really fast. Getting people to show some interest in your product is good enough but to actually have other people endorsing your product or website to their friends and other users is phenomenal! I think somebody on this forum has already made this point so I’m just going to repeat it – the point is that your promotion has to be so good, and so effectual that people have no option but to sing its praises. And people tend to do that when they find something of value on the Internet, since good products and websites have become so rare. I mean, trying to find a decent website is like panning for gold in the sea, there’s like millions of pages, and each one offering more nonsense than the last. So…if you want viral marketing to work for you then first of all, make sure there’s no cosh about your website and that its genuine. People don’t like fakes; and they don’t tolerate them either.


The thing that really gets to me about viral marketing is the sheer potential; I mean think about it….the possibilities are endless. There are some really good examples of viral marketing that have worked with great results. There was the Burger King subservient chicken ad….and ….umm…the BMW films ad…you remember that one? It made a huge star out of Clive Owen. I mean, nobody even knew him before that ad, and as soon as that ad was out everybody was talking about him.


Well I’m not saying that you should do something like the examples I mentioned, I mean you don’t have that kind of budget I know. Or you wouldn’t be here. But the basic premise for any kind of marketing is that it should be a striking idea. That’s all that matters. Try to find a way to bring your USP into the limelight by using something simple and straightforward. Don’t try to overcomplicate things by trying to say too much too soon. Keep your message simple and direct and try to address it to a certain person. The kind of person you think will be affected by it. Don’t target the whole world with your ad, instead keep it small and personal. That’s the only way you’ll get any sort of response.


Whew…..I really took on Yoda’s job today. Hope all that I said helps you. let us know if it works.

[david.cowen]

Though I must admit the word "Viral Marketing" sounds very distasteful, yet it is called so for a reason. And a rather good one! The term virus is fraught with trouble and is a much hated word in the net world, yet the web is talking about Viral Marketing like never before.

Viral marketing in simple words is any marketing strategy that encourages persons to pass on a marketing message to others, creating a chain or a pyramid of growth in exposure of the marketing message, similar to a virus…it just spreads; uncalled for and so very hastily. Before you know, just like a virus it has spread far beyond your reach and that too at other’s expense, without spending a dime! I just love this virus.

They are called viruses because they have the power to rapidly multiply and spread to thousands and millions of net users.

In normal marketing parlance viral marketing is also called ‘word-of-mouth’ publicity…it is quite akin to that. Just the term ‘viral marketing is being used to create a buzz, that’s all folks!!
The word "viral marketing" has clicked like never before.

The strategy is simple. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to get this one…please.

Step 1- Give away free products or services. The watch word is ‘Free’. Well, we all love things that come free, don’t we??

Viral marketing programs give away precious products or services, FREE, to attract attention. Although cheap and inexpensive to touch a chord, yet free is what attracts maximum interest, so "free" works much faster.

Step2- Hold on for a while. Practice delayed gratification. Patience, dear pals always pays!
Free attracts eyeballs. This in turn brings valuable e-mail addresses and advertising revenue along with sales opportunities. Give away something but not immediately. Ask for registration and et all.

Step3- Give easy transfers to others like simple tips, useful information and ensure that your medium is easy to send and copy. Whatever be the medium, e-mail, website, graphic, software download or whatever.

Viral marketing works best only on the Internet because it is so easy and inexpensive (clichéd but true!) and of course so very quick in spreading and rapid in disseminating your marketing message.

Digital format of your advertisement makes copying and pasting so simple. From a marketer’s viewpoint it just couldn’t get any better!

The whole idea is to spread your message, like a “virus” as fast as possible without degradation. Remember, the shorter the message the better it is.

The classic is example of viral marketing being: "Get your own private, free email at …...com." This message is short and sweet and very compelling, easily copied and accessible instantly.

Viral marketing messages spread like forest-fire and are added very quickly in e-mail and blogs etc. Savvy viral marketing experts take advantage of the common human desire to get things “free” or “at the least cost” or “cheapest”. So use these words to spread the word around.