The internet is no longer just a source of information but it has reached a stage where it is being used as a powerful tool for marketing all kinds of products and services. With the number of people using the Internet every second, it is a great way to reach a cross section of audience in an engaging, informative and convincing manner. The term ‘viral marketing’ may sound bizarre to those who have never come across it. It may strike you as to how a term like ‘viral’ could be included into the marketing industry terminology. These days, viral marketing is widely touted as the new way to increase market penetration and build brand awareness in the Internet space. It is becoming an important tool for getting noticed online.
What is viral marketing?
The term ‘Viral Marketing’ was coined by Tim Draper, a Harvard Business School graduate. It has now become the new business buzz phrase for replicated promotion of products and services. Plus, it is a fairly new marketing method used by businesses of all sizes. It can include word-of-mouth, but mainly refers to using social networking sites to increase brand awareness or increase sales. Viral marketing first became well-known when it was used to describe a marketing campaign for the e-mail service Hotmail.com. Hotmail’s free email service spread like wildfire in the first few years because each message that went via Hotmail contained an offer for the recipient to receive a free email account with the service. Viral Marketing has proven to show better results in brand awareness, interaction, brand visibility, more traffic, and sales revenue.
How does viral marketing work?
Viral marketing can be done in many ways. It can be started by posting a blog which talks about some upcoming event. It can also be about some event posting on websites like Twitter, Facebook or MySpace. People will read it and then share it if they find the information valuable. Thus, each such blog that gets read and then shared becomes an important viral marketing tool for your business. Viral marketing depends on the message being passed along quickly and to many users. When the first message is sent, the more followers that pass along the message to their followers, the faster the message will begin to spread. The message should be interesting and memorable in order to be more likely to be passed along. Timing also plays a crucial element in delivering a message. Using the right combination of time, social network and message can make a single message go viral.
Types of viral marketing
E-mail: The e-mail is being widely being used across the globe. However, it is getting a little harder to use as more and more government restrictions are placed on it.
Newsletters: Newsletters is an extension of e-mail and is a very effective tool. If you include enough timely and valuable information, a good newsletter can increase the number of visits to the website.
Blogging: Bloggers have their ears to the ground for new services and products. Blogging helps to spread the word around for brands.
Chat rooms: can encourage communication among customers. Chat rooms can be used to schedule and organize special events like having an expert available to answer queries on a given day at a given time.
Edgy gossip or buzz marketing: This type of marketing technique is the most common in the entertainment world. Word-of-mouth advertising works well, especially for those in the movies.
Benefits of Viral Marketing
Gain more credibility
As it works on personal recommendations, in time you are known to a lot of people because of being recommended by their friends and network - your credibility is increased among audiences. Of course, there will also be a buzz about your products.
Enables businesses to remain buoyant
Viral Marketing enables businesses to remain positive within the competitive business world through a strategy which is not easy to integrate within a defined buyer-society, but also one that empowers the unattached onlooker with guidance, marketing tips and training.
Enables businesses to reach out to global audience
This marketing strategy enables businesses to reach out to a global audience, by effectively putting the Internet connectivity to play. The extensive use of Internet affiliate marketing, e-zines and interactive forums enables the entrepreneur to promote the business globally.
Word-of-mouth-concept
The word-of-mouth concept ripples on to peer-to-peer recommendation of the service or product. It also enables the business to generate revenue from local interest in the venture.
Now, it’s your turn to continue to take Internet marketing training and use viral marketing to work wonders for you. Follow the guidelines mentioned in the article and act now to reap the benefits that viral marketing will provide for you.
Artika Shah
