Creativity. It’s the one virtue every site must possess to lead the race in the ruthless competition of Internet based businesses. With so much competition and rivalry going on, every method of marketing must be employed and utilized. Not use creative viral marketing and you could easily flush your business!
It doesn’t matter if you have a killer product or a fantastically designed website to show it off. If people don’t know that you exist none of that matters. You are not going to make it big. Worse of all, your business could die a quick death.
While there are so many methods and schemes used by e-commerce sites today, there are still some necessary basics that can help you with a boost in the popularity ratings. One of these is the so called “Viral Marketing.”
What exactly is Viral Marketing?
While the term Viral easily depicts a virus, a word very much dreaded by all computer owners, it is not what we mean here. In this article we’re referring to “going viral” and thus growing your business organically.
Viral Marketing overview.
Simply described, Viral Marketing, also known otherwise as Viral Advertising is a marketing technique used to build the public awareness of one’s product or company.
Marketers and marketing firms use many forms of media to reach out to the public without actually promoting the product. They are raising awareness of a product or service by appealing to someone’s intellect, emotions, base desires or even humor.
They are providing answers to a large group’s perceived problems and troubles. The consumer then views the commercial or the answer provided as “their” answer to “their” problems.
When the Infinity brand automobiles were first introduced the commercials didn’t say they were about a car at all, in any form. The first few months were about supreme pleasure, lofty ideals and pure luxury.
The audience was intrigued, the cars were introduced, and the imagery was immediately attached to the car then in the consumer’s minds. Viral. Memorable. Creative.
How it works.
By riding in on other forms of “addictive” advertising, it means you are trying to get a person hooked on the idea or concept of the product. Not necessarily the product, but the big, unique idea.
Think back to the world famous Super Bowl ad with the three bullfrogs “Er-ping” out the name of a beer brand. “Bud,” “wise,” “errrr.” I can still see the bullfrogs in my mind like it happened yesterday.
This viral, addictive, genius idea was designed to be more memorable than the product. Why? Because you hear it and and then feel obliged and amused to actually pass it on, with the actual product advertisement silently going along with it.
In a nutshell, companies ride big on the idea that if people like the content of a commercial or advertisement, they will pass it on to their friends and family. Word of mouth, however generated, is still the strongest advertising out there.
The immediate suggested endorsement gives your product and brand credibility beyond belief.
Media companies and in house media agencies of large brands sponsor certain ads and media, such as a cool flash game, funny videos, and amusing stories.
All which the company has created with the hope that one person may pass it on to another. Along with the company brand or logo, or the products description or pricing, or any other content that will help promote the company or its product.
Make it memorable, make it shareable. There’s an old adage in the corporate world – even bad publicity is good publicity. Long after the fickle consumer forgets about the problem associated with the brand, they will still remember the brand.
Viral marketing has become a popular means of advertising and marketing because of it’s relatively low cost. Sharing amongst consumers costs the company nothing.
Viral marketing simply counts on the eagerness of one person to pass on to another person the message, or the product. It counts on and utilizes a persons ego and the need to look good as they share what the latest cool thing is.
Using Viral Marketing to your advantage.
The main advantage of viral marketing, first and foremost is that if done right, you can easily get a lot of publicity and public awareness about a site and a company. You can just as easily get this about your site, your product and your company.
It’s not about the product, size of the company, or even you. It’s about the message. The very message you want to go viral.
This message in turn peaks the curiosity of a consumer about a product, makes the consumer feel good about the product, and builds trust with the consumer. “They have to be a good company, they made me belly laugh!”
You get to generate a flow of traffic that are really potential customers. The product, the company, and you are all held in a favorable light.
So when the decision comes around to purchase a product or service like yours, you come to mind first. Because consumers buy from someone they know, like and trust. It’s that simple.
With a little ingenuity and imagination, plus some incentives or prizes, and of course a little fun, you can reach out to a great number of people and claim your existence in the marketplace. And if done well, this can happen overnight.
There’s a lot of jingle to be made if you and your product are positioned as a “household name.”
Unlike other programs and methods in promoting your site, like Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and such, viral marketing can easily push you miles ahead in the rating games.
You get people to know about you and your company. You get them to pass your advertisement along by word of mouth.
All it takes is one great idea, a good and addicting game or contest, a funny story or two and you’re on the map.
Create a little gossip or buzz. Get folks talking about your advertising. Be memorable in a classy way. Give folks a reason to talk about you and your product around the dinner table, or at a party or work.
Let viral marketing work wonders for you. Act now and soon you’ll reap the benefits Viral Marketing will provide for you and your sales figures.
If you would like more professional ideas and training on building a 7 figure business in digital education and sales check out John Thornhill’s Trillion Dollar Opportunity webinar. The webinar is free and packed full of valuable information. Find out more here.
