Viral Marketing
An online marketing technique that involves creating awareness of a
product/service through the use of emails, social networking sites or
any other form of online networks. P.Tailor 29/04/09 www.learnmarketing.net
With any viral marketing campaign the objective of the firm can differ
from creating product or brand awareness to increasing market share.
With marketing budgets now squeezed because of the credit
crunch, viral marketing is seen as an effective way to promote a
firms products or services.
YouTube has been a popular way to start a viral marketing campaign.
Susan Boyle of Britains Got Talent received over 100 million views and
has become an international star in approximately 8 weeks.
Dr Ralph F. Wilson of Marketing Today suggested that there are six
simple principles to viral marketing.
1. Give away valuable products or services.
To grab attention something has to be given away for free!.
2. Provide effortless transfers to others.
The marketing message should be easy to transfer and spread, usually
by email. This is the whole point of viral marketing.
3. Scales very easily from small to large.
You have the resources available if the campaign moves from small to
large in a short period of time.
4. Exploits common motivation and behaviors.
A viral marketing campaign should exploit human desires. Facebook and
Twitter work on the fact that it is cool to have a Facebook or Twitter
account.
5. Utilizes existing communication networks.
Will your viral marketing campaign take advantage of social networks
that users have. Is the message easily spread able via social networking
sites?
6. Takes advantage of other resources.
Can others help your distribute your message. Can you piggy back of
someone else’s website to help you spread your message? Again
the use of YouTube or Twitter can be to help spread the word.
A more detailed coverage of this article can be found at http://www.wilsonweb.com/wmt5/viral-principles.htm
Viral marketing is one of the promotional
mix strategies a firm can use to help them increase their brand
presence within the market and a cost effective way which can result
in high popularity.