Viral Marketing

What is Viral Marketing?

"Viral marketing is word of mouth marketing on the web. In other words it is the "e" term for word of mouth marketing."

Viral marketing was born in 1996. Viral marketing messages receive 5 ?15% click through rate. 57% say word of mouth or viral marketing is their main source of information about new websites.

The Classic Example?

The classic example of viral marketing is Hotmail.com, one of the first free Web-based e-mail services. E-mails sent using this service contain an advertisement for Hotmail at the bottom of the message.

Power of Viral Marketing?

This medium could be used to spread the word about your business among the target audience. The essence of it is that you empower visitors to your website to tell other people about your company and your site. You provide something that encourages people to spread the word, and momentum builds. What's great about viral marketing is that it is low effort and low expense.

Viral marketing is more powerful than third-party advertising and you can expect a good conversion rate because it conveys an implied endorsement from a friend. People who visit your website as a result of viral marketing will have good impression about your company or the product because someone has recommended it to them.

Forms of Viral marketing?

We can identify two most common forms of viral marketing as service and incentive based models.

Service Based

In the service based model consumer has to spread the information about the company or the product to his / her friends in order to get the service.

Netscape Instant messaging is an excellent example of a service-based model. Also some search engines and directories use this model to list websites. Some companies use this model to provide access white papers.

Incentive Based

Incentive-based models provide consumers cash, credit, or other rewards for spreading company information to friends. This model is encouraging people to spread the message actively because of the incentives. Incentive based viral marketing campaigns will cost more than the service-based campaigns.

Viral Marketing methods and techniques?

Viral Marketing works best in combination with e-Mail marketing, since e-Mail marketing provides Viral Marketing with a great communication medium. You can use e-mail to spread the message. This could be done by sending e-mail messages to individuals or by joining e-mail discussion groups. Most of the service based viral marketing campaigns are using e-mail as the main technique.

Another medium to carry out your viral marketing campaign is through message boards and discussion forums. It is important to identify message boards and discussion forums relevant to your industry, product or service. By participating in these message boards and discussion forums you can create awareness of your company among the target audience.

Writing articles is one of the powerful ways to spread your message. All you need to do is allow people to republish it for free, as long as they include a paragraph at the end of the article containing details of your company. This method is widely used by companies providing professional services like search engine marketing and web advertising.

Freebies, Giving something away for free is another powerful marketing method available. Giving away a free something like e-book, mouse pad will encourage people to spread your message.

About The Author

Rajitha Dahanayake is the Senior eMarketing Analyst of a company engages in providing eMarketing and e-Business solutions. He has over 3 years experience in Internet Marketing. He is a Member of The Chartered Institute of Marketing UK and a professional member of eMarketing Association (eMA) as well as International Internet Marketing Association (IIMA). Rajitha is a Certified eMarketer from eMA and holds the Certified Internet Marketing and Business Strategist (CIMBS) designation from IIMA.

rajitha1978@hotmail.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Flat Tires, Slow Leaks, and Online Marketing

Does your online marketing campaign have a flat tire? Or... Read More

Are You Limiting Your Income?

When first starting out in internet marketing, I was afraid... Read More

How To Master Internet Marketing

What is the secret of being the best at Internet... Read More

3 Simple Ways to Harness the Concept of the Free Offer for Internet Marketing

One of the reason why the concept of free stuff... Read More

Drive Tons Of Traffic To Your Web Site

If you've got a web site then one of your... Read More

Attitude - The Marketers Most Important Trait

Attitude is a key part of each of us. A... Read More

7 Simple Steps To Web Wealth

A lot of people and companies have websites. They also... Read More

20 Amazing Ways To Jump Start Your Sales

1. Find a strategic business partner. Look for ones that... Read More

Dollars In The Details!

When it comes to your marketing message, the little things... Read More

Sending A Joint Venture Proposal

When forming a joint venture with another business, your most... Read More

Physical and Mental Fitness for Internet Marketers

As you may have already read in our article "Health... Read More

The Power Of Cross Promoting

Cross promotion is, without doubt, a powerful technique used by... Read More

Niche Marketing: Tactics to Use To Make Money With Niche Marketing

Niche marketing has always been a key any success in... Read More

10 Search Tips for Internet Marketers

From kids to the old, everybody searches and search engines... Read More

Internet And Network Marketing

How do you start a business on the net? Well,... Read More

Internet Marketing - A Leap Of Faith

Do you remember as a child having to do something... Read More

How To Get Qualified Visitors to Your Site

Having an eBusiness isn't just about getting gobs of people... Read More

8 Excellent Ways to Sell Your Back-end Products More Successfully!

A back-end product is a product that you attempt to... Read More

How I Submitted My Internet Marketing Articles To Only 20 Sites But Shortly 16,000 Sites Posted Them

There is no internet marketing chore that I enjoy more... Read More

Profiting From Your Online Business

Creating a lucrative online business is not an easy task.... Read More

Internet Marketing and Public Speaking: The Murder Board Practice

I recently posted an article titled "Internet Marketing and Public... Read More

The Internet Marketing Pie: Slice It Up Right or Lose

The number one concern for Internet sales is your marketing... Read More

The ABCs of Online Customer Support

Want to provide great online customer support? Want to provide... Read More

7 Tips to Help Internet Marketers

To make a living online is the dream of many... Read More

Heres A Quick and Simple Way To Find Hot Niche Markets

"Here's A Quick and Simple Way To Find Hot... Read More

How To Increase Your Online Sales Anytime

Hold a discount sale on your web site. Use the... Read More

You Know Youre Too Ethical When...

Yeah, TOO ethical!? Lately, with some of the issues I've... Read More

What a Billionaire Balloonist Taught Me About Internet Marketing

Billionaire Richard Branson, the entrepreneur behind the Virgin brand, is... Read More

Top 3 Online Business Success Needs

1) Web SiteThis is for sure the most important part... Read More

The Deadly Sin Of Inaction

"There is difference between knowing the path and walking the... Read More

The New Marketing Landscape

Many of us in the marketing services and/or agency business... Read More

Things I Learned from Corey Rudl

On Wednesday, the first day of June, I received the... Read More

All Along the Digital Watchtower

It's no secret interactive (web-based) marketing has arrived. The IDC... Read More