A Virus is Worth a Thousand Words
It's that time of year and the flu season is back once again, reminding us who is in charge. Go to any office and you're bound to find someone coughing and sneezing. Contagious to everyone around them... eventually spreading it to people they don't even know.
Viral marketing works the same way, only without the coughing and sneezing. It's that elusive advertising technique that we all talk about. You know the one I'm referring to... the great idea that started as a whisper in a small town... the worldwide MySpace phenomenon... the most downloaded video on YouTube.
So how does viral marketing work? Who spreads it? And how much does it cost?
The Symptoms: Viral marketing can start anywhere and at any time. It's the idea that hooks people, just like that flu bug we talked about earlier. It's an idea that sparks interest and people start to pass it on to others. Just remember that building brand awareness of your products or services doesn't have to be boring.
The Outbreak: Ever heard a rumor you passed on to others? How about an urban legend? Viral marketing is popular because it doesn't require much work to execute the campaign. Most people want to advertise for you and just don't know it yet.
The Prescription: No one really likes to get a shot. Viral marketing's main strength is its ability to obtain a large number of interested people at a relatively low cost.
Now let's take a look back and say that you have no idea what YouTube is for a moment. Are you interested? Have you already clicked the link to YouTube's site? That's viral marketing grasshopper. Now make the marketing flu work for you.
Want to share a new bug? Cough it up... you never know when something might catch on!
Viral marketing works the same way, only without the coughing and sneezing. It's that elusive advertising technique that we all talk about. You know the one I'm referring to... the great idea that started as a whisper in a small town... the worldwide MySpace phenomenon... the most downloaded video on YouTube.
So how does viral marketing work? Who spreads it? And how much does it cost?
The Symptoms: Viral marketing can start anywhere and at any time. It's the idea that hooks people, just like that flu bug we talked about earlier. It's an idea that sparks interest and people start to pass it on to others. Just remember that building brand awareness of your products or services doesn't have to be boring.
The Outbreak: Ever heard a rumor you passed on to others? How about an urban legend? Viral marketing is popular because it doesn't require much work to execute the campaign. Most people want to advertise for you and just don't know it yet.
The Prescription: No one really likes to get a shot. Viral marketing's main strength is its ability to obtain a large number of interested people at a relatively low cost.
Now let's take a look back and say that you have no idea what YouTube is for a moment. Are you interested? Have you already clicked the link to YouTube's site? That's viral marketing grasshopper. Now make the marketing flu work for you.
Want to share a new bug? Cough it up... you never know when something might catch on!
