Scared of a virus? Now here is one that you will surely welcome. Advertisers and business owners have heralded in viral advertising as the Next Best Thing.

What is Viral Marketing

Viral marketing is essentially the word-of-mouth or refer-a-friend tactic done through the Internet. The concept is actually very simple: promote your brand, product or service by creating a message that is intriguing and entertaining enough that people would want to pass it to their friends online. Modern as this concept may be, viral marketing still harnesses the time-tested strongest positive marketing technique – personal recommendation. Here are some of the basic things you need to know to run a successful virtual marketing campaign.

• Get inside your consumers’ minds. This is the first step to building a viral marketing campaign and undoubtedly the most difficult part. The challenge is to know what makes your clientele tick. What message could be intriguing enough to prompt people to pass it on? What image or incentive could be such good news that users want to share it with their friends online? Often, viral advertisement comes in a disguise of something totally unrelated. A fun scheme, a catchy phrase, a cool new video – and the online community will spread the word faster than you realize.
• Take advantage of social networking. Contrary to biological or computer viruses, a viral advertising campaign does not spread and propagate by itself. Aside from the trusty and reliable email, viral advertising needs the all-new medium made possible by the amazing Web 2.0 – social networking. With the use of applications available on social networking sites such as Facebook.com, all viral marketers need to do is fashion their campaign in such a way that encourage users to spread the ad to their online friends and acquaintances. And ta-da! Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a thirty-second TV spot, you reach a whole new network by letting other people do the marketing for you.
• Be generous. Online consumers – people you virtually do not know – are getting the job done for you. So why not give them a little incentive along the way? The most successful viral marketing campaigns offer a little something extra as a motivation for people to spread the word to their friends. Whether it is a few dollars of credit for every number of referrals or a $1 donation to a chosen charity, people would be more willing to go the extra mile to let others know about your product or service if they get a little something in return.
• Don’t neglect your product. Whatever form of promotional campaigns, traditional or otherwise, marketing can only get you so far. Once you have created the buzz and built up the hype, you have to follow-up with a product that delivers. As much as you focus on creating a stimulating and provoking viral marketing campaign, the build-up is not going to translate into profits unless you have the goods to back it up. Make sure that your product is as great as your marketing campaign. And for sure, the first-timers who walk through your doors and flood your floors will surely be coming back for more.

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