Viral Marketing - A Study Of Successful Sites
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Business -> subcategory Marketing.
Viral Marketing: Lessons from Successful Sites
Overview
Viral marketing is a powerful strategy that leverages word-of-mouth advertising, allowing your message to spread widely with minimal ongoing effort.
A classic example of this concept is Hotmail. Every email sent from their free service included a promotional message at the bottom, effectively turning users into advertisers.
Notable Examples
Hotmail
Hotmail's approach was ingenious. By embedding a promotional message in every email, they rapidly grew their user base without additional marketing costs.
Plaxo
Plaxo, an online address book, also used viral marketing effectively. With user permission, the service would scan a new member's address book and send invites to their contacts, encouraging them to join.
MySpace
Social networking sites like MySpace utilized this technique as well. New users were prompted to invite their friends right after signing up, facilitating rapid growth.
Interview with God
Consider the site "Interview with God," which featured a public domain poem. The site went viral as users shared it with friends, demonstrating that compelling content can spread widely without incentives.
The Numa Numa Dance
A New Jersey teenager became an internet sensation by posting a webcam video of himself lip-syncing to a Romanian pop song. This demonstrates how spontaneous content with broad appeal can become viral.
Tips for Successful Viral Marketing
Appeal
Your content must have mass appeal. The broader the audience, the more potential it has to go viral.
Self-Promotion
The content should inherently promote itself. Hotmail and Plaxo are prime examples of this tactic.
Creativity Over Incentives
While financial incentives can encourage sharing, some of the most successful campaigns are purely accidental and thrive on creativity and relatability.
Strategies for Monetization
If your viral marketing campaign is intended to generate revenue, consider these strategies:
1. Email Collection: Build a database of potential customers.
2. AdSense: Utilize Google AdSense to benefit from increased site traffic.
3. Affiliate Marketing: Promote affiliate products for additional income.
4. Ad Sales: Sell advertising space on your site.
5. Product Creation: Develop and sell your own products.
6. Donations: Accept contributions to cover bandwidth and other costs.
Even if your site is altruistic, these revenue streams can help offset expenses.
Conclusion
Studying successful viral marketing campaigns shows that both strategic planning and simple, creative ideas can lead to success. Whether you're looking to boost brand awareness or generate income, viral marketing offers numerous opportunities to expand your reach.
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