Viral Marketing

What is Viral Marketing?


By definition, viral marketing, or viral advertising, "are buzzwords referring to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of viruses or computer viruses. It can be delivered by word of mouth or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet." Viral marketing can take on many forms such as video clips, images, text messages, among others. Despite the negative connotation the word "virus" brings with it, getting your marketing campaign to go viral is a great thing.

Well what goes into making a marketing campaign, or just a simple video go viral? An article titles, "7 Priceless Tips On How To Go Viral" gives some solid tips on how to go viral. Below is a list of the seven points the author makes, but to get a summary of each point head on over to Socialtimes.com.


     1. Create viral, shareable media
     2. Understand that most things are not viral
     3. Target the "Bored at Work Network"
     4. Target the freaks and maniacs
     5. The mullet strategy - business upfront, party in the back
     6. Big seed marketing - because your content won't share itself
     7. Learn marketing from the Mormons


One of my favorite viral examples are the Old Spice commercials. These commercials are incredibly simple yet complex in their own way. They involve a single man who says some of the most ridiculous statements anyone has ever heard all while telling his listeners how handsome and irresistible he is. He consistently reminds the "ladies" that their man could smell just as he does, but of course will never be able to compare to his awesomeness. This video went viral because of its nonsensical humor and dumb wittiness.