Viral marketing and viral advertising refer to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increase in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes. It can be word-of-mouth delivered or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet.
Viral marketing is a marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message voluntarily. Viral promotions may take the form of video clips, interactive Flash games, advergames, ebooks, brandable software, images, or even text messages. The basic form of viral marketing is not infinitely sustainable. It is claimed that a customer tells an average of three people about a product or service they like, and eleven people about a product or service which they did not like. Viral marketing is based on this natural human behavior.
The goal of marketers interested in creating successful viral marketing programs is to identify individuals with high Social Networking Potential (SNP) and create Viral Messages that appeal to this segment of the population and have a high probability of being passed along. The use of varied kinds of public relations both online and offline would create the impression of spontaneous word of mouth enthusiasm.
The sources to market a product or service through word of mouth are Social Networks, Blogs, Forums, Videos, Articles, Press Releases, RSS Feeds, Web Rings and Classifieds. All these core areas would allow us to reach maximum number of active people online to pass on the information about our product /service. But one should sincerely admit the fact of utilizing techniques makes the difference in marketing the product through online. Everyone would try to promote their services or product but some will get succeeded.
The most important point need to be considered over here in Viral Marketing is Critics. Yes, critics would be more in this process and therefore, one should be aware of pleasing them. In this process, Patience, Technique and Consistency would be always rewarded.
Due to the continuous activities performed in the Networks, Blogs, Forums etc to build and maintain good public relations, viral marketing has become the most effective way of Internet Marketing. Therefore, go ahead and be active in every possible Networks, Blogs etc and build good public relations to Improve Business Return.
