Viral Marketing
Jan 28, 2009
When you hear the word Viral, your mind may immediately think "Virus! Bad!"
Yes, Viral marketing is called such because it spreads like a virus. However, that doesn't mean its automatically evil. In fact, viral marketing is something that a good number of companies are starting to take advantage of. "So what is it?"
Viral marketing uses the internet and all its varying social forums to bring attention to your business, in hopes of doing something to stand out and make viewers pass the word along to others, then others hearing about it, then more still; your ad (the virus) spreading along and "infecting" others with your business name. Some examples of viral marketing techniques are video clips, Flash games, advertisement games, ebooks, images, and sometimes text messages. So does viral marketing work? Last year, an online and real life scavenger hunt had people across the country eagerly taking part, as well as cryptic videos and messages left on the internet to provide advertising for one of the biggest movies of the year, The Dark Knight. Another example? Remember the video created by Burger King for its Chicken sandwiches a few years back; the Subservient Chicken? Though the marketing campaign ended almost 4 years ago, the website is still going strong. Ever hear of the video game Halo? This was the breakout game for the Xbox video game system... and its premiere advertising source was a "broken" website, ilovebees.com, which lead to another of the biggest scavenger hunts for marketing and yet another memorable marketing tactic.
What works? Something unique, something that stands out.. something unexpected; whether its funny, serious, strange, or from the heart. Take advantage of what options are out there, but look at them from a different point of view. Have a MySpace or Facebook for your business? You could set it up from the more formal standpoint- or take it another way. Have fun with it. Set it up for your business mascot. Let him tell people about the world he lives in, the environment he enoys at your business, what his life is like. Want to try YouTube? Sure, people will click in to see a tour of your facilities... but what would make them want to share that with others? Give them something unexpected. Why are the most popular videos on YouTube so popular? They entertain, they give the viewer something they want to see again. It catches their eye, it holds their attention, and leaves them wanting more.<br>Want to try it? Xanfar can help. Our internet services are a great way to start using viral marketing to increase your web presence and drive in the customers! Whether its a unique animation to promote you on YouTube, or designing a website that leaves people asking questions and wanting to find out more about you. Have an idea for a viral marketing tactic you'd like us to help you get off the ground? Then give us a call! We always love new ideas.
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Yes, Viral marketing is called such because it spreads like a virus. However, that doesn't mean its automatically evil. In fact, viral marketing is something that a good number of companies are starting to take advantage of. "So what is it?"
Viral marketing uses the internet and all its varying social forums to bring attention to your business, in hopes of doing something to stand out and make viewers pass the word along to others, then others hearing about it, then more still; your ad (the virus) spreading along and "infecting" others with your business name. Some examples of viral marketing techniques are video clips, Flash games, advertisement games, ebooks, images, and sometimes text messages. So does viral marketing work? Last year, an online and real life scavenger hunt had people across the country eagerly taking part, as well as cryptic videos and messages left on the internet to provide advertising for one of the biggest movies of the year, The Dark Knight. Another example? Remember the video created by Burger King for its Chicken sandwiches a few years back; the Subservient Chicken? Though the marketing campaign ended almost 4 years ago, the website is still going strong. Ever hear of the video game Halo? This was the breakout game for the Xbox video game system... and its premiere advertising source was a "broken" website, ilovebees.com, which lead to another of the biggest scavenger hunts for marketing and yet another memorable marketing tactic.
What works? Something unique, something that stands out.. something unexpected; whether its funny, serious, strange, or from the heart. Take advantage of what options are out there, but look at them from a different point of view. Have a MySpace or Facebook for your business? You could set it up from the more formal standpoint- or take it another way. Have fun with it. Set it up for your business mascot. Let him tell people about the world he lives in, the environment he enoys at your business, what his life is like. Want to try YouTube? Sure, people will click in to see a tour of your facilities... but what would make them want to share that with others? Give them something unexpected. Why are the most popular videos on YouTube so popular? They entertain, they give the viewer something they want to see again. It catches their eye, it holds their attention, and leaves them wanting more.<br>Want to try it? Xanfar can help. Our internet services are a great way to start using viral marketing to increase your web presence and drive in the customers! Whether its a unique animation to promote you on YouTube, or designing a website that leaves people asking questions and wanting to find out more about you. Have an idea for a viral marketing tactic you'd like us to help you get off the ground? Then give us a call! We always love new ideas.