What Is Viral Marketing And How Does It Work?

In a nutshell, viral marketing is getting your customers to do your marketing. You give your customers something they want and even more importantly, something that they want to share.

By sharing they become a powerful marketing tool for you!

The basic principle of viral marketing is extremely simple. It can be a very effective way to boost your sales because you are harnessing the marketing and advertising of other people; and reaching contacts through them that you couldn’t on your own. Another beautiful thing about viral marketing is that it’s virtually free.

A lot of people talk about building a social community that drives viral marketing. But how do you go about that?

First of all, here is what you don’t do:

* You don’t slap a page on Facebook that will rapidly vanish into the Bermuda Triangle of cyberspace, and let it go at that.

* You don’t launch a forum and then just sit back and hope people will come and beg to be part of your social community.

Viral marketing doesn’t work that way!

In order for this type of marketing to be effective, it is imperative that you give people something they want.

Not only must you give them something they want, but it is also necessary to give them something they will be motivated to share with others within their social network. This would incorporate every facet of their social network….friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, etc. as well as online connections.

For example, here is a way you might use viral marketing:

In this scenario, we’ll say that you send emails to your contacts and/or friends within a particular social network, asking for names and email addresses of three friends of theirs, to send a discount code for 20% off a pair of hiking boots. They will actually send the emails with the discount codes, via you, of course.

If two or more of their friends make a purchase, you give them a free tote bag or backpack.

Now, something like this could go viral. Why? Because you are getting other people to help you advertise and promote your business. One of the psychological factors of sales is that people buy under the influence of others.

By having your social community contacts send the email to their friends, even though it’s going through you, it will be more personal and therefore have a much higher open rate!

Try viral marketing for yourself and watch your sales soar!

By: Jan Hindrik

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