Viral Marketing

Viral Marketing or marketing by word of mouth depends on a high pass-along rate from one person to another. If a large percentage of people forward something to a large number of friends, the overall growth happens rapidly. If the pass-along numbers get too low, the overall growth quickly fizzles.

Viral Marketing exploits existing resources by making people who uses the product or service an involuntary spokesperson. It takes advantage of common behaviors such as sending emails.

Why Viral Marketing Becomes Important

Viral marketing uses communication networks that are already in place. In the case of Social Networking sites or email, it implies endorsement from a friend. People who received an e-mail from a friend using the service learned that the product works and that their friends use it. And most importantly, viral marketing offers the ability to spread a message several times faster and to more people than conventional third-party advertising campaigns.

There are different types of viral marketing, all using the same fundamental principles. Pass-along messages encourage users to send them along to others, such as e-mails with instructions to forward at the bottom or humorous video clips on Youtube. Incentive-driven messages offer rewards in exchange for providing e-mail addresses. Undercover viral marketing presents messages in an unusual page or false news item without any direct encouragement to forward it along, in the hopes that word-of-mouth will spread the message. Buzz marketing or Gossip seeks to get people talking about something by creating controversy about the subject matter.

The best campaigns use the principles of viral marketing tactfully to avoid negative reactions and ensure a high pass-along rate. Much like the common cold, effective viral marketing uses people to inadvertently transmit a message within their social network. It takes the concept of word-of-mouth and enhances it with the instant global communication afforded by the Internet and Social Networking sites.

Gorilla Placement can create some of the smartest viral marketing campaigns to bring awareness and brand recognition to your business.