Viral marketing refers to using social networking websites to create a buzz about your Flash website, products, or services. The term ‘viral’ is thought to have originated at Harvard Business School in reference to the way that a virus spreads quickly and out of control. The term grew in popularity until today viral is used to describe popular videos, products, and marketing campaigns. Viral marketing depends on word of mouth and, for this reason, social websites and forums are the perfect vehicles for you to use in a viral marketing campaign.
Viral versus Traditional Marketing
Traditional marketing uses many venues to build awareness about what you have to offer. Traditional marketing campaigns are built over time, and brand awareness is a key element. Viral marketing, on the other hand, is more concerned with a specific item and uses social media almost exclusively. Viral marketing campaigns are fast and concerned with quick results rather than long term results. The main thrust of a viral campaign is to get people talking about what it is promoting and to get them to your Flash website to take advantage of what you are offering.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the television program Mystery Science Theatre 3000 was just a small show with a few viewers. People were encouraged to tape the programs and distribute them to their friends. The program became very popular and is now a cult classic. This is one of the first known viral marketing efforts. Part of the reason that viral marketing is such a success is the mindset of the mob mentality. People want to be part of a group and feel that this group is special. The people who took part in taping and distributing tapes felt that they had something special to offer their friends and their friends in turn felt that they had joined an exclusive group. You can tap into this to get a viral campaign to take off by creating a group feeling to your campaign.
Use Social Sites to Promote Your Viral Marketing Efforts
Not too long ago a movement was started to get Betty White on Saturday Night Live. A group was started on Facebook and people were asked to join to get enough members to get the producers of Saturday Night Live to agree to have Ms. White on their show. In just a short time, they had enough members and more that had joined. This is an example of viral marketing. A buzz was started and it took off. Word of mouth spread the message and people responded and spread it even further.
Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace are excellent platforms for viral marketing campaigns. If you have a business website, you should have accounts at these social sites and the other major ones as well. These websites were founded to connect people together and are the perfect vehicles for a viral marketing campaign since people are their main focus.
Tips on Using Forums for Viral Marketing Campaigns
Forums are among the best tools for use for viral marketing. Forums can be found on a wide variety of websites, not just ones designed for social networking. Search for free forums that are related to the item that you are promoting and become active. Don’t make the mistake of just going onto a forum to promote your marketing efforts, this will get you ignored and tuned out by most of the forum members. Take the time to get to know fellow members and be an active member of the forum community. This builds trust and gets you known as someone they can depend on.
Most forums let you post links in either the body of your message or in your signature. Use this to link back to your business website. Use teasers and don’t tell the whole story; get them interested and curious enough to check it out. The links will also help your marketing efforts since they will be picked up by search engines and lead back to your website. This will make your website easier to find, and your marketing efforts are supported by these backlinks.
Forums are powerful tools to use in your viral marketing efforts. Social websites and forums connect people like no other websites and this word of mouth is one of the secrets to viral success. Since forums are people-centered, they are perfect matches for a viral campaign. Be active and involved in forums to create trust and get people to take you seriously. Use your Flash website to promote your products and viral marketing to create a buzz and get attention.
