Traditional marketing campaigns have been around for many, many years, and throughout history, marketing has evolved drastically to include some unconventional forms of marketing. Viral Marketing is one of the more unique aspects of marketing strategies to come into the business scene in a long time, and if you have yet to utilize this amazing form of marketing to take your SMB to the top, you have been missing out. Here is what you need to know about Viral Marketing and what it can do to boost your business substantially.
What is Viral Marketing?
We have all seen viral videos, images, memes, and other aspects of viral posts circulating the internet at one time or another. These entities make their rounds, develop a huge following, and eventually die out as a memory. However, this seemingly new form of entertainment is constructive for businesses of all types. Basically, Viral Marketing is when businesses use social media networks to boost their exposure with the help of individuals sharing their posts rather than relying on more traditional means. In the world of Viral Marketing, there are actually a few different types to keep in mind.
Pass Along
Largely the most common type of Viral Marketing is simply passing along the message to another person. With this form of Viral Marketing, the user is asked to pass along the message. Many religious-affiliated organizations have used this form of marketing. A promise of prosperity or some form of blessing is bestowed among those that share the piece with a certain number of people. It is a tactic that can allow the piece to be viewed by many in a concise period of time, and social media is packed full of this type of Viral Marketing.
Incentivized Viral
This Viral Marketing tactic seems similar to the simple pass along but incentivized Viral Marketing takes things just a bit further. It provides the person with an actual call to action with a reward system in place. For instance, some restaurants run contests where a customer who likes, shares, or comments on the post is placed in a drawing for a free meal or other incentives. Incentivized Viral Marketing is remarkably effective as it requires minimal action in hopes of winning the big prize.
Gossip or Buzz Marketing
We have all seen posts on social media that seem a little gossip-filled or those that seem to reveal some hidden truth about an upcoming show or even a new product coming to market. Everyone loves good gossip, and this Viral Marketing tactic can work very well when employed correctly. Even the more controversial posts are highly effective in gossip or buzz-driven Viral Marketing.
Undercover Viral Marketing
Viral Marketing can take on an alter ego, so to speak, which is considered Undercover Viral Marketing. With this tactic, something that seems to have really no validity to a company is passed on from one user to another. It can be an interesting picture with a hidden image, a test to prove you are a genius or anything that allows a user to interact with the piece as it is silently floated along through shares. This form of Viral Marketing is more suggestive, with company logos placed strategically around the content and only hints at the need to visit the site. It is highly suggestive and remarkably effective.
How Can Viral Marketing Help Your SMB?
Gossip and speculation sell products. People are always looking for something unique and different to share, and requiring a little work for the possibility of winning a prize is an excellent way to get your name into the public eye. Viral marketing has an amazing way of promoting your product, service, or business entity, and this sometimes passive form of marketing can boost your digital image with your customers. It helps drive new clients to view your site and provides just a bit of fun for customers.
Among the most obvious reasons to invest in Viral, Marketing strategies come down to overall costs. Viral Marketing, in many ways, is among the cheapest form of marketing around. Social media sites are free to use, and allowing your clients to do the leg work for you through their shares and passing along information keeps you from having to do extra work.
With Viral Marketing, you can keep customers, both old and new, talking about your business and driving more people to your site. It provides maximum visibility with minimal investment, so if you have yet to discover the world of Viral Marketing, what have you been waiting for. Just as Radio & TV Marketing have been a part of the business landscape for decades, Viral Marketing is the new frontier, and it is here to stay.
