The way you portray your product and the different advertising media you use to market it affects the mindset of your potential customers. Ever since the Internet has entered the marketing arena, the way products are promoted has undergone a major makeover. Viral marketing is a very common and effective marketing strategy.
What is Viral Marketing
Viral marketing is creating an awareness of a product or a service, without really advertising it. For instance, you wear branded jeans with the nametag on the back. You go around wearing the jeans, showing the label over and over again, giving the brand extra advertising.
In other words, companies build an awareness of their product or service via viral marketing. This generates exposure that passes on from person to person, arousing interest in the product.
Viral Marketing on the ‘Net
As far as the Internet goes, a very good example of viral marketing would be Hotmail. Jack Smith and Sabeer Bhatia established a remarkable breakthrough in web- based mailing. They adopted a number of traditional and modern marketing strategies, but “word of mouth” networking played a major role in its success.
All they did was insert a small link at the end of commonly used websites, referring to the availability of a free email account. Then customers sent out emails to relatives and friends all over the world. As a result, Hotmail grew from one user to over 12 million, in a span of less than 16 months!
Reasons For Viral Marketing Popularity
- Since most networking and socializing has now made way for actually getting in touch with people, it has become much easier. Friends and relatives are easily accessible over the net.
- It is cost-free and easy on resources and time. Your business can contact more than one person, who in turn carries forward the message. As a result, more and more people are contacted and the chain continues.
Role Of Viral Marketing In Brand Awareness
Viral marketing has been doing the rounds within the Internet economy. The hype may be over now, but it is still significant. It is difficult to gauge the future of a product when it comes to viral marketing. The messages may reach out to people outside the targeted audience. They in turn, may or may not carry forward the message or may communicate it in a different manner. This may change the way your product is perceived and there is a possibility that the result may turn out to be something you do not desire.
If you are considering using viral marketing, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages and devise plans to tackle them. Despite the potential risks viral marketing has the capability to attract the maximum potential audience at a reasonably low cost, enhancing the reach of your business.
