Question
Answers (1)
A: Viral marketing and viral advertising is a common terminology used to create buzzwords which referring to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes. It can be delivered by word of mouth or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet .Viral promotions may take the form of video clips, interactive Flash games, advergames, ebooks, images, or text messages.
Core objective of the viral marketing programme is to build the brand and increase the sale of product or services.
Strength of viral marketing campaign:
It spreads at a really fast pace.
Since it’s mouth to mouth, people doesn’t feel it as “intrusive” as regular advertising; consumers tend to trust it more often (it’s something a friend told me or I read about on the net so nobody is trying to sell me anything).
Weakness of the campaign:
One wrong turn and you could damage your product forever (you cannot fully control viral marketing, you plan ahead, you prepare the information, set it loose and hopes everything goes as planned).
It’s really hard to start a Viral campaign. Most of them aren’t planned and the buzz is created by the consumers without the companies doing anything but have it’s product/service in the market.
Unfortunately, viral marketing can be a bit tedious and subjective. It’s hard to pin down variables when you try and prove ROI, so attributing sales growth or traffic increases due to viral marketing can be a stretch. The only way you can prove viral marketing works is through control environment tests, such as testing viral marketing in one market and having a control in a like-market. Even quantitative results such as sign-ups, click-thrus, etc. can be skewed due to the “authentic” nature of viral marketing.
Ela Gaur, Corporate Communication and Business Development Professional with interest in Business, Economics and other Management Related Topics and IT specially tips and tricks to optimize the Designed Website. As a Hobbyist, writing and reading short article in the area of interest.
show bio

