Viral Marketing - Advertising 2.0…
Grassroots
and viral marketing are some variations of word of mouth propaganda. Target groups don’t get bombarded and annoyed with ads but become an active part of the communication process.
This form of advertising really isn’t new at all. It is how businesses used to get their word out before the days of mass media. Here is what has changed: The Internet has made this "ancient" form of marketing more effective than ever before.
Viral Marketing –Why care?
People love to talk. That includes companies, products and services and the advertising
for all of these.
Thanks to the Internet, mobile phones et cetera this playground has gotten much more dynamic.
Interesting, funny, provocative or simply entertaining content has the potential to reach a wide audience very quickly.
Viral marketing has a different status and is perceived differently than traditional advertising that is pushed towards the consumer. The viewer stays in control of what he/she decides to absorb.
Increased efficiency by integrating the target groups as messengers..
...
Target Group Roots, Ad Epidemics, Seeding..
Grassroots and viral marketing campaigns are placing specifically designed messages right within your target group (>>seeding). The messages can get spread out very quickly - similar to a virus (>>viral) - almost by itself. A micro-site is often used as a hub for such a campaign.
Viral Marketing - Web videos can do the trick..
Traditional "carriers" for viral marketing campaigns are be e-cards, micro sites, ad games et cetera. Lately web videos have established themselves as another key element to many viral campaigns - simply because they have shown outstanding results.
Viral Marketing = guaranteed success?
Unfortunately the answer is: "A definite no"! Viral marketing is no "goose laying golden eggs". Especially "viral newcomer" should be careful. A non-professional viral campaign can quickly do more damage than good. You are approaching a very sensitive audience and the "book of how not do it" has quite some pages already. We absolutely recommend consulting with an experienced agency in order to avoid a "marketing flu".
Bottom line: Viral marketing - done right - can lead to huge leverage effects and can become a central element of someone's marketing strategy.
Interested?
Does viral marketing appeal to you? Do you have a project coming up where it could be implemented? Why don't you get in touch with us..
Viral Marketing in action..
Here are some showcases with viral marketing components:
