|
|
|
5 Killer Ways To Explode Your OPT-In List
Your Opt-in list is the life-blood of your business. What better way can there be than having thousands of people to market to every month for 'Zero Cost'. A valuable customer list is the most important aspect of any business, online or off. Here...
8 Benefits Of Helping An Online Business Newbie
Do your remember when you first ventured out in the online business world? You probably had questions and problems along the way. Wouldn't it have been easier if you had help? When a newbie asks for your advice, educate them; answer their...
Product Reviews: Affiliate Mistakes Special Report
In his ebook "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," Chuck McCullough teaches you how to spot and avoid or correct ten simple, yet costly errors that can seriously damage your efforts to promote affiliate programs successfully. Instead of writing about...
Search Engine Benefits to Article Marketing
You've probably heard by now that article marketing can help you build links back to your site.
But there's a lot more to it than that. Articles aren't only good for leveraging yourself stronger positions in Google, Yahoo, MSN and the other big...
Writing e-Newsletters – Tricks of the Trade
Follow 10 simple rules of thumb, and you’ll soon be writing great e-newsletters and reaping the rewards. Company e-newsletters can be an amazingly successful marketing technique. Whether you want to up-sell or cross-sell, establish your...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
How To Unleash Your Own Viral Marketing Campaign
One of the e-marketing topics least written about is viral
marketing. Yet it is one of the most successful e-marketing
methods used today!
In this article, I will discuss the various forms of viral
marketing (VM) being used online. I will also provide examples of
each form of VM and how you can use it.
VM #1. Word-Of-Mouth
The most common implementation of word-of-mouth VM are the "Tell
A Friend" or "Recommend This To A Friend" forms on most
websites.
Usage rate differs from site to site. For some entertainment
sites, the usage of tell-a-friend forms can be very high. Yet
for other large content sites, the usage may be insignificant.
The usage rate depends a lot on the kind of content being
recommended and the user group.
However this form of VM can be cheaply and quickly implemented
and its efficacy can be enhanced with a contest or lucky draw.
There are a number of free tell-a-friend service providers
online. For a list of them, go to
http://www.internetmarketingfocus.com o.cgi?l=a010p1
VM #2. Pass-It-On
This is a popular activity for most email users - be it
corporate, home or academic account holders.
When we receive attachments of funny pictures or cool Flash
games, we usually forward them to friends. And they in turn
forward the attachments to their contacts.
The snowball effect can create a distribution channel easily
reaching hundreds of people within a few hours - from just one
original email.
Here's how you can implement pass-it-on VM:
Create a fun game using Macromedia Flash and send it out to
contacts in your address book. Include your website URL within
the Flash program and invite people to click to your site.
Also make it available for download on your website .. and watch
it spread virally!
If you want to track statistics such as the rate of infection,
you can always include a 1x1 GIF or other e-tracking mechanism.
For pass-it-on VM to succeed, you have to create something that
people will
want to share with others.
Other pass-it-on VM media include PowerPoint slides, fun graphics
and small utility programs. Check out some pass-it-on VM examples
at http://www.madblast.com
VM #3. Service-based
The most successful service-based VM pioneer is Hotmail. They
started with little promotion but grew phenomenally using a
little tag line that they included at the bottom of every email
sent out. The tag line included a short teaser and their website
URL.
Now imagine the number of emails that are sent out daily and how
those emails help Hotmail get more new users - which in turn
result in even more emails sent out!
The next example is Blue Mountain e-greeting cards. When someone
sends an e-card using Blue Mountain, the recipient has to go to
Blue Mountain's site to view it - bringing in another
potential user who will send out more e-cards.
One more example: BraveNet Web Services. BraveNet provides
webmasters with tools such as guestbooks, forums, polls and
email forms.
When people use a BraveNet guestbook on a member site, they are
exposed to BraveNet's advertisements - inviting them to sign up
for a BraveNet service.
If you own a service-based site, you should seriously consider
implementing VM to grow your site. Start brainstorming for ideas!
Which Type Of VM Should You Implement?
Choose one that complements the nature of your business and
website. If you sell designer handbags, try doing a fun Flash
game that quiz users on different brands of designer handbags.
Be bold, creative and original!
To read more about viral marketing, go to
http://www.internetmarketingfocus.com o.cgi?l=a010p2
To search for marketing resources related to VM, go to
http://www.internetmarketingfocus.com o.cgi?l=a010p3
About the Author
Michael Low is a widely-published marketing consultant. He
provides top-notch press release (PR) services at affordable
rates. Check out his full-range of PR services at
http://www.prbuilder.com/pr.cgi?a010
|
|
|
|
|
|