Viral marketing is all about creating a 'buzz' about a free product or service that you can offer people and in which your ad copy (URL, contact information, link, etc) can be embedded. When they download your product, they can then freely pass it on to other people. This is a very effective means of multiplying your marketing efforts at no additional expense or effort on your part.
Below are some popular marketing techniques that you can employ to begin a viral marketing campaign.
1. eBooks — Write an ebook about a topic that you know well. Share this free with your website visitors. Make certain that you include a nice, full colour, advertisement inside with links to your most popular product lines. Include links to your website and eMail. Allow all recipients of the eBook to share it with their own site visitors and contacts. Encourage it to be given away with eZines.
2. Software — If you sell software, then share a trial or 'lite' version of your software with website visitors for free. Remember to include your ads and links in the software's splash page. Also tell people to freely share the software themselves. The latest trend here is to write widgets for websites (these are pieces of JavaScript code that perform functions like unit conversions etc). They can be added to websites free and have a link back to your site. There are also apps for mobile phones. If you are not a coder yourself, you can hire someone to write software or widgets for you on sites like eLance.com.
3. Web Hosting — Become a web hosting reseller or offer free hosting. Offer to host small business websites on your server at no charge. In exchange for this service, ensure that you place banner ads for your own products at the top of every site for viral marketing. Basically you are offering to set up a folder for other peoples' sites on your server. They then pick their own domain name and you redirect that the the folder you set up for them.
4. Templates — Design website templates. Add your links and contact information in the footer, then give them away as free downloads. Ensure you grant permissions for any recipients to pass them along for free.
5. Articles — Write articles about your industry, or about things that interest you or will attract visitors. Include the URL to your website and contact information in the byline (resource box) and grant permission for others to copy and republish the article, as long as they keep the byline intact. This way your article, and with it, your byline spread virally as it's republished from site to site.
6. Forums — Set up a forum on your website and place your banner ad on the header. Create a lively discussion area and invite others to link to posts.
7. Begin a campaign — Using hashtags (#hashtag) in twitter and Google+ posts allows you to create an on-line buzz about a topic quickly. Ensure that you include the appropriate hashtags in any marketing materials you prepare.
8. eZines — Yes, I know they may be old had, but they still work. When people download your freebies, get them to give you their eMail address as long as you can send them your eZine. Use this to provide useful information, but also provide links to your products and services.
Viral marketing strategies allow you to easily and quickly multiply your marketing efforts by using the power of the internet to spread messages. Using freebie giveaways and creating marketing campaigns remain the most effective strategies for achieving this.
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