Having a product or service that works for viral marketing

Viral marketing is exactly like it sounds; it is a marketing strategy that allows others to spread your product through word of mouth. You put your product in front of others to see and hope that it spreads through word of mouth. So how can you apply it to your company? Easy! If you have a great product, but people have never heard of you, your product is not going to make it. Effective viral marketing drives people to buy your product and tell others about it. Let's explore how you can get started.

You need to have an effective way to promote your product or service. If you decide to do a pay-per click campaign, banner ads, radio, television, or a text article; you want to make it catch your audience's eye. In order for people to spread word-of-mouth information to others, offer an incentive to your product. It needs to somehow benefit their life by buying this product.

If you are advertising to a target and using too many words, it is long-winded and people won't take the time to repeat it. Take a look at Nike, "just do it", how many times have you heard people repeat this? Nike has a great viral marketing strategy; they create compelling products and catchy phrases. In fact, when Nike partnered with Lance Armstrong to help raise money for cancer, "Live Strong" messages and wristbands brought in millions of dollars. Having a catchy phrase is a great way to have people spread the word.

You need to have more than just a catchy phrase; you need to back up your product. If your company has a bad reputation, it could take millions of dollars and years to repair it. Supporting your products is essential. Have a good return/repair policy. Get a good customer service or support team in place. Using actual people helps! When people are calling to complain, they don't want to be screened out by a computer program for 20 minutes. Partnering with other companies is a great way to build your reputation. If you are a smaller company, piggybacking on the success of a larger one is so beneficial. Your company will be opened to new clients who didn't know you existed.

Have some incentives. People love free stuff! It doesn't even have to be free; just give them some reason to talk about your product. If you are selling a book, add on a free bonus chapter. Or how about Arby's 5 for 5 special? Catchy phrase and people think they are getting more for their money.

So what doesn't work for viral marketing?
Sadly, not all products are going to work for viral marketing. Viral marketing is best for low-cost products that can be easily delivered and bought on impulse. Having an expensive product like a car; requires more thought and time for a buyer to be convinced they need it. Keep in mind that the way you go about spreading your message is also important. Don't send out a mass e-mail campaign. Studies have shown that 50% of e-mails sent are tagged as spam and are never looked at. Also, if they are looked at and not by the right people, you will have a negative viral campaign on your hands.

Viral marketing campaigns can achieve great success. They just have to be planned out like any other marketing campaign. Keep your customers in mind as you go about creating your catchy ads. What sticks in your mind as to what sticks in your customer's minds. It's always a good idea to test the waters with a small group before launching the campaign. If you did it right, your "virus" will spread and hopefully you will have blitzed the market into an epidemic!