FAQ | What is Viral Marketing?

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How to sell soap – about viral marketing

I have had several people try to explain to me what “Viral Marketing” entails. On the flip side, I have authors asking me the same questions that I have asked. So here, is a formal definition from Wikipedia.

Viral marketing and viral advertising refer 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, analogous to the spread of pathological and computer viruses. It can be word-of-mouth delivered or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet. Viral promotions may take the form of video clips, interactive Flash games, advergames, ebooks, brandable software, images, or even text messages. The basic form of viral marketing is not infinitely sustainable.

I like that definition! After reading it, it gave me a bit more confidence about this social media thang – that perhaps the research and “trial and error” with various social networks is not in vain.

The most unique video I’ve seen on viral marketing is the one above about selling soap. Yes, selling soap! Sounds corny, but it’s an easy to understand video. When I found it, it had 12,195 view on the 5min Life Videopedia site.

I’m experimenting a bit with viral marketing with the blog tours I started this year, so as I continue to promote authors, I’m looking forward to trying out different online methods.