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Beginners Guide to Viral Marketing

Writer's picture: JohnnyJohnny

Updated: Apr 14, 2023

Viral marketing, also known as word-of-mouth marketing, is a promotional technique that uses pre-existing social networks to increase brand awareness, product sales, or website traffic. The goal of viral marketing is to create a piece of content that has the potential to be shared by a large number of people, spreading the message and promoting the brand organically.


Getting Started with Viral Marketing

In this beginner's guide, we will discuss the key elements of viral marketing and provide two examples of successful viral marketing campaigns.


Understanding the Key Elements of Viral Marketing
  1. Emotional Connection: A successful viral marketing campaign should evoke an emotional response from the audience, such as joy, awe, humor, or surprise.

  2. Shareability: The content should be easy to share across different platforms like social media, messaging apps, and email.

  3. Relevance: The content should be relevant to the target audience and aligned with their interests.

  4. Call-to-Action: A clear call-to-action should be included to encourage viewers to take action, such as sharing the content, subscribing to the channel, or making a purchase.


Viral Marketing Case Studies

Two examples of successful viral marketing campaigns:


#1 Blendtec's "Will It Blend?" Series - Viral Marketing




Blendtec, a blender manufacturer, created a series of videos where they blend different items, such as iPhones, golf balls, and marbles, to demonstrate the power and durability of their product. The videos went viral, generating millions of views and creating a buzz around the brand. The emotional connection was humor and amazement, and the call-to-action was to visit the Blendtec website to purchase the product.



#2 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - Viral Marketing




The ALS Association created a viral marketing campaign by asking people to dump a bucket of ice water on themselves and share the video on social media, using the hashtag #ALSIceBucketChallenge. The campaign went viral, with millions of people participating and raising over $220 million for ALS research. The emotional connection was empathy and the call-to-action was to donate to the cause.


Conclusion: Is Viral Marketing right for my business?

Viral marketing can be a powerful tool for small businesses to increase brand awareness and reach new audiences. By understanding the key elements of viral marketing and following the examples of successful campaigns, small businesses can create compelling content that resonates with their target audience and encourages them to share it with others. Remember to evoke an emotional connection, make the content shareable, be relevant, and have a clear call-to-action.


For more advanced Viral Marketing strategies and best practice please visit our dedicated Public Relations strategy section.

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