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When I first heard of the term Viral Marketing
I thought immediately of a virus. No, not the flu, a computer virus. I
avoided viral marketing like the plaque. I’m sure many of you are doing the
same thing. Every email labeled viral marketing got trashed and I
immediately run an anti virus check on my computer.
I actually took me long time and the
convincing words of a dear friend of mine to change my attitude towards
viral marketing. Call it ignorance, but I just didn’t have the confidence in
something that sounds like it wants to harm me.
Today my whole world changed and now I’m an
active advocate to promote viral marketing. The concept is not new and it
was created by the brightest minds in the business.
Viral marketing capitalizes in the sharing
habits of the human beings. It’s quite extraordinary. We all tent to share
with friends and family the bargains or freebies we were able to get. If we
can copy the freebie we will do it and give it to our friends and family.
Take the music industry as an example.
Ok, we established that viral marketing is
giving out free stuff and that this free stuff will be passed around. So how
do you capitalize on something everybody expects to get for free? You don’t.
You just use the freebie as an advertising vehicle.
See, once you started giving out software
or a book for free, it will snowball from there. Granted that the software
is any good and the book provides some value. There is no telling on how
many copies of your software or book will float through the internet. The
only thing you now for sure, it takes some time to gain momentum.
Take Hotmail as an example. Hotmail build
its empire solely on viral marketing. Every email you send had a little line
at the end advertising free email from Hotmail. That’s it. No expensive
marketing strategy, no TV ads, nothing but a little advertising line at the
end of every email. It took years of building momentum, but today Hotmail is
a giant pulling in billions of dollars every year.
I’m not expecting to repeat Hotmail’s
success with my little viral marketing project, but I’m convinced that
sooner or later the profits will come. It is simply a matter of time. All
you need is a good product that you control and be able to give out for
free. Make sure that you will be able to place your advertising on the front
page of the product.
You can advertise your newsletter, your web
site, products you’re selling, anything you will make a profit if somebody
clicks through the advertising on the freebie. I spare you with the details
why the same ad advertised through viral marketing is so much more effective
than regular advertising.
Just one thought. Would you click on a
single ad embedded in a software or book send to you by a friend you trust?
Of course you would. There is nothing suspicious about this. It’s your
friend who recommended this in the first place. On the other hand nobody
actually clicks on advertising popping up on strange web sites you never
heard of before.
Now you see why I like viral marketing so
much. Quite frankly I believe in the future it is the only marketing that
works. SPAM filters and popup blockers already make it almost impossible to
get through to our prospects and it will not get any better.
Prepare your self for the future and
implement viral marketing today. You will be glad you did.
Sincerely,
Peter Dobler
Copyright © 2005
About The Author:
Peter Dobler is a 20+ year veteran in the IT business. He is an
active Real Estate Investor and a successful Internet business owner.
http://www.fl-home-biz.com
(Florida Home Business Center)
http://www.online-business-idea.com (Online Business Idea Center)
http://www.sell1on1.com (Internet Marketing Tool Box)
http://www.suncoastrenttoown.com (Florida West Coast Real Estate)
http://www.mypluginhomebiz.com (Your Personal 24/7 Money Maker) Learn more about the power of
viral marketing; send a blank email to
mailto:pdobler@getresponse.com
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