Technosailor - Latest Comments in Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

I'm a marketing consultant and have been trying to find some good, solid data on viral marketing. I'm interested in the small stories from companies that don't have giant Apple sized budgets. I'm curious about the organic viral activity. What makes a certain blog a hit? Why do some homemade videos get picked up? I've forwarded this article to some clients.

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

ilinap — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:33:58 -0000

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

Jeffrey — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:12:12 -0000

Rather than be all about conversation as Josh says, viral marketing should be all about conversion. The brand awareness is great from whatever viewership that directly results from your marketing efforts, but if your -hopefully increased- sales doesn't cover the overhead to produce whatever it is that you're sending out there (video seems to be the most popular medium), then it doesn't seem worth it. I've read comscore's latest figures for online video viewing and it's pretty astounding. But I honestly believe thinking about 'making the next big viral piece of content' is going about things in the wrong way. I would say to just focus on delivering good material. Of course it has to be targeted to a specific demographic, etc. But, anyway, I feel like I'm just stating what already has been said before. I'm tired of 'viral' marketing. Label marketing whatever you like, but if people are talking about it afterwards, well, job well done. Superbowl commericals from the recent past, before the term viral marketing was out there, always had people talking. Viral marketing existing way before 'viral marketing.' If you were a marketer, I'd say it was doing your job.

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

Sal — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:07:41 -0000

I still call it buzz marketing because itâ€™s creating attention and discussion on a particular subject. Word of mouth is the cheapest and best way to get your name out there. People are still communicating in the traditional advertising sense but now its gossip that creates an image in the public eye. PR plays a big role too. Even the CEO of 5W PR mentioned in his blog, RonnTorossian.com, about buzz marketing and how itâ€™s an increasingly economical and viable way to reach influencers.

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

Josh Carr Superstar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:16:35 -0000

I think there is an interesting parallel between Viral marketing and actual viruses. The difference between very successful virus and very unsuccessful ones is how long it takes to kill the host. Ebola for example is a horribly scary virus but also not very prevalent. The reason is the host dies - fast. The common cold on the other hand is the most common virus in the world because it almost never kills the host giving it time to spread.

all of these companies that force the issue with a marketing tactic that they hope will go viral are totally missing it. They are trying to make something so potent and powerful that they kill the host and nobody wants to go near it.

Personally I feel that it should all be about conversations. You need to be engaged in the conversation with your customers. If you aren't then you have nothing. If your customers love you and you have a good story to tell they will be your evangelists.

We just recently started an online buzz marketing firm that we think has a very different approach than most. We just help our clients get involved in the conversation. Wherever it is happening. sometimes it grows up into something more and we get some buzz and sometimes it doesn't.

check us out and let us know what you think.
Manage the conversation online

Re: Viral Marketing”¦are you sick yet?

Jennifer A. Jones — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:44:31 -0000

Great post! The fact is some people think just calling something viral will make it so. They forget there must be a clear strategy behind it.

I often call out good and bad (and really really bad) viral marketing campaigns on my blog: http://www.speakmediablog.com. Check it you. My personal favorite is the Stride Dancing video from Matt Harding.

Jennifer A. Jones