Guide To Viral Marketing Techniques
Author: Leter Privott

Viral marketing has garnered much attention today. The way it
spreads a marketing message can be very effective. Internet
viral marketing behaves like a virus, as the name implies. The
marketing message has a tendency to be spread through virus-like
activity.

There are many well-known ways of creating a fuzz through
Internet viral marketing. One can utilize site links, referral
programs and other viral marketing techniques to be able to
reach his target audience. A bright idea is the start of the
viral marketing venture and this is made operational through the
right techniques.

This article tries to explain some of the other viral marketing
techniques that are out there on the Internet. These are tools
which can sometimes be overseen by the marketer because his
vision of viral marketing is limited.

Here are some of the techniques which can be effective in
spreading a marketing message:

Create an award

Awards catch attention. When someone or something is given an
award, it creates fuzz in the target audience. One can look into
award creation to be able to attract people and be successful in
spreading the marketing message.

Distributing a free software

Everybody loves freebies! If one is competent in creating
software programs for different applications, he can actually
use them to as marketing tools. One must make sure, though, that
the software contains some kind of advertisement containing the
marketing message.

Providing free email account

This is the technique that was employed by hotmail when it
initially started. Every person who signed up for their free
email account carried the marketing message. This simple idea
turned hotmail into a craze and its owners into millionaires.
Although doing the same thing today may not emulate the results
which were generated by hotmail, but it still is an effective
way of marketing.

Providing free web space

Again, freebies are loved by everyone. If one has the option to
give free web space to enthusiasts, he can do so. This is a way
of effectively marketing a message since people will be
intrigued and enticed by the free web space offer. One can make
a deal with the people who would want to get some free web
space. One can demand to put up his logo, or the marketing
mechanism in the website that will be developed by the one who
availed the free web space.
Creating a top 100 site

Viral marketing can be seen as a game of getting hits from the
Internet users. A "top 100" website is very popular for people
who are researching for something or engaged in plain web
surfing. They would like to get quick information about the best
websites that are out there. The problem of too much information
on the Internet can be used as an effective tool for viral
marketing.

Offering free e-cards

The keyword here is, again- Free!

Offering free graphics, banners, templates

If one is involved in doing artworks, he can publicize his
works and offer them to different people who might want to use
them for their own purposes. Again, one must be creative in
using these media in marketing.

Offering free consultation

If one is a specialist in a certain area, he can offer free
services for a certain period of time or for a certain topic and
use this opportunity to relay his marketing message.

Offering specialized link directory

People are always looking for specialized link directories.
This is connected to the problem of having too much information
in the Internet. Sometimes, people just want to get information
faster.

Free newsletter with bonuses

Newsletters can directly contain the marketing message that one
would want to convey, but of course, people should have some
incentive to look at the newsletters.

Free redirect service.

Linking with other websites can be used as a viral marketing
tool. There are many people who are doing this right now.

Free screensavers

In using screensavers, one should have a general theme so that
people can identify with them.

Free autoresponder service

An autoresponder service is a program which automatically
responds to emails that are sent to the responder.

Free email course

A free email course can be used by marketers since it is a good
way to learn and get information about the basics of getting
connected through the net.

Writing articles and distributing them for reprint

If one is a good writer, he can write articles and use them to
be able to convey his message. The articles may not necessarily
contain the message itself but arrangements should made by the
marketer with the other party.

Using forums and discussion boards (using signatures)

If one has a discussion board in his website, he might as well
let people use it for free. An advertisement at the top of the
discussion board will definitely be an effective way to market
the website.

Start your own affiliate program (one of the best method to
generating traffic and sales!)

Affiliate programs give incentives to webmasters to put up your
banners into their websites. This is one of the most popular
viral marketing techniques today.

Joint Ventures

Special arrangements can be made with the webmasters so as to
maximize the potentials of the banners and minimize the cost of
putting them up.

Provide free guestbook

Providing a free guestbook will attract people because it is an
avenue where they can share their ideas and these ideas will
eventually be read by others.

Provide free forum

Forums are quite popular. People love to have conversations and
forums are one of the main reasons why people visit a certain
website.

These are just some of the ways on how a marketer can spread
his message through the Internet. There may be other ways of
doing viral marketing and marketers are encouraged to look at
these possibilities.


About The Author: Lester Privott http://www.notionsinc.com