Below are the different methods of viral marketing from one of the best web design companies.
Initially, viral marketing was based on Bob Gerstley ‘s Social Networking Potential algorithm. Later on, the concept of infecting Alpha User came in vogue. But, the basic assumptions of viral marketing are as follows:
- Convincing a user with an advertisement,
- Followed by spreading infection (sharing the idea of the advertisement) among others,
- followed by more spreading by already infected persons
And so on. Obviously, infection spreads faster in a crowd. So, social networking via Internet is the most preferred entry point of the viral marketers.
Step by step methodology was developed by Jeffrey Rayport in his Fast Company article in 1996. This is as follows:
Entering market stealthily:
The entry in the social network must be disguised. The marketers such as web design companies offer a service to campaign for other products or services. For example, a mobile network service provider launches a text messaging service with economic tariff plans. The subscribers to this plan would be forwarded with promotional messages of other service plans.
Offering free merchandises followed by paid upgradation:
The basis of boosting a brand lies in making users habituated with that brand. If such brands are offered initially free of cost, even skeptics may subscribe to it. Later on, users become habituated with using those brands and paying for future augmentation becomes indispensable for users. This is very effective for selling software. The beta or first versions of a software is offered free of cost. Then after the trial period is over or the full version is ready to be marketed, the marketer of the software starts claiming payments. Often users subscribe to all softwares compatible to one they use with great ease and get free of cost. Therefore, subscribing for an upgraded version, even against payment, often becomes indispensable for users.
Allowing users to promote brand in their interest:
This method succeeds in case of brands going to float new market shares. Or, simply, it works for sale of market shares of brands. In social networking websites, blogs, forums, public chat rooms, the users or shareholders may talk high about a brand or its shares. Those discussions can boost confidence in the brand. Consequently, its share prices may hike.
Pretending to be host, not mimicking host:
Virus, in biological systems, mimics the host cell’s genetic material, while in computer systems, virus replicates codes of host machine. For viral marketing, marketers should not mimic users. Instead, they should pretend to be object of mimicry, just like Xerox Corporation. Brand Xerox has been rooted deeper in the sense of users as they have been using “xerox” as a verb for photocopying. The brand Xerox was boosted influencing etymology by users, not by marketer.
Our web design company can help you in viral marketing. We have noticed excellent results and best of all, it is often the cheapest form of advertising.
