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Get the Bug: Viral
Marketing Exposed
Most marketers know what it is,
but very few have the creativity and know how to implement it. Viral
marketing is a process developed that can be used or taken up by other
people without your having to work much at it. The question is: How
does it apply to affiliate marketing?
What are "contagions" and what kind can be
developed for my business?
You very well may already have in mind at
least one example of a viral marketing strategy. Most marketers will
immediately say "Hotmail" has been the most recognizable and productive
since that company's inception. Most of us however may not be aware of
a number of others that are just as useful.
Here are a few examples of the tools you
might use in your viral marketing effort:
- E-books
- Auto-responder documents
- E-mail and discussion forum postings
- Helpful/delightful downloadable files
- Something fun or unique on your site -
or that is your site
- Spreadable articles
- Joint venturing
- Offline promotional techniques (such
as press releases)
E-books as a viral tool:
There has been a great deal of discussion the past few months on the
importance of using e-books as a viral marketing option. Similar to
publishing articles and press releases (which are mentioned later in
this article) you can not only spread the word about your product or
industry, but earn money while you are doing it. A well written e-book
has gobs of viral potential.
More viral ideas for affiliate marketers...
How about a quick look into some
of the other toolbox trays?...
E-mail and discussion forum postings
-- Any old e-mail message might become viral! - it just has to be
interesting enough.
Helpful/delightful downloadable files
-- An example: Have you ever noticed how many screensavers some people
go through in a year?... And how they get passed around? Get your
business name/URL - even your affiliate program link - on the really
nifty one/s you create and give away.
Something fun and unique on your site -
or that is your site -- Word of mouth is a great viral tool, of
course! What cool tool or amazing graphic or hilarious soundbyte, for
example, is on your site and no other? ...Make it "associated" with your
affiliate program somehow. (And then let press releases - viral in
themselves, since they get passed along in the media - help the
mania grow.)
Joint venturing -- Back to e-books
for a minute... What about trading endorsing links in your e-book with
another e-book author? When you tap into someone else's subscriber or
customer base... That's a great viral marketing strategy!
These are just some of the many ways to
apply viral strategies to your online efforts! So quit stalling and
get the bug!
Webmasters
Manual:
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