A Guide to Viral Marketing Techniques: Step 3

A Guide to Viral Marketing Techniques: Step 3

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 buzz through Internet viral marketing. One can utilize site links, referral programs and other viral marketing techniques to be able to reach the 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 techniques which can be effective in spreading a marketing message:

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 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.

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.