Everyone knows viral marketing can garner you and your business priceless exposure. Viral marketing is an outstanding opportunity to build brand awareness in a crowded media marketplace. The most challenging part of viral marketing, though, is understanding that much of it is out of your control. Even the most thought-out campaign can – for whatever reason – fail to get off the ground.
To increase your odds of a successful viral campaign, there are some things to keep in mind. The following tips won’t guarantee success but will certainly increase the likelihood that your message will be shared by as many people as possible.
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Don’t advertise. Social media-savvy individuals will quickly sniff out any promotional content. They want to be entertained or informed or amazed. They do not want to be sold to!
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Don’t do what everyone else is doing. They say there are no original ideas, but when it comes to viral marketing it would behoove you greatly to come up with one. A common mistake people make is recycling what has worked for someone else.
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Make sure it’s easy to share. People may love your video and want to share it with their Facebook friends. If it takes too long to figure out how to do to it, though, they will quickly move on to something else. And at all costs, avoid the dreaded pop-up window!
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If you are telling people that something is true – it better be true! No one likes to be duped.
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Think about what the audience wants to see – not what you want the audience to see. If you hire someone to make a video for you, make sure they are a good storyteller or can create visual magic that mesmerizes people. Don’t hire someone who only points a camera at your product.
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Make sure people emotionally connect with whatever you are putting out there. Leave them feeling inspired, happy, satisfied, or all three. The more they are touched by something, the longer it will stay on their mind and the more likely they will be to share it.
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Make sure your viral marketing campaign has legs – people love a good sequel. Capitalize on your success by allowing people to follow up. People love to know how it “ends.”
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Make it mobile. One in five people use mobile apps. Don’t lose out on that 20 percent.
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If you are going to give something away, make sure it’s not something everyone else is giving away. A 20-percent-off coupon will elicit a great big ho-hum. A chance at something truly unique will get people excited.
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Allow for feedback. People like the opportunity to give their two cents on what they have just seen or read. Comments boxes, e-mail, or chat forums, are a great way for people to connect and talk about the content you put out there!