It's not a computer virus, and you don't need a vaccination...

Viral marketing. It sounds rather offensive, something you wouldn't want to catch, or have it catch you. But in all reality, you must come to envy the virus. They hatch onto others, using their resources to increase their tribe, and multiply rather quickly in exponential amounts. Despite the malicious reputation of the virus, its process sounds rather appealing to a marketer.

Let us look at viral marketing, what it is, and the defining principles of its procedures...

Viral marketing describes any strategy that encourages individuals to pass on a marketing message to others, creating the potential for exponential growth in the message's exposure and influence. Companies all around the world have been using this method for some time now. For example: companies like hot mail and other email suppliers give out a free product (e-mail account), have you send the message to your friends, and include a link to receive the free account and continue this growth. The purpose isn't to give your service away, it is to encourage people to use your products, then increase their loyalty towards your brand.

To summarize, there are several main benefits of using this strategy:
1. Gives away products or services
2. Provides for effortless transfer to others
3. Scales easily from small to very large
4. Exploits common motivations and behaviors
5. Utilizes existing communication networks
6. Takes advantage of others' resources

*For more descriptive analysis, check out
Viral Marketing Principles


You can check these strategies out with the new company/site www.Me.dium.com
They are a software company building an extension that allows your see the hidden world behind your browser. Though it's currently running a private beta release, they still have thousands of people giving their email trying to get in. It intrigues you with a buzz by saying it's on to something new and big, lets you sign up for free, and has a line that allows you to provide addresses of your friends to join. The unique idea here is that they give benefits when you sign up a certain amount of friends, like commission! Your hired!

As for success? These techniques can be enormously successful and rewarding. Such companies like Hot mail, G-mail, and more have started their business off of viral marketing. And there are numerous amounts of companies outside of the e-mail world using these marketing tools. In fact, many top marketing sites, like Adage and Media post, are saying viral marketing is a must.

So keep up with this trend, because it's blowing up all over advertising.

p.s-copy this blog, blog it to others. Continue this viral marketing!


CREATE THE BUZZ WITH YOUR AD! GET PEOPLE TALKING

Times 'a changing

The death of the 30 second spot...seems like this is all we have been hearing about for quite some time now. That and, "advertising is dying, consumers are gaining control over content now!" The truth is TV ads may be less effective, but they are not dead. Consumers have had control over their media for quite some time, now they are finally acting upon this advantage with such sites and programs like Torrence, YouTube, Peekvid, etc...

With ever changing technology, advances in the Internet, and an increasing mobile network, Advertisers are left searching for what's next in the market, and how can they do it.

Solution: marketers are directing much of their efforts to such strategic tactics like buzz marketing, word of mouth, and viral advertising. In essence, it's a marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message. With the use of street teams, chat-rooms, email, and other spontaneous productions, marketers are changing the way they reach consumers, and truly utilizing the advancements available today.

My name is Jordan Trigilio, a sophomore studying Integrated Marketing at Ithaca College. My mission is to open up the world of viral marketing to you, tell you who is doing what, what it's costing, and the effectiveness of such campaigns. Hopefully Buzzy Bee will influence you in researching further into this subject, and to stay on top of the marketing industry. This blog will excite and intrigue you into telling others about it, and I don't blame you. After all, this is word of mouth, viral networking!

enjoy...