When someone is compelled to share your message (forward an email, video clip, or some other form of electronic communication) and that is replicated repeatedly, the message takes on a “viral” effect. When used for marketing purposes, a viral campaign can be incredibly powerful.
One example of viral marketing comes from Blendtec’s “Will It Blend?” campaign. To demonstrate the power of its blenders, the company began featuring videos on YouTube where they blended all kinds of crazy items: a lit, full-sized tiki torch, a camera, 53 toy cars, and even an iPad. Viewers couldn’t help but pass those videos along to friends, making them an internet sensation.
Viral campaigns are online marketing gold, though they aren’t easy to manufacture. The hope is that with social media, you’ll create something compelling enough that others pass it along quickly.
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