What Is Viral Marketing and Branding?

Viral, according to Webster.com, is caused by a virus which normally would be a bad thing. But when it comes to marketing or branding, it is a very good thing.

Image: Flickr and Gary Hayes

Viral marketing or branding is the process of taking your business branding message and having it catch-on and spread to your target customer with success. At the bottom of the image above, there are five key areas that you should include into your viral campaign:

• Involve your support team and affiliates to help increase exposure
• Create a campaign that will reach your target customers
• Discuss with those you are accountable too so you can get their input for your campaign
• Promote using social media, offline media and your networks
• Measure your efforts so you can make sure that you are making an impact with the campaign

Some additional things that you should keep in mind that could help you have a successful viral marketing or branding campaign are:

• Determine how your will implement your viral campaign.
• Do your research of how viral marketing/branding is handled by others in your industry so that you can see what works and doesn’t work.
• Create a plan that includes your current marketing/brand so that you can continue spreading your brand.
• Use social media networks to give your viral campaign momentum.
• Open up opportunities to affiliates to make money while they help you spread your viral campaign.
• Set a date to launch your campaign so that you will be encouraged to see everything through.

As you implement these simple steps as part of your viral campaign, remember that having a support team help you is a good thing to have in place.