How Can You Can Go From Zero To Hero Overnight? Viral Marketing!

Everyone has heard about viral marketing but what is it and how long will it survive?

Viral Marketing is the creation of a message that is self-perpetuating and hence distributed exponentially after its release. The Internet is full of many classic examples, the most famous one being that of the free email company - Hotmail.

From Zero To Hero - Overnight!

When they started out Hotmail were missing a vital factor - traffic. The growth rate of their traffic was not sufficient to meet the needs of the company and a boost was required. It was at this point that the first mass viral marketing campaign via the Internet was launched.

As Hotmail was a free email service provider it could control, to a certain extent, the format of all outbound messages that each Hotmail account holder sent. It was this fact that led them to come up with a viral marketing campaign that has yet to beaten and saw their traffic skyrocket and eventually lead to Microsoft buying the company as a result of their exponential growth.

So what did they do? Simple. To the footer of each outgoing email they attached a signature file that read:

"To get your FREE email account goto www.hotmail.com".

As more and more people received emails from existing Hotmail account holders so the word spread about their free email service and the rest, as they say, is history.

But do campaigns such as this still work in today's consumer-orientated marketplace where Internet users are wise to such attempts at mass penetration?

Viral Marketing Can Really Pack A Punch

The incident with UK Member of Parliament John Prescott, a certain egg-throwing individual and an Internet-based game would suggest so. This particular viral marketing example made it onto national news in the UK! Panlogic, an advertising agency, who created an online game "Splat the MP" and launched it live on their website within 48 hours of Prescott's now infamous left-hook against an egg-throwing protester.

The results of this campaign were tremendous with people visiting the site in their thousands due to the unique way in which it captured the public's imagination. Panlogic had reached a truly national audience for a fraction of the cost that a conventional advertising or promotional campaign would have incurred.

All of which is good news for businesses recognising the potential of the Internet - far from being dead viral marketing is only just starting to come alive. With advancements in technology and high speed access not too far away the ways in which companies can get their potential customers to do their marketing for them look set to increase.

Michael Cheney is Author of The Website Marketing BibleTM. Take the Free 7-Part Course "Internet Marketing Made Easy" and get your free sampler of 'The Bible' here: http://www.websitemarketingbible.com/marketin g/

---

Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:51:06 GMT American space tourist blasts off in Soyuz rocket - The Associated Press Washington Post American space tourist blasts off in Soyuz rocket The Associated Press - 39 minutes ago BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) - A Soyuz spacecraft with two Americans and a Russian on board lifted off from Kazakhstan on Sunday for the international space station. Space Toilet Fixed – For Now eFluxMedia Russia launches spacecraft with sixth space tourist China Daily KGAN - MarketWatch - Spaceflight Now - USA Today all 615 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:11:37 GMT Many homers, and pitches, in Game 2 - MLB.com Los Angeles Times Many homers, and pitches, in Game 2 MLB.com - 2 hours ago By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com ST. PETERSBURG -- Five hours and 27 minutes elapsed during Saturday's American League Championship Series Game 2, bookending the moments when Scott Kazmir threw the game's first pitch over home plate and BJ Upton popped its ... Up, up, and away Boston Globe Mike Timlin shoulders blame Boston Herald Los Angeles Times - Washington Times - Tampa Tribune - ESPN all 495 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:22:57 GMT Theatrical Review of Body of Lies - DVDTOWN.com Theatrical Review of Body of Lies DVDTOWN.com - 11 hours ago By Jason P. Vargo "Body of Lies" is a certain type of movie designed for a certain type of moviegoer. I think the tagline describes the movie perfectly, actually. Will 'Chihuahua' take a bite out of 'Body of Lies'? Los Angeles Times Body of Lies Entertainment Weekly E! Online - San Francisco Chronicle - Reuters - Washington Post all 1,041 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:19:39 GMT Japan says will tap FX reserve if IMF steps up bailout - Reuters Voice of America Japan says will tap FX reserve if IMF steps up bailout Reuters - 6 hours ago WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Japan said on Saturday it is ready to offer a part of its $1 trillion foreign reserves to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if the multi-national lender is to support countries facing economic crisis. Video: IMF: Timing right for G7 ReutersVideo IMF Calls for Aggressive Response to Crisis New York Times Bloomberg - MarketWatch - Financial Times - Voice of America all 2,310 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:32:02 GMT McCain campaign's tone likened to George Wallace's - Newsday Malaysia Star McCain campaign's tone likened to George Wallace's Newsday - 2 hours ago WASHINGTON - Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and veteran of the civil rights movement, says the negative tone of the Republican presidential campaign reminds him of the hateful atmosphere segregationist Gov. McCain in 'hatred' war of words BBC News Obama thanks, jabs at McCain Chicago Tribune New York Times - Los Angeles Times - Reuters - AFP all 404 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:27:11 GMT ARM Holders Would Do Well to Shop Around Now - Washington Post Sify ARM Holders Would Do Well to Shop Around Now Washington Post - 4 hours ago By Nancy Trejos The global financial crisis has affected virtually every aspect of personal finance, from mortgages to student loans to credit cards to retirement savings. Finance giants reportedly ordered to buy $40 bln of mortgage bonds ... MarketWatch Fannie, Freddie to Buy $40 Billion a Month of Troubled Assets Bloomberg The Miami Herald - Orlando Sentinel - Sunday Paper - San Jose Mercury News all 227 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:07:17 GMT Van driver's work in Mass. aided Nobel winners - Boston Globe Boston Globe Van driver's work in Mass. aided Nobel winners Boston Globe - 7 hours ago HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—When two American scientists won a Nobel Prize this week in chemistry, the driver of a car dealership's courtesy van had reason to take special interest. Video: Nobel Chemistry Prize Goes for Jellyfish Protein AssociatedPress The Daily Yomiuri - The Associated Press - Ars Technica - New York Times all 1,253 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:14:18 GMT Affiliate Data Feeds Amazon Content

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Dont Baffle Me - Talk to Me

Congratulations, all you Internet marketing people you. You now command... Read More

9 Pointers for Evaluating a Business Proposal

Finding a business opportunity on the net is easy. But... Read More

7.5 Ways To Get More Sales Through Your Web Site

Yes, apparently - websites are supposed to make money! Somebody... Read More

Many Small Revenue Streams Are Best

There's an old story about a guy who had a... Read More

Ten Ways to Sell to Your Customers Again and Again

OK, so you're making some sales, either of your own... Read More

Growing Your Business In CyberSpace

A synopsis of Philippa Gamse's Presentation to the National Speakers... Read More

Can You Really Make Money While You Sleep?

If you've been utilizing the Internet for any length of... Read More

Why You Need To And How To Follow Up Your Visitor Or Customer

The person who comes to your web site seeking products... Read More

What Does It Take To Become An Internet Marketer?

I have heard many people say all it takes to... Read More

Physical and Mental Fitness for Internet Marketers

As you may have already read in our article "Health... Read More

Creating Functional Dialogue for Your Website

Opt in clicking promotes your business. By increasing link exchanges... Read More

How to Set Up a 7 Day E-Course

Be a Winner! Answer the Challenge! An e-course is a... Read More

Article Submitting: How To Study A Publisher?s Website

There are many websites that will host your articles on... Read More

Educate Yourself to Succeed in Internet Marketing

More and more people are considering the World Wide Web... Read More

Building Community Websites = Success Online

In this article I will discuss how important is it... Read More

Quick Guide to Internet Marketing: 9 Tips for Success on the Net

To market successfully you must incorporate the Internet into your... Read More

What Is Drop Shipping? The Perfect Solution

Drop shipping one of the greatest business innovations since products.... Read More

The Right Internet Marketing Articles Strategy is a Game of Links

Do you know the secret or internet marketing strategy behind... Read More

How to Get $250,000 Worth of Free Advertising for Your Business

You and I know that whenever you have a business,... Read More

How To Pull Massive Profits From Resale Rights Instantly

What's in your name?I'm not trying to be funny here,... Read More

3 Quick and Easy Steps to Earn Money Online!

Do you own a web site that is continually failing... Read More

Why Submitting Articles Gnaws at You Like an Unsent Thank-You Note

Writing and Submitting Articles is More about Psychology than Writing... Read More

Do?s and Don?ts for the Internet Marketing Newbie (Part 1)

I, myself, being an internet marketing "newbie" (endearing term used... Read More

Your First Web Site

And you are so proud of it. You have no... Read More

Setting Your Online Business Up for Success!

There is a common misconception that an "online business" requires... Read More