Things That Go Viral In The Night

Posted by Steven Wagenheim on September 09, 2010 in General, Marketing Articles

Viral marketing…some people just don’t get it. I can’t tell you how many times I see the same question asked again and again.

“How can I get my site to go viral?”

Maybe you yourself are wondering how to start a viral campaign. Well, while I can’t possibly cover everything involved in viral marketing in the space of an article, I can give you some ideas that will get you on your way.

For starters, and this is probably the most important thing, you have to have something WORTH going viral. I hate to say this, but a blog with photos of your pet cat isn’t going to do it. It has to be something that people are going to want to talk about.

Let me repeat that because it needs to sink in.

It has to be something that people are going to want to talk about.

Okay, so what things do people like to talk about? Well, generally speaking, things that are new and different. When Google comes out with a new service or product, people start talking about it. Google doesn’t have to do anything but let the public know what it is.

I get it, you’re not Google. But it’s the same concept. Come out with something new and people WILL talk about it. How much will depend on how much effort you put into making the darn thing go viral.

For that, we have many options.

To begin with, we have social media. Like it or not, more people are on things like Facebook and Twitter than just about any other platform…including Google.

Yes…Facebook is beating out Google for eyeballs. Everybody I know is on Facebook…everybody.

So imagine you came out with something totally outrageous and spread it to your friends on Facebook.

Think they won’t spread it to THEIR friends and so on and so on? Eventually, if it’s really something worth talking about, trust me…the word will spread like wild fire.

Another great way to make things go viral is with video. Make a video of your new thing and submit it to YouTube. Eventually, even if just ONE person sees it, if it’s unique enough, they’ll share it with others. And the chain will start.

You could also write about this new thing and put it in a free ebook download. Take that ebook and upload it to as many download directories that you can find. Give people an incentive in the ebook (make it rebrandable) to give it to others. A built in affiliate program would work wonders.

If you really want to go crazy, put out a press release announcing this new thing. If it’s REALLY news worthy, the press will jump on it like nobody’s business. It might even end up making the 6 o’clock news.

But it all begins with the thing itself. If it’s some mundane “me too” product, service or whatever, nobody is going to care enough to share it with others.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

Tired of creating products that nobody wants and don’t sell? Check out my Complete Guide To Product Creation at http://www.stevewagenheim.com/productcreation.html and create products that actually sell.