A Basic Viral Marketing
Tactic To Get Started
A viral marketing tactic is only part of an overall viral strategy. While a strategy defines goals, process(es) and actions, tactics help you executing these actions. Viral tactics are the practical implementation of what the strategy defines. They put it all into place.
Two of the most important actions in each viral strategy are:
- Sparking off and broadcasting the message, and
- List building by capturing email addresses via double opt-in
The success of viral network marketing campaigns largely depends on these two actions. The better the viral tactic for each action, the better the campaign.
So lets look at...
Viral Marketing Tactics For Spark-Off And List Building
As you will see, this is about lead generation and qualification and targeted at network marketers' needs. The viral tactics used here are for a win-win viral strategy. It makes them generally applicable.
The best viral marketing tactic is the most effective one. Therefore you are best off when you can make use of places which are highly visited by your target audience. More on what's effective.
For a better understanding, take a look at this five step process for evaluating a win-win based viral marketing strategy. Why a win-win focus? It's the only way to genuinely grow your business by generating long lasting benefits for your prospects, leads and downline members.
Sparking Off The Marketing Message
The viral marketing tactic here splits itself into two parts. And they are:
Seeding - Create interest and awareness in the right places
The purpose of seeding is to create an awareness of special needs in your target market. You also create an interest in a possible solution.
Your target audience visits certain online places. Which ones? Check out these places to find them and seed your marketing message.
- lists: if you already have a list, use it
- blogs: your own one or in other places
- article directories: very effective for creating awareness
- forums and communities: where folks exchange ideas
You can use your web site in your viral marketing tactic, too. Do you have your own highly visited Web site or forum? Then you have a credibility bonus. If you think it is appropriate, create a new category or group for visitors who are network marketers and discuss their problems and needs.
What message or text creates interest and awareness?
Leave messages in all the online places and ask for a solution which finally solves the needs of the audience in your target market. Do it months before sparking off your campaign. How? See below...
Your subject line for a post in a forum:
"What's wrong with all these cash and lead generating systems?" OR
"Why do downlines collapse in a blink of an eye?"
Your text:
Is there a solution to all this? A solution which gets you quality people who stay with you? I have tested a couple of systems but, none really provides lasting benefits to your leads and downline members.
I know, what I'm seeking is probably something like a perfect prospecting, lead generating and sponsoring system. Whatever, I will certainly continue testing to see which system delivers on its promises. Think of it, wouldn't it be great if...
List the benefits of such a system - or of your product or service - to your target audience. Wait for responses and discuss your topic to keep interest high. Keep the forums busy with this topic and tie folks into the discussion.
Create a different text for your lists and articles. For an email to your list, talk about the desired benefits of such a system. Let them know the shortcomings of the systems you tested and that you will keep your list members posted when you think you've found a viable system. Make sure you know the systems you tested.
Spark-Off - Broadcast the message in your online places
Check that your front- and back-end system are working fine. Make sure your viral marketing system is working perfectly when starting your campaigns. People will want to see the product or service in question and they will want to download stuff.
Create a compelling message text for your target audience. Start your message with an attention grabbing headline. Target the needs on one side and the shortcomings of the previously systems on the other.
Let them know that you finally found a system which comes very close to solving your main business needs. Spell out these needs (see this list of needs of network marketers to get a glimpse). Lead your readers to click on a link to a special Web page.
List Building - The Front-End's Last Task
That special Web page is a provocative, mind grabbing sales pitch. Often it's provided by your affiliate or viral marketing program owner. It's a direct response marketing Web page giving your prospects a choice. The page's provocative content is another viral marketing tactic.
Get their Email addresses, irrespective of them buying or not. You will get people who will turn in their email address via double opt-in and buy the valuable, information packed viral eBook. And you will also get people who don't want to buy the eBook.
Give non-buyers the choice to download a free preview of the real eBook in turn for their email address (no double opt-in). This preview will presell them to buy the real viral eBook where they will be required to double verify their request.
The viral marketing tactic used here is a valuable viral eBook. The first steps - seeding and spark-off - are there to prepare the second, the actual viral tactic of list building using a viral eBook.
