Viral Marketing Systems?

[theChronic]

Hello,
I just saw a link to a "viral marketing" site system and signed up. However, has anyone had any luck with these schemes and making even like a dollar? Aside from the large bandwidth? (Example is the thingy in my profile)

Thanks,
John

ps If I have any luck I will post back

[John Scott]

Definitions of viral marketing on the Web:

any advertising that propagates itself. When Hotmail users send e-mail, they unwittingly infect the recipient with the tagline at the bottom of the message.
http://www.expedite-email-marketing....definition.htm

Any marketing technique that induces Web sites or users to pass on a marketing message to other sites or users, creating a potentially exponential growth in the message's visibility and effect.
www.c-latitude.com/glossary.asp

marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message.
http://www.tobysimkin.com/reference/...sary_Terms.asp

A campaign that uses word-of-mouth or “tell a friend� mechanisms.
multichannelmerchant.com/webchannel/affiliate/online_glossary/

Encouraging visitors to an online site to pass along a marketing message by providing an incentive for doing so.
www.positioning-search-engines.com/glossary.htm

is a technique whereby users are encouraged to pass on messages, especially slogans or product recommendations, to friends and relatives.
www.tecc.com.au/tecc/guide/glossary.asp

Online advertising, typcially through e-mail, which encourages recipients to spread the message (ie sign up 5 friends for a free gift)
www.metromemetics.com/thelexicon/v.asp

the marketer uses electronic media to stimulate and encourage word-of-mouth or electronic message dissemination between individuals.
wps.pearsoned.co.uk/wps/media/objects/1452/1487687/glossary/glossary.html

Viral marketing and viral advertising refer to marketing techniques that seek to exploit pre-existing social networks to produce exponential increases in brand awareness, through viral processes similar to the spread of an epidemic. It is word-of-mouth delivered and enhanced online; it harnesses the network effect of the Internet and can be very useful in reaching a large number of people rapidly.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing

Viral marketing is a good thing, in its pure form. In its ideal form, viral marketing is close to "buzz marketing" where people are more than happy to pass along the word.

However, what I see at the link in your sig is an evil thing called interruption marketing:

When someone signs up from your site, they must first click on your classified ad which will open a new window leading to your main website. They will have to wait a few seconds for the code to appear on a separate frame at the top of the screen.

While they wait, they will have time to read what you have to offer! This can equate to more sales, downline members, affiliate sign-ups, ezine subscribers, etc.! Each classified ad will have to be clicked on to retrieve a unique code meaning that you will receive FREE Traffic throughout all 6 levels!!!

So you are intentionally annoying the potential customers, who in fact are probably not your target market.

But you can always try it, and let us know the results.

[theChronic]

Yea I see what you mean about annoying potential customers. I am not even sure if they could be potential customers. I think it may just be something with myself where I want to see a huge number of hits ha. I'll see I guess, it does seem sorta evil, but entertaining at the same time

Peace

[John Scott]

I remember years ago when I loved hits. Got a real kick out of looking at the stats and seeing a couple thousand UV a day. Nowadays I just look at the bottom line - daily sales. But ya, traffic is fun.

[Michael Allison]

I can't see any logic in getting excited having high traffic without long browse times and, of course, extensive use of the survey widget... or buy button, whatever you call it.

-Michael

[Bidera]

True viral marketing has to be done by yourself (or some marketing specialists you hire for yourself), joining someone else's "program" is not going to be real productive for you in the long term.

[edman]

Originally Posted by JohnScott

I remember years ago when I loved hits. Got a real kick out of looking at the stats and seeing a couple thousand UV a day. Nowadays I just look at the bottom line - daily sales. But ya, traffic is fun.

Right there John... Hits mean nothing if they can't be converted into sales. And if hits are just people who open your site in a browser because they wantto get points... really it's not even a hit, its just a joke played on oneself...

Stick with real hits!

[webdesignerguy]

Speaking of viral marketing, a friend just sent me an email about this guy's site:

http://www.musicofamillion.com

He's trying to raise $1 mil to build a music studio for himself...people download his music for $1, then they place their ad on his site...it seems like it could definitely take off, so I put my ad there already.

[theChronic]

Interesting. The chance of success comes from the good readability and how it seems personal. Don't think it takes a million bucks though for a recording studio ha. But what do I know..

[John Scott]

Nice music, but dumb idea, IMO.

[radioguy23]

<SPAM>

[G10]

Why not just answer it here instead of making a thread with a load of links to your site and then posting in here asking people to visit your site for answers?

[charlesgan]

nice thread about this viral marketing.
been reading about it lately as well.

the idea seem like only working for a really good product, free service kind of thing. where viral marketing can really take off. Myspace.com, youtube.com, blogger.com etc.

using mouth to mouth spread the word, and causes the 'viral' = virus marketing reaction. fast, effective, and free.

never work if u r affiliates or jus a information website. you definately need product/service