Going Viral...(not what you think.)

[sundown]

Ok, stay with me here....

I'm looking for a way to implement viral marketing. But, to me, TRUE viral marketing is something that is so cool, entertaining or interesting, that people forward it on to everyone they know just because it's cool.

I want to do the same thing.

Desktop Tickers, Applications, etc.
How about the desktop stock tickers that some people have? Or the desktop weather forcasts, warning systems?

http://www.weatherbug.com

How is that done? How can I make my content, say a photo or tip of the day, or a special event, or maybe a sale item, show up on a desktop? Push technology, I think they call it.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Thanks.

[Anarchos]

Your title is misleading because I thought viral marketing when I read it, and it turned out to be viral marketing.

[jaiem]

Originally posted by Anarchos
Your title is misleading because I thought viral marketing when I read it, and it turned out to be viral marketing.

LOL! That would be a great name for an adult marketing service!

I read about "viral marketing" on another site. It's just the same ol' word-of-mouth but with a new buzz phrase. Probably earned some marketing consultant a good fee for thinking of the name.

[ollspin]

Originally posted by jaiem

It's just the same ol' word-of-mouth but with a new buzz phrase.

not really, there's a lot more to it than that.

examples of viral marketing include the dancing baby, flat eric and the budweiser 'whassup!' campaings - all original, funny, clever ideas.

the latest edition of Cre@teOnline (issue 19, sept 2001) have got a special on viral marketing which is well worth reading.

[jaiem]

Oll,

OK, so it's clever ads that you remember rather than the product itself. Like those Infinity commercials, the soap opra Taster's Choice commercials, or the GI Joe/Barbie commercial for Nissan (that one was great!).

Still sounds like just an old idea with a jazzy new name. That's the whole point of clever advertising: Get people to talk about the ad and spread the word by word-of-mouth.

Whether it actually sells more is the real issue. Those commercials I mention above were clever but didn't make me want to run out an buy the product.

[sundown]

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of Gerbil in a Microwave, Frog in a Blender (both JoeCartoon.com creations) or some of the other little .exe games/movies/toys that get forwarded to everyone in your address book.

Something to spread the word....

[ollspin]

jaiem, fair point - it is the latest buzzword. i wonder how long it'll take jacob neilson to slag it off!

viral marketing isnt directly about about getting a sale for a product, its about spreading your brand.

[RKuhle]

Originally posted by jaiem
Whether it actually sells more is the real issue. Those commercials I mention above were clever but didn't make me want to run out an buy the product.

Those commercials aren't meant to sell. They're created to grab your attention in a very creative way, which makes you remember the commercial forever. Then, they associate the commercial with their brand name. It's called branding. And it obviously works. You clearly remember Nissan, Barbie, and the Van Halen tune.

I remember that commercial too, and I remember where I was when I first saw it. I'll never forget the first Budweiser frogs commercial.

[Paul Reilly]

Ironically, I found your post through a viral ticker
it's at:

http://www.discussmarketing.com

Big brother's watching you, and virally reporting
on your posts ; )

Paul

[Jodi K.]

Originally posted by ollspin
viral marketing isnt directly about about getting a sale for a product, its about spreading your brand.

Hi ollspin. Actually, I believe the fundamental point behind "viral marketing" is that it's about having others spread your brand for you.

--Jodi