subject: Viral Marketing Explained: Dos & Donts [print this page] To be successful in your viral marketing campaign, remember that there are some things to do and things not to do. When you have the basic idea behind these things, only then will you be on the right track to an effective viral marketing.
What are some of viral marketing dos?
Do allow people to make use of the freebies you are offering as free bonuses for the products and services that they are selling. For your advantage, you just include your ad on these freebies so people receiving them will know about you too.
Do give people the right to reprint articles that you have written either on their sites, newsletter, ezines or magazines. Do not forget to include you resource box on your articles. In the resource box, details about you should be present. These includes something about you and your product or service plus a link back to your website.
Do allow those who do not have websites of their own to sign up for a free site on your server. But you need to oblige them to put your banner on the site. Since you are giving them that free space, putting on something about you is important.
Do permit people to give out free templates, fonts and graphics your site is offering. As with any other freebies, your ad should be included in these freebies. Also ask these persons to put a link that goes directly to your site.
Do have discussion boards or forums set up and make it possible for people to use them for their site. Take note that not all people have their own site and most of them would want someone to provide for this need. Have them use yours but with your website inherent in their posts.
Do make deals with other sites. You can advertise their ads if they would also advertise yours. If that site is in the same business as yours, you can share the traffic that both are generating. In time you will notice that there will be new consumers contacting you. All this without having to pay an extra cash for promotion or affiliate.
Do hold contests on your site. This is one of the best ways of attracting people because of the prizes in store for them. Allow other sites to also offer these contests to their visitors. By doing this, you get your advertisement spread all over the Internet. Make certain that these contests are ongoing so that other sites have the capability to offer them regularly.
Now, what are viral marketing donts?
Do not allow your visitors to have your free online service given to their visitors, put into their websites or newsletters. By being this stubborn, you are losing your shot at free advertising.
Do not allow people to add your link to their directory. Directories considered as one of the most effective means of getting your message out there. Some website owners do no not like submitting to these even though no fee is included.
Do not make it possible for people to give out your free software. The reason for your free software is to be given away in the first place. People are always on the lookout for freebies that will be useful to them. Not allowing them to avail yours is getting on with their bad side.
Do not make free ezine directories. If you are too lazy to set up one, you may be losing a traffic generating tool that might have been more than useful for you. Directories can really get the attention of publishers and people who want to subscribe to ezines.
Do not allow people to duplicate advertisements on your site by permitting them to give your freebies away. This would have been a great way to start an affiliate program with. For a small fee, you can have people run your ads.
Do not get your products or services up for free evaluation. Giving your products for free in exchange for testimonials and evaluations is a good option. You can get to know any problems that your products might have when people evaluate them.
Knowing the dos and donts in viral marketing can take you a step higher into this kind of marketing.
