Internet Marketing and Viral Marketing: Understanding the Relationship
The rise of the internet has drastically changed the way businesses reach out to potential customers. Traditional marketing methods such as print ads and television commercials are no longer enough to capture the attention of the tech-savvy generation. This shift has led to the emergence of internet marketing, a digital strategy that utilizes various online platforms to promote products or services.
Within internet marketing, there is another powerful technique that has revolutionized the industry – viral marketing. The term may sound unfamiliar, but you have most likely encountered it without realizing it. Take the recent “ice bucket challenge” for instance, where individuals pour a bucket of ice water over their heads to raise awareness and funds for ALS. It quickly became a global phenomenon, with millions of people participating and sharing videos on social media. That, my friends, is viral marketing in action.
What is Internet Marketing?
Internet marketing, also known as online marketing, is the process of promoting a product or service through various online channels such as websites, social media, email, search engines, and more. Its primary goal is to drive traffic to a website and convert visitors into customers. Unlike traditional marketing, internet marketing offers a more targeted approach to reach potential customers, as it allows businesses to reach a specific audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
The various techniques used in internet marketing include:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – optimizing a website’s content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords.
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising – placing ads on search engines or other websites and paying for each click that directs a user to your website.
- Email Marketing – sending promotional emails to a targeted list of subscribers to promote products or services.
- Social Media Marketing – utilizing social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote products or services.
- Content Marketing – creating and sharing valuable and relevant content to attract and retain a target audience.
What is Viral Marketing?
On the other hand, viral marketing refers to a marketing technique that uses social media networks and other online platforms to spread awareness about a product or service quickly. The main idea behind viral marketing is to create a piece of content that is unique, interesting, or entertaining enough to be shared by users, thus amplifying its reach. A successful viral marketing campaign can result in massive brand exposure, increase in website traffic, and ultimately, boost sales.
Here are some characteristics of a viral marketing campaign:
- Creative and attention-grabbing – the content must be unique and compelling enough to spark an emotional reaction from viewers.
- Easily shareable – the content must be easy to share on social media platforms, email, and messaging apps.
- Targeted towards a specific audience – the content should resonate with the target audience to encourage them to share it with their network.
- Low cost, high impact – viral marketing campaigns often require minimal investment but have the potential to reach a massive audience.
The Relationship Between Internet Marketing and Viral Marketing
At first glance, it may seem that internet marketing and viral marketing are two separate strategies, but the truth is, they work hand in hand. Internet marketing involves using various online channels to promote a brand, whereas viral marketing focuses on creating a piece of content that can spread like wildfire. When combined, they can create a powerful marketing force that can bring in significant results for a business.
Here are some ways internet marketing and viral marketing work together:
- Amplifies the reach of internet marketing efforts
- Cost-effective advertising
Viral marketing is a great driver of website traffic. When a viral campaign becomes popular, it leads to an increase in website visits, social media followers, and email subscribers, all of which can be converted into customers through internet marketing techniques. Moreover, viral content often has a longer lifespan compared to other forms of content, resulting in continuous traffic to a website even after the campaign has ended.
Viral marketing is a low-cost strategy that can potentially bring massive brand exposure. It requires minimal investment and relies on the power of word-of-mouth and social sharing to spread the content. Combining viral marketing with other internet marketing techniques can result in a cost-effective and impactful advertising campaign.
The key to successful internet and viral marketing is to constantly monitor and analyze the results of a campaign. Understanding which channels and strategies work best for a specific business is essential in creating and implementing effective marketing campaigns. It is also crucial to stay updated with the latest digital trends and adjust strategies accordingly to stay ahead of the competition.
In conclusion,
Internet marketing and viral marketing are two powerful strategies that, when combined, can result in significant brand exposure, increase in website traffic, and ultimately, boost sales. With the internet constantly evolving, businesses must adapt to remain competitive and utilize these techniques to reach potential customers effectively. So don’t fall behind, embrace internet marketing and viral marketing and watch your business grow in the digital world.
