More classic examples of Viral Marketing

1) DID YOU KNOW??

This is a very cool and genius video, it been spread around everywhere on the internet, Facebook, Youtube or emails. With all the information that people are interesting to know, from Youtube record, there are 6,012,995 views with 5983 ratings. Under the category of Science & Technology, this video had been rated as 36 TOP VIEWD and 36 TOP FAVORITED VIDEO. As you can see from these figures, it is a very good example of Viral Marketing.



2) Honda

Probably most of you had seen this video but up to now, there are still many people thinks this is the coolest automobile ad. This is also an ad that makes people wanted to share with friends and its also a great example of how you should be creative and unique when making a viral video.

Word of Mouth = Word of Mouse

In the world of the Internet, mouse is instead of mouth because people use “click” function to forward message to their friends. Nowadays, technology provides convenience tools for sharing on the Internet such as TVB.COM and YOUTUBE. We can see “facebook share”, “e-mail share” or “add my playlist”. Audience just uses their computer mouse to click button and link the video to their facebook, then their friends may click it and watch the details.
when you see a video as below, will you forward it to your friends?

Molave attacked Hong Kong on 18-19 Jul(Souce from: www.youtube.com)

Be careful to the pitfalls

Viral marketing has been deemed by some as the answer to a marketer’s prayers – a quick, cheap way to broadcast a message, drive awareness and generate hot leads. Yet, while viral marketing is a powerful marketing tool, it is also a pitfall.

When you release your virus, you instantly lose control. Recently, there are many teenage models appear in the media. The models are going to publish personal albums during the Hong Kong Book Fair.


Kama《 My Secret Album》

The cover is prohibited and has to package with plastic bag.
http://www.getjetso.com/forum/thread-323340-1-1.html

On the other hand, it arouses the public to concerning the unhealthy morality and started to against oppose the teenage models. In Facebook, there is a communication Group which reflects the joiners feeling - Oppose the rubbish culture, teen models please leave the Hong Kong Book Fair in July.



http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102010838579#/group.php?gid=83755732705

Here you can see that the affection of Viral marketing.

Local Example of Viral Marketing - McDonald Hello Kitty Lab Game

Here is the second case.

Recently, McDonald launch the Hello Kitty Lab figure and the summer special drinks and dessert. Do you remember there is a TV advertisement ask people to click into McDonald's website to play the game and win the prize?



Viral marketing can also creating buzz through the game. Let play it together!
http://www.mcdonalds.com.hk/chinese/campaign/summer09/index.htm

Foreign Example of Viral Marketing:
1. Best Job in the World
2. Evian Roller Babies
3. Hotmail (i) & Hotmail (ii)
4. hongkong168.com

Local Example of Viral Marketing – hongkong168.com

In Hong Kong, there are many example of Viral Marketing too! Some of them are very successful, however, some of them are not. Let's share some of them. You may guess which is the successful or the unsuccessful example. But, we will not tell you the answer. "lol"

The first case is the hongkong168.com

Foreign Example of Viral Marketing:
1. Best Job in the World
2. Evian Roller Babies
3. Hotmail (i) & Hotmail (ii)

Tips of Viral Marketing

We have mentioned how to Viral marketing in the 3 marketing mix, "Price, Place and Promotion". Now, let me give a tips on "Product".

How to reinforce the advertising effect of a product by using Viral Marketing strategy?

Many Viral Marketing program utilize free products or services to stimulate consumer’s interest. Frankly speaking, it is very effective. However, this is only one of the methods to catch the attention from the consumers.

Actually, there are some more effective methods to strengthen the advertising effect of a product by Viral Marketing. Let me give you a tips now. Creating quality and special content, such as hilarious, raunchy or exaggerated content, can often make or break a viral campaign. But, you need to estimate the risk first. If you use this method more professionally and cautiously, the result of this method is often better than utilize free products.

It’s real, let’s try it now!!

Harry Potter 6 in theaters 07.15

Hogwarts, Voldemart, Dumbledore....... what are these stange words if you have no idea who is Harry Potter. I guess all of the magic fans are super looking forwad to hearing these words again. That's right, Harry Potter series 6, Half Blood Prince is coming in theatres on July 15th.

Right now, yahoo hk is now working with warner bros picture which is the film production company to launch a special program, and you have a good chance to get a free ticket and a souvenir from hk yahoo. Other than that, through an official website of this film, you can use facebook to search all Harry's fans around the world, talk about your favorite characters, funny magic, Check out details through this link and get a free ticket NOW~~

http://hk.promo.yahoo.com/movie/harrypotter6/

Eason Chan be a delivery boy??

Viral marketing in marketing mix ( product, price, place and promotion )will creative a synergies to the marketing campaign. We have mentioned how to Viral marketing in the “Price”, let talk about the application on “Place”!

Have you been imagine Eason Chan be a delivery boy and delivery a hot meal to you? That is not a dream anymore. Recently, McDonald has a new campaign on 24hrs delivery service, on using the celebrities are a delivery boy, like Joey Yung and Eason Chan.

That is a good example of McDonald using Viral marketing to promote the new "24hrs delivery service". They using the celebrities be a delivery men will let people keep on talking if they think of the delivery service as they will imagine they will have chance to meet with their idol!

Have to take action to order? Eason Chan may be your next delivery boy!

1 DOLLAR chicken

"saving every one dollar"

Have you ever think about the use of one dollar coin?













For most of us, one dollar coin is unpopular in our wallet. When you receive it, you would use it as fast as possible. When you see it lying on the street, you would not save it from the ground.

In viral marketing, "unpopular" could become very popular! Nowadays, we are suffering from the financial issue. The things we talk about much is Money, Money & Money. We need to SAVE EVERY ONE DOLLAR!

Would you believe $1 could have a chicken in a restaurant before? Viral marketing, has a magic that makes something unbelievable comes true.





= $1






Marketers of a chinese restaurant, Taoheung, practiced this marketing tool and succeed. Customers like me, who rarely go to the restaurant, visit it when hearing this promotion!
The promotion message was then spread rapidly in the internet. Once I heard about the $1 chicken, I was wondering the credibility.

"How can a company do business with no profit?"
After all, it is viral marketing. Price is a very good element for this pratice. For the marketers, $1 chicken would bring a large impact which is bigger than the lost of cost. Media, such as newspaper and magazine, reported the promotion free of charge. Also, it helped to gain good image of the brand.

Pricing strategy practice well in viral marketing, especially when customers focus heavily on the price when buying. "$1 chicken" seems a lost to the company, but it gains media coverage and public awareness. Therefore, it is a Win- Win situation at last.

Evian Roller Babies

Recently, there is a very successful example that using Viral Marketing to promote the brand of a drinks company - evian.



Through the video shared in YouTube channel, they would like to show their energic brand image to the people by oberving the effect of evian on the main cast - babies from many different nationalities.

Let's take a look first.


Wow!!!

How do feel on it? It's wonderful, right? Yes, sure!

This video provides three versions, internation version, US version and France version, that launched in YouTube for 11 days only. Although 11 days is a short period of time, the total number of views is already more than 8.5 millions. What's a outstanding record in YouTube channel.

If you go to the user page of evian in YouTube, you may find the making of and the other 2 related videos too. It's very funny!!!

Let me share the making of with you all.

Evian Roller Babies Making Of

BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

Have you ever think about what is your dream job? Some may say the attractive offer, and some may say have the job that you really love it. How about the mix of these two factors?



The Queensland tourism board organise a campaign that recruit a person from the world for half year to be the caretaker of the great barrier reef islands with the best offer. The campaign called "THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD".



Do they need to use a huge effort to capture the international awareness? Not exactly! This campaign itself can generate much of the buzz, exposure and circulation since who don't like this job? Besides, every applicant should upload their own video clip to introduce themselves and the Queensland tourism board have a website for the public to vote which video appeals you. That is why they can create such a great noise from all corner of the world.



The responsibilities of the Island caretaker is to clean the pool, feed the fish, collect the mail, explore and report back through the blog. The job commence at 1 July 2009. Here it is his blog: http://www.islandreefjob.com/

Classic Example of Hotmail ----- Part II

With yesterday discussion about the classic Hotmail example in viral marketing, are you looking forward to know the rest??

Now you know that there are people actually working at the back end while we are sending emails to our friends, here is the rest of the strategies :

1. After you sent an email to your friend with Hotmail, as the recipient read the message, they will be able to see the simple message at the bottom. With using the word “free”, it can easily attract more new customers.
2. Of course, if the person is interested, they can sign up for their own free e-mail service and start chatting with their friends.
3. Lastly, customers can build up more relationship by propel the message in order to widen their own ever-increasing circles of friends and associates.

Like tiny waves spreading ever farther from a single pebble dropped into a pond, a carefully designed viral marketing strategy ripples outward extremely rapidly.

Related article by Carvian

Classic Example of Viral Marketing -Hotmail (i)

Classic Example of Hotmail

Hey, to better understand viral marketing, I almost forgot there is a classic example that we must talk about…… is the Hotmail.com, one of the first free Web-based e-mail services.

Did you sign up your first email with Hotmail.com? I think the majority of us..

The strategy of hotmail is very simple, there are 6 stages, let’s talks about the first 3 :

1. Hotmail give away free e-mail addresses to people to communicate through the Internet and to send / received files and visuals.
2. Hotmail will attach a simple tag at the bottom of every free message sent out: "Get your private, free email at http://www.hotmail.com". This way, they can advertise for free and create WOM, they also use the term “free” to attract people.
3. In the back end, Hotmail staff will stand back while people e-mail to their own network of friends and associate.

Have you ever realize that from long long time ago viral marketing was already being used through digital, want to know the rest of how Hotmail managed viral marketing? Come back and check out tomorrow!!

Related article by Carvian

Classic Example of Viral Marketing - Hotmail (ii)

The Disadvantage of Viral Marketing

There are always advantages and disadvantages in everything; there are no exceptions, especially for viral marketing. Now, let me explain some disadvantages of using viral marketing.

1. Nuisance Factor



People get so many internet noises everyday; they have difficulty to determine which message they should pay attention to. The message, just like a spam mail, is likely to be deleted or ignored instead of being passed on to the other people.

2. Negative Buzz



People most likely to talk about the bad things rather than the good things, people will not take time to proof the negative news. As a result, the business will suffer.

3. Ethical Considerations

Although there are some privacy policies to limit the transaction of the mailing list of a company, there are some recipients who feel that viral marketing is a sleazy practice. They may even choose not to do business with those companies at the end.

4. Hard to measure

Viral marketing can be a hit and miss proposition, or unless the campaign is being handled by experience individuals; it can be very difficult to determine whether it is a worthwhile proposition.


Related article by John

The advantage of Viral Marketing

The Advantage of Viral Marketing

We know that there are many examples that companies use viral marketing to increase brand awareness and to achieve marketing objectives. You may ask why there is more and more companies like to use viral marketing as a marketing technique. Now, let me explain some advantages of using viral marketing.

1. Reachable

Viral marketing concerns on reaching people through internet. Hence, you can reach anyone at anytime and any places. That means there is no limitation on who you can reach.

2. Cost effective

Viral marketing usually uses techniques like joining social networks, building profiles, writing blogs and making videos. So, you can do whatever you want with a small cost or even free of charge.

3. Fast recognition

Without any restrictions or reservations, medium allows you to be as creative as you want. When people come over with the creative advertising many times, they will start recognizing the name and the business quicker than those who are using traditional marketing.

4. Enhance the ranking on the search engine

Ranking on the search engine is partly determined by the amount of one-way link leading to your homepage, such as embedding your video or posting your link.

Next, let’s talk about the disadvantage of the viral marketing.

Related article by John

The disadvantage of Viral Marketing

Transformer 2

Example's here...... the new movie Transformer 2 "Revenge of the Fallen'' crossover M&M to launch a new flavor of chocolate "strawberried peanut butter'' with limited-edition packages. Both sides can take this good opportunity to promote their products by attaching from each other. (Go get the new chocolate if you never try~~ YUMMY~~~~)

I guess you guys might see the latest souvenir ticktes advertisment in mtr station, Guess what it is ? Hello Kitty ? Mickey Mouse ? HaHa...nice try~~ Is Transformer 2 !!! Recently, MTR has launched a limited edition souvenir group tickets to transformer super fans. This affiliate marketing strategy is totally draw your attention, right ??

Related article by Elisha
The 6th principle of Viral Marketing - The Last Principle

The Last Principle

The last one is called ''taking advantages of others' resources''. That means by using affiliate marketing from one website to drive the vistors to another. For example : place text or graphic links on others' website. The explosure of the message can easily be enhanced and enables the vistors to access the related information and find the best resources quickly.

Nowadays, affiliate marketing approach is one of the fastest growing and most used in the world, for business, it allows people to make money online by promoting service and product more effective. Also, the evaluation of click-through rate can be viewed as how successful your affiliate program, if not, any amendment can be made to enhance the explosure.

Next time, i will upload an example to make you know more about this..........................

Michael Jackson, RIP

Michael Jackson, the world’s greatest entertainer passed away on 25 June aged 50. The sudden death of MJ has left the world shocked. Fans had different ways to remembering the king of pop.

Above is a sand sculpture tribute in Puri, India.

On the other hand, various online services are used for fans to tribute MJ. Social-networking sites like Facebook reported a sudden increase in membership for the Michael Jackson fan page that following Jackson's death.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/?browse&ps=151#/pages/RIP-Michael-Jackson-We-Miss-You/132749984408?ref=s

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, you will always on our heart.



Related article by Debby
The 5th principle of Viral Marketing - Uses existing communication networks

Uses existing communication networks

Viral Marketing only cost very little to execute but it can deliver astounding results in a very short period. One of the successful factors is make use of the social networks.

Although people may have different personality, some are sociable and some are not, they are social. People have to constantly communicating through different methods. Social scientists tell us that each person has a network of 8 to 12 people in their close network of friends, family, and associates.

With the improvement of technology, communication is easier than before. People on the Internet can develop network of relationships, and they like to use social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc. As a result, the network is wider. You may have many “friends” that you probably don’t know.

Learn to place your message into these communication networks for true success in your viral marketing strategy.

Took PITY on a little poor child

Joseph Pulitzer prize winning photo of Kevin Carter in 1994 is a picture showed as following.

A bald eagle is looking at a weak and hunger child as well as waiting for her death. It is difficult for her to walk far away from the bald eagle. The situation is very urgent and it seems waiting to eat the child. The photographer was blamed because many people might think that he wants to win the prize and gain fine reputation in the industry. However he didn’t help the girl and let the bald eagle to eat her. When people read this photo, they may feel angry and think the photographer is cold bloodedly.

Using human emotion pushs audience to forward this photo to their friends and relative to let them know the feeling and messages of this picture. We might read this photo from forwarding e-mail and in some forums such as catcat forum. All those channels push and pull audiences to read and pass to others.


Related article by Gladys
The 4th principle of Viral Marketing - Exploits common motivations and behaviors

Exploits common motivations and behaviors

Using human motivation and behavior as a tool is very common in viral marketing. Marketers always use a message which is related to human motivation and behavior such as hunger and love to push people to forward messages to their friends, relatives, colleagues through the Internet channel likes e-mail, forums and chat rooms. Many people are in sympathy with the content of message and they might pass the message to others as well as they would have same feeling with them. However, the message likes a virus which infects to another people in short time and wide spreading. Design a marketing strategy that builds on common motivation and behaviors for its transmission, and it is a successful promotion method in this generation because of low cost and high exposure.

Coca Cola YouTube Channels

When I'm saying youtube, I believe that all of you are familar with it. It is an international social network for you to share or to watch the videos. Have you ever subscribe to some organisation's video?

Coca Cola, as an international brand, it is too complicated for them to generate public attention to their brand and make it consistant as their target are the consumers in the world. To the viral marketing, we can make use of the channels so as to disemmionate the message to the larger scale of customers. Coca Cola offical have created a Coca Cola Channels in youtube, they will post some videos on it from time to time. It can keeping the connections with the worldwide Coca Cola fans.




Related article by Janet
The 3rd principle of Viral Marketing - Virus......Here I come~

Virus......Here I come~

You may curious how viral marketing can spread like an virus increased by multiple.


Certainly, your product/service should have an unique selling point. If your marketing effort become a talking point for the general public, the awareness would be enhanced. The traditional marketing method may place an print ad or send a mail. However, the general public disgust with this type of junk mail as it is so hardselling. Also, it is a passive way and they may not your target. On the other hand, viral marketing can motivate them to paly an active role to search about your product/service.


It seems quite similar with the word-of-mouth marketing. NOT exactly! You are not only telling the goodness of the product/service, you may also building your brand image, spread out the information in a faster way, etc. It all depends on your strategy. Nowaday, the widely use of Internet social network like facebook and twitter, it can enhance the speed of flowing the message.

Facebook examples

As we discussed what is the mean of “Provides for effortless transfer to others”, let us to use some example to explain.





Facebook will upload difference type of flash game in a period of time, but why you know they have the new game launch? The reason is the invitation function during the game. Each game in facebook have an invitation key to let you invite your friend to join the game and provide some “benefit” to you in your game to induce you to invite your friend to come to facebook and play the game.

Therefore, facebook can spread their message during each invitation. Game, is easily to attract people to go into the website, and the link always paste in the invitation e-mail so that people can easy to access.

Related article by Anna

The 2nd principle of Viral marketing -“Provides for effortless transfer to others”

“Provides for effortless transfer to others”

The second element of Viral marketing is “Provides for effortless transfer to others”.

The main reason of Swine flue spread so fast in the world is the virus which is easy to transfer through touching hand and public facilities. Viral marketing has a same theory that message need to be easy to transfer and the media which carrying the messages need to be easy to transmit and replicate. Therefore, the digital format materials and the free and instant communication platform, Internet, efficient the Viral marketing’s development. Topical examples are e-mail, website, graphic and software download. Also, the short and attractive message will be advantage on spreading the message.

WOW! Buy 1 get 1 FREE!

I enjoy shopping with discount, and hope to share with friends. If you like coffee, here brings you BUY 1 GET 1 FREE in Pacific Coffee!!













This is one of the practice of viral marketing. Pacific Coffee cooperated with another corporate, NOW TV and offered discount to her advertisers. The coupon can be used by both NOW TV advertisers and non - NOW TV advertisers. Therefore, when the target group received the coupon, they will send the free coupon to their friends and family.

In this situation, viral marketing is working. At the beginning, marketers only sent coupons to NOW TV advertisers. After the process of giving by the initial recievers via internet, such as blogs and emails, the FREE message of the marketers is then passed to multiple people. The cost by the marketers would be relatively cheaper by applying this viral marketing tool.


Related article by Agnes
The 1st principle of Viral Marketing - FREE!! FREEZE!!!

FREE!! FREEZE!!!

Starting from here, we would like to share the six elements of viral marketing with you in the following posts.

There is nothing attractive as something FREE. Eyeballs would be freeze when where is free. Viral marketing is a kind of giving for gaining. No matter you are a virual marketer or an internet user, you are familiar with this marketing tool.

Have you ever recieve emails with value message? What is your action next? Will you click "forward" to share with your family and friends? Sharing with someone you love would gain happiness; giving information away would gain sales. This formula encourage marketers create attractive ad via internet. Viral marketing likes virus, spreading quickly and speedy to the end.

Virual marketing practices well on promotions. When you get discount email from companies, you will quickly send to your friends and your friends will do the same. It is a cycle which might goes around maybe thousands or even millions of people. Marketers then gain high reach on the public and increase sales.

Next, some examples are coming to share!

What is Viral Marketing????

The term “Viral Marketing” (病毒式行銷) is getting so popular lately within the Marketer’s group and you can see all these creative works from this tectniques are usually very creative and eye catching. Do you really know what Viral Marketing is?

Viral Marketing describes any strategies that encourage the reader to pass on the marketing message and take this advantage to reach thousands or even millions of people rapidly, just like computer virus, it spread around very quickly. Viral Marketing can be done off or on the internet. Off the internet, it can be described as “word-of-mouth”, “creating a buzz”, “giving out samples” and “network social marketing”.

However, it mainly focus on the internet, it is the most powerful channel to expand your message to others in the cheapest way. So, marketers will add in many creative design or zany messages to attract people and in these websites, you can see buttons likes “Share with friends” or “Forward to friends”. Simply share by entered your friend’s email address.

Stay with us, the six elements of Viral Marketing will be coming soon.

Viral Marketing

Congratulations!!!!!

Congratulations to the launchung of our Blog

"Viral Marketing (SPD4290): Definition, Elements, Examples, Videos - It's FREE!!!"

on 9th June, 2009. In this blog, our team will introduce an attractive marketing topic which is Viral Marketing. We would like to share our studies with you all. We are pleased to receive your comment about this blog and our writing.

First of all, do you know "What is Viral marketing???"



Please read our blog more frequently and learn more about what is Viral Marketing now!

Thanks!

by "Boom!"