You’ve heard about it. You’ve heard the buzz. That BUZZ is buzzworthy. That’s what they say- the guru’s. That viral marketing is one of the most underestimated, understated, and under-used traffic generation method on the internet.
And when they speak, we listen. Right?
We all do listen and agree with what they say. So much so that we are ready to follow their advice even if it means that we will have to put all our eggs in just one basket. So much so that the people who are just starting a new internet business are talking about how their traffic will go viral and how they will become instant billionaires when their site goes live. Even if its not in the internet marketing niche. Even if its just a niche that has to do with some extra gratification.
And even if it means the death of their sites in the long run.
And I must state clearly here that I am a big fan of viral marketing and I certainly have used it at more than one point in the three years of internet marketing that I have done. I have to say this- It WORKS like a charm.
But.
And yes that’s a big, saggy, flabby, swayey but.
There’s a huge problem with that.
It’s not easy to carry off a viral marketing. Here’s what you need.
1. Incentive why people would promote your ampaign and share it with others. And please, unless you are a Bill Gates no one really wants you advice on software marketing even if that’s in the form a free PDF. Incentivize them generously.
2. How easy it is actually for them to spread the word as you want them to. And its not about using tell-a-friend and viral inviters. Everyone’s doing that now-a-days.
3. What’s different- They have already seen those tell a friend and friends inviters on Facebook and other websites. And now everyone is using them on their list building websites without realizing that people have really wisened up to the fact that “these” are being used to build their lists.
4. Who are you? I mean unless someone knows who you are and what you are going to do with the email ids of their friends that they will give along with their email id that they have already given, they won’t really want to share their friends’ information with you.
5. Where’s the value? So you are starting with an internet business. And you are not exactly a household name as of now. So how do you think will they know the amount of value in the form of knowledge that you will be giving them via your emails and free PDF’s. Show them the value first and ask them to spread the word later.
6. Why should I open this email; Even if the first person has sent an email to the second person, why would the second person really bother about opening and reading the email. You need to have an extremely compelling yet relevant subject line so that your emails get opened and read and you actually get them to click on the links that you are sending. And this my friend is not exactly as easy as it souds.
7. What’s In It For ME: If you can answer this question suitably enough for anyone that is going to get in your sales funnel, you might have a viral campaign at hand.
And that is what almost all new internet marketers fail to realize.
But even if you somehow manage to put across a viral campaign, there are a lot of other things that you need to keep in mind.
Viral marketing is like a wave. Like a rush. It just comes and goes. There’s a lot of traffic that increases exponentially, but before you start thinking your dreams are coming true you realize that its already beginning to slow down. And you think why…
Well its pretty obvious why. There are just so many people that really are interested in your niche or the content that you have put out to be the team leader of your viral marketing campaign. And most of them aren’t online.
Also bear in mind the people just want to jump on to what is the latest and the greatest thing on the internet at any point of time. And obviously a two weeks old viral campaign isn’t going to be the latest fad exactly.
And if you are hating me shouting in my face saying- “We are happy with a hundred thousand people in our niche if they all start following us after a viral campaign.”
But really, that’s the only income that you have then. Unlss you have mechanisms in place to actually mnonetize the rush and get people on youre list so that you can befit from that later on, you won’trreally have any business once the rush is gone and fever and the madness have run out.
So you need to keep the following things in mind:
1. Try to get them on your list…
2. Focus on building a relationship with them.
3. Have your blog and include the link to your blog in your signatures everwhere.
4. Obviously you need to put valuable information in there.
5. Give them 90% of your knowledge for free. This is what Mass Control is all about. And this is what I callpre selling which actually has them licking your fingers and ready to buy even before one of our paid product actually launbches. someytimes, people are just sop much pre sold that they don’t even botyher readuing the salesletters and that is what the expert marketers manage to do all the time.
6. Have other methods to drive a constant stream of free targeted traffic on to your website.
7. Have a mechanism in place that the website actually attracts at least as much traffic today as it attracted yesterday on its own. That is to say have your customers signing up as yuour afiliates. Miss this one and all forces on the planet can not together save your website from dying their own death. Like one hit wonders.
Remember, viral marketing can only give you a headstart. Its not be all and end all. you need to have mechanisms in place so that you can drive traffic over to your website all the time even if its just 500 visitors a day. That is when you are not really dependent on anyomne else for your business.
And also remember, not all your attempts at viral marketing will be hits. So you might have to deal with a little bit of frustration.
Remember, innovation and easy are the keys to a successful viral marketing campaign and if you have your own basic strean of free targeteed traffic then there’s no looking back.
Hi. I am Lakshay… An E-Business consultant and Info Product Marketer. I also love copywriting and specialze in that. I run several membership sites online providing content, services and products for online businesses and training and services for offline businesses. I also have quite a lot of offline business owners as my clients whom I have helped get online and also successfully reduce their advertising costs to one half while increasing the number of sales rapidly. And 99% of those people have just these words after they see what we could do for them.. \\\”Lakshay, I\\\’m speechless\\\”. Hi. I am Lakshay… An E-Business consultant and Info Product Marketer. I also love copywriting and specialze in that. I run several membership sites online providing content, services and products for online businesses and training and services for offline businesses. I also have quite a lot of offline business owners as my clients whom I have helped get online and also successfully reduce their advertising costs to one half while increasing the number of sales rapidly. And 99% of those people have just these words after they see what we could do for them.. “Lakshay, I’m speechless”. I’m not saying this brag and boast. In fact I can’t… Here’s why… Read more from this author
Hi Lakshay,
I just wanted to say that I am enjoying your ’secret traffic videos’! I am learning a lot! I have just finished watching video #6. In it you mentioned that a person is able to make 5 videos a day and upload them. In a month that person would have 150 videos and as a result have 150 targeted visitors, assuming 1 visitor per video. Next, in 1 year, you mentioned that same person would have 1800 videos, or 1800 targeted visitors as a result. Next, you mentioned, that even at a 3% conversion rate, that would give a person, roughly, 54 sales a day. I don’t understand how that would be 54 sales a day? Wouldn’t it be 54 sales at the end of 1 year?? You said at the end of 1 year, a person could possibly have 1800 visitors, resulting from 1 visitor per video assumption. So, I think, that if a person gets 1800 visitors to their website at the end of 1 year, and assuming a 3 person conversion, you would have 54 sales at the end of 1 year, not 54 sales per day?? Please correct me if I am wrong!! That is how I read it when watching the end of video #6.
Thank you,
Umberto
Hi Umberto!
Great To Know you are learning from the “Secret Traffic Videos” and finding them practically applicable.
My assumption was that you get 1 unique visitor per day from each video you submit. I didn’t say 1 visitor overall… I said 1 visitor per day per video you submit…
Well… You will like to know that for me… I get multiple visitors per day from my each of my videos and it is pretty cool numbers when you get down and do that!
-Lakshay
Hi Lakshay,
Thank you for writing back and for clearing it up for me! Actually, right after I posted the message, I looked at the same video again and I figured it out myself. Again assuming 1 visitor per day per video you submit, and also, assuming $100 product is sold. Although, yes, I can see the benefit and potential of creating such videos!!
Thanks
Umberto