BLOGS & THOUGHTS

Have you ever thought why a content or advertisement can go viral and be known by many people? While other advertisements are not like that, but this does not happen suddenly, but there is a strategy that regulates it, namely Viral Marketing.

Viral marketing is now supported because technology is developing very rapidly, especially with the presence of social media which is often used as the main medium for viral content.

The advantages of viral marketing can vary, such as increasing brand awareness to sales, even this viral marketing strategy can be said to be more effective in making successful promotions compared to various existing strategies.

What is Viral Marketing?
What are the advantages of this strategy? Check out the full description below!

Viral Marketing is one of the promotional strategies to make an advertisement a conversation in the community. Because it can spread very quickly, this is what makes it a little different from other marketing strategies. Viral marketing relies on the audience to be the media promoter, each individual is willing to spread this strategy to the wider community.

Viral Marketing is often associated with Word-of-Mouth (WOM) theory, because this theory is often used to support “brand awareness”, or even become a salesperson. In addition, the viral marketing strategy does not only apply to big brands, those of you who have small businesses can also apply this strategy, as long as the content you create can attract the attention of the wider community.

For example Arief Muhammad's billboard in October 2020.

Netizens are excited about photos of entrepreneur and youtuber Arief Muhammad on a large billboard on the roadside in Tangerang. On the billboard, Arief is wearing a black cap, seen with a white shirt, smiling and waving his hand. The words "SIAP MENJADI NOMOR 1, Arief Muhammad S.H." clearly visible in the photo. 

Netizens thought Arief will run for regional head or similar officials, because that month is busy with the 2020 simultaneous regional head elections. But that assumption is wrong. The reason is, the billboards turned out to be only part of Arief's strategy to promote his newly acquired clothing line, Prepp.

How does Viral Marketing work?

• Someone gets an idea or ideas.
• Then the idea or ideas cause a reaction to the person.
• Someone willingly or reluctantly will help spread the idea.
• Subsequently more people got the idea.
• Every new person has the potential to react to the idea and help spread it again to others.
• The process is repeated, and so on until it becomes viral.

Viral marketing can develop through the internet network, which is increasingly multiplying itself like a computer virus. Therefore, in its use, viral marketing requires an internet network connection. This type of marketing strategy can work by disseminating information through a database of registered internet users for mass use.

The form of this type of marketing strategy is a modern marketing strategy that promises the fame of the product being marketed. Moreover, people are always connected to the internet connection to access its features for free. Creative ideas are needed in this type of marketing because internet users are smart enough to choose content that is purely informational in nature and which is a business or advertising strategy.

Advantages of Viral Marketing

There are many advantages that can be obtained from a marketing strategy. Any? Here are some of them:

• Increase Brand Awareness
  This is the biggest reason why many business people like this strategy. Yup, with viral content, your business will automatically be increasingly recognized. Especially if your ad can convey a useful and solutive message.
• Save Advertising Costs
  Why is it said to be more cost effective? Actually the cost of advertising is relative, depending on what media you use and what type of content you want to serve. However, if your ad goes viral and is successful, the profits can be much greater.
  
  Even the profits can be doubled to cover the initial capital costs when creating ads. Because, your viral ad will spread continuously by itself. In fact, it can reach other audiences outside your target market.
• Opportunity to be Covered by Various Media
  This is also one of the advantages associated with the first point, which is cost-effective. When an ad goes viral, you don't have to pay for press releases or place ads in various media. Such as newspapers, television, radio, and others.

Better yet, the media will voluntarily cover your viral content. Interesting right?

Disadvantages of Viral Marketing

No single strategy works without risk, including viral marketing. Therefore, it is important for you to recognize what are the disadvantages of this strategy, namely:

• Potential to Get a Negative Image
  Why potential? Because the main wheel is word of mouth from the audience or consumers. They may take a different point of view than what you are trying to convey.
• Considered Spam
  The spread of viral content that is too vigorous is not always good. When you are the center of attention, chances are your ad will appear in various places. And it became the talk of many people continuously.
• Difficult to Predict
  Viral marketing has a hit or miss scenario, aka it can be successful or not. While there are certain strategies for creating viral content, these strategies are more difficult to predict than others.

Some ads can go viral in no time. However, there are also those that take months. Or even not viral at all. That way, it is necessary to pay attention to the maximum strategy so that it does not become a wasted campaign.

In essence, viral marketing has the potential to increase brand awareness and sales. This strategy will not succeed without creativity and careful planning, therefore a good strategy design followed by good execution will work as expected.

Kreatiklan's team can guide you to the right steps in your branding activities to achieve the results you want with your customers. Consider yourself to get the right branding strategy by contacting us info@kreatiklan.com or simply hit (+62) 87-780-561-569.