SEO Tips and Resources

The viral marketing business model was first described by Tim Draper and popularized in 1997 to describe Hotmail’s practice of adding advertising to the outgoing mail of their users. In different terms, viral marketing has been around for as long as people have had items to sell. So, it is word-of-mouth marketing.

It is in the nature of a person’s tendency to “tell their friends”. The reference or terminology is the only thing that has changed. Surveys tell us that the average person has at least six close friends that they speak to fairly often. When they have an amazing experience with a product or a service provider, they will share this with 6 friends.

Those same surveys tell us that when an internet user finds something valuable, informative, funny, interesting or free on the internet, they will share that with 12 of their “online friends”. The internet is the platform for the most successful viral marketing business models out there.

We have also been told by the pros that in order to sell something, you need to give something away. I recently downloaded a free e-book with great dieting tips. It made complete sense. It was designed by the head of a supplement company. He suggested that you share the book with everyone. His goal, was to sell as many supplements as possible.

He may have sold the book. It contained as much information as many of the diet books out there, but he realized the importance of giving something to get something. Most people have a tendency to like companies that give them something of use, especially when they do not have to pay for it.

You will see countless software programs on the web that offer a free versions and a “ultimate” version. This is another example of a viral marketing business model. When one person sees this free software program, they will tell at least 12 of their friends online about it.

Social networking has become extremely popular in recent months. People with a Facebook account have thousands of online friends and they communicate with some of them daily. If you can provide something that they want to share with others, then you may have hit the target.

There are other elements of a successful viral marketing business model. But, coming up with something free that people can share with others is the most important element.

Technorati Tags: buzz marketing, internet marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, viral marketing business model, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources buzz marketing, internet marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, viral marketing business model, word of mouth marketing

OVERVIEW

Advanced computing technology is defining the future of operational systems. Maximizing labor, time and profits is the name of the game during these economic times. Having any strength in this area would require a reliable tool. That is what referral software is all about.

One cost-effective way of promoting the service or product that you sell is via affiliate programs. Managing business affiliations is a tedious process which can take up many hours of your day or night. Referral software is a great, easy way of keeping track of all referral leads. It brings ease in signing up to promote and sell goods or services. It allows for the optimization of the commissions earned from affiliates.

Referral software provides a solution to referring customers to a merchant’s site. It capitalizes on the proven success of viral marketing. Business associates, friends and family members can form a large list that will grow your site’s database. You will gain more traffic to your site and more referrals as well. It offers simplicity in delivering incentives for the customers who refer others.

HOW IT WORKS

Referral software is a web-based application program that works with set standard for customization and flexibility. The system can conform to whatever type of client of visitor you have. It is customized to make use of a subject line, email messaging, and advanced referral software features that increase brand awareness. It is viral; it will display ads from every form of page as well as email messages. It optimizes the amount of people that will be led to your site, and still gives your website a professional look. This affiliate programs is designed to be run with all the necessary tools that will help you make sound e-commerce marketing strategies.

Aside from optimizing the number of people joining your website, the referral software makes the task of affiliate member maintenance an easy task. Keeping account of the member’s viewing stats and commissions will be very easy. Highly versatile, this web-based application makes it a great choice over conventional methods of human service delivery.

ADVANTAGES

The referral software allows a business owner to work anywhere since it is web-based. Backup worries will be unnecessary for it can be logged in to any hosting facility. In this light, it cuts down IT costs and the usually expenses for the equipment needs. It might be about to get in touch with thousands of affiliate websites at flat fees. Even its self replicating page features are proven highly effective in improving a website’s URL search engine ranking. Referral software is wil increase you website’s traffic and using the affiliate members it works with will also increase the popularity of your site. You website’s increased popularity and increased number of clients or customers visiting will mean more profitability at the end of the day.

Technorati Tags: referral marketing, referral programs, referral software, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources referral marketing, referral programs, referral software, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

It takes a lot of time and energy to build a business from the ground up, especially if you do it on your own, this is why it helps to have a good referral network. Rather than thinking of yourself as out there on your own why not think of some ways to create a network of people that you are happy to refer business to and who, in return, will be happy to refer business to you.

Building a profitable referral network should begin with the group of people that you know already and if you can get them to understand the product you offer, then they can refer others to you who are seeking out what you have to offer. Once you have a solid network in place, you won’t have to generate new clients via cold calls any longer, your leads will come through your network. Once you have educated those around you, your clients, colleagues and people that you meet at various sales conferences. When these people know enough about your product then they will be able to direct others towards you.

When you start building your referral network you should decide what incentive you will offer to people who refer you new clients. To begin, you should offer new individuals to the network a small referral fee for bringing in new people to your business. Many sales people are motivated by the commission check that they receive, offering an incentive will motivate people to refer you more business more often. A powerful referral network will do almost all of your marketing for you.

Don’t be scared to ask. If a customer is really happy with your service, they are going to be pleased to assist you with referrals. If there is a discount or a referral fee at the end of it, then they will be even more delighted to help you out. Should you want to grow your company and develop a large network then you must be proactive. Instead of waiting for someone to make a referral to you, ask them, most people will be only too happy to help out, especially when that help is reciprocated in come way.

If you are not comfortable in asking for referrals, try something that I do, write out what you want to say and then practice saying it into a mirror until you are comfortable with it. When people see that you are comfortable in asking for their help then they are often more than willing to give it and this is a good way of building up a powerful referral network.

When a client compliments you on your product or service, this is the best time to ask them if they can think of any people who may need your service as well. They will probably be more than happy to refer someone to you when they know that your product or service is what they are looking for. If you continue in this way then you will soon have a powerful referral network that will help you to grow your business.

Technorati Tags: internet marketing, referral marketing, referral network, referrals, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources internet marketing, referral marketing, referral network, referrals, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Most everyone who has a company or works for themselves would love the day when they don’t have to market their services any more because buyers come to them through their referral system. The reason that most people don't have great referral networks or develop referral systems is that they haven't yet learned how to ask. People cannot read your mind, unless you specifically ask them to refer other people to what you offer; then you might not get a referral.

If a customer is pleased with your product or service and tells you so, then is the time to say thanks, if you know of anyone else who might also benefit from what I have to offer, then please give them my contact information. A variation of this is I'm glad you are excited, you may know someone who would like to pay off their mortgage.

The above is idealistic, people are usually pleased with what they have received, but because we don’t act right away and make a point of asking them, or the opportunity will come and go.Another interesting way of creating a referral system is with a thank you letter in which you thank a person for their business and then end saying that you enclose one or two of your business cards for them to give to other people.

There are occasions however, when the above methods of developing a referral system do not work, especially in the financial sector. The fact of the matter is that people vary rarely discuss their finances with others, and so wouldn't be sure who might be interested in the services that you have to offer. There are a couple of approaches to creating a referral system that will work more effectively than those already mentioned.

Many successful business people have found that it helps to stay in touch with your clients by asking them if they would like to sign up for your monthly news letter. This may give them sound advice financially, then you could ask if they know others who might appreciate receiving a newsletter on this topic.

You should network with other businesses and try and get people together referring business to each other. When people meet like this, they are far more likely to make referrals in case a client of theirs needs the services that you have to offer. These things are proven methods of building a referral system, but it won’t happen overnight.

If you are going to build a successful referral system that stands the test of time, then you need to have patience.

Technorati Tags: internet marketing, referral marketing, referral system, referrals, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources internet marketing, referral marketing, referral system, referrals, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Endless referrals are now possible for just about anyone with the advent of the Internet. Endless referrals mean for you that you have an exponentially growing business which is constantly making you more and more money while you do relatively little in order to get all that business.

There are essentially two methods of using the Internet to generate endless referrals: viral marketing and affiliate marketing. Viral marketing operates on the Internet. Affiliate marketing has been around for a long time, but is made easier and more powerful by the Internet.

Affiliate marketing might be difficult if you are offering a product in a niche market. However, if you are offering a product or service that has broad appeal, such as teaching everyday people how to make serious money with minimal risk by investing in e-mini futures contracts on the stock market, then affiliate marketing will work wonders for you.

With affiliate marketing, a few of your clients will turn into people who actually work for you. Once you have great affiliate marketers, they send you most of your new business while you sit back and reap the benefits of the knowledge and training you gave out. They will be paying you a small percentage of all of their new revenues; or, you could set it up so that you pay them a hefty commission out of every sale they get for you, while you keep the difference. So, for example, if they sell one of your products for $100, they get $40 and you keep $60.

The most important thing with affiliate marketing is that you make it possible for the affiliates to duplicate your own business model exactly, even if they are not the entrepreneurial kind by their nature. You want to have thousands of ?offices? open that will run like the original one. The best way to get affiliates is design the opportunity and list it as a link on your website.

With viral marketing, you will use the benefits of social networking sites. This will work no matter if you sell to a niche or not, and may even work better with a niche. Viral marketing works on the premise that associates of people who become your customers will listen to their recommendations and want to deal with you. This is an effective assumption.

Viral marketing operations by your making use of sites like Digg, Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, Yahoo?s Buzz Up, and the ever growing array of other social bookmarking and networking sites to make yourself known in a relate-to-you oriented way rather than a sales and marketing way. People who relate to you will find interest in what you offer and become your customer. Then, they start telling others about you, and even may send them right to your site. After a while, new sales (and repeat business) become seamless?for you are getting endless referrals.

Technorati Tags: endless referrals, internet marketing, referral marketing, referrals, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources endless referrals, internet marketing, referral marketing, referrals, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Getting referrals is the key of any successful business especially if you are running your own business with a fixed ad budget. If you’re not getting referrals, then you had better have an absolutely gigantic advertising budget the likes of which few business owners have, and which those who do wish they did not need to spend.

Why should you bother to get referrals? Referrals are virtually cost free leads that are targeted to your business. The actual referral cost is little because referrals are a direct result of you providing your existing clients excellent products and service. So, the cost to your company of all of your referrals is only the money and time you spend selling to your existing customers. If your product or service is exceedingly wonderful and you make your clients feel like kings and queens, they will give you referrals.

Every referral you get is a lead you did not have to buy, did not have to cold-contact, did not have to qualify, and did not have to pay to advertise for. Every referral you get has been given, in a way, a testimonial about your company at no cost to you and no effort to you.

It is not hard to figure out that by getting referrals, you are virally growing your business. Remember that old TV commercial about the shampoo that was talked about to two friends, and so on and so on, this is how it works

A referral is someone who is interested in you. It is someone who wants to buy specifically from you. It would not be someone who finds your approaching them irritating. You do not have to spend a lot of precious time trying to qualify this person.

So, what are some of the ways that you can use to start getting referrals?

1. Simply make it a rule to ask for them. Make it a mandate at your company to ask for a referral each and every time you are in contact them, either to service them or showing them a new product. If you compose e-newsletters, have a section in there every time where you always ask them to show anyone they know who could use what you offer.

2. Always do the very best you can for your existing clients, and try to send a thank you notice with each puchase to show you appreciate them.

3. Keep personal relationships, just like a friendship, going with your clients. Remember their birthdays; think of ways to reward them for remaining clients such as by giving them special client discounts off newly released products; and other things that you think of to show that you care.

4. Exchange site links with all of your clients who also have businesses websites.

Keep in mind that getting lots of referrals is the best method to get your business booming and make tons of cash.

Technorati Tags: getting referrals, internet marketing, referral marketing, referrals, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources getting referrals, internet marketing, referral marketing, referrals, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

What is online viral marketing? It is know as a successful advertising campaign. The phrase was a creation of a business school graduate, made popular by the media and a media critic Douglas Rushkoff. This simply refers to the potential to reach an thousands of people by starting out with only a small amount.

If you tell me something that I think is interesting, I will tell my friends about it. If they, too, think it is interesting, they will tell their friends. They probably know people that I do not know. So, the potential of growth is virtually limitless. In the old days, we called it word of mouth advertising.

The difference between word of mouth advertising and online viral marketing has to do with the number of people that someone talks to every day. Let’s use me as an example. I speak to my family every day in my personal life. I may speak to my family and friends once per week.

Some of them I haven’t talked to in years, “live”. But, via e-mail and social networking sites, I communicate with all of them, every single day. If I find something that I think is interesting or something that makes me laugh out loud, I will send it to a minimum of 30 people.

Surveys indicate that the average person shares this type of thing with 12 people max. So, I may be a little outside of the curve. The fact is that the 30 people that I know will show this with others. With very little effort, the information moves through this mass of people. Could the wave eventually crash?

If you have an effective online viral marketing strategy, you may be able to generate numerous waves; when one crashes, another forms. There are a number of different strategies, but all of the effective ones include one element. There is something “free” for people to share.

Often enough, it is simply a great commercial. Sony had one a while back. It was posted on YouTube and people got it out there to people they knew. To date, it has had hundreds of thousands of views. How many people made a purchase? Who would possibly know?

The point is this. To reach hundreds of thousands or millions of people in the not so distant past, TV advertising would have been the only option. As well, you would have had to purchase space between the most popular shows, the costs would have been extremely expensive. With online viral marketing, you can reach that many people for next to nothing.

Technorati Tags: buzz marketing, internet marketing, online viral marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources buzz marketing, internet marketing, online viral marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Do you really need viral marketing software? Here’s a look at the five elements of an effective strategy. After you learn these, you may realize that what you require is something completely different.

Offer something free. There are many things that you can try, the key is to give something free, like an ebook, software etc. For example, you might offer a free download of a “basic” software program that you have created. But, in order to get the “premium” version, the customer would have to pay.

Video game providers often use this technique. You may play these games free, but to get certain features or limited time, you must pay for the “complete” version. People that enjoy the game will often pay the price for the extended version. Viral marketing software cannot tell you what to give away. Only you yourself, or a specialized company that offers personalized service could determine that.

The second element is to design a method that allows your specific offer to be transmitted from a single person to everyone they know. Most often, this is done through email marketing. Surveys show that when a person finds something interesting on the web, they share it with an average of six friends. You can envision how the number of people that you can contact grows very quickly, which brings us to the next element.

You have to make sure that you would be able to handle the new spike in business without your customer service having to suffer. Quite often, this would mean that you need an auto-responder. Be prepared to upgrade your website to handle the traffic and to increase your stock if you are selling anything. If you are providing a service, you will need to figure out what your ability is to handle new clients. Is is possible that viral marketing software do that? No.

The fourth element is to benefit from common reactions. For example, a common reaction to a picture of food is hunger. If you sell food, you want every photo on your site and in any email communication that appears so tasty looking, it will create a feeling of hunger. Another example is the “what can it do for me” mentality. People don’t want to know that a car has reinforced side beams. They really just want to be sure that the car will be as safe as possible in the event of a collision or accident. Tell a person what your product will do for them and you will have a customer.

Last, but not least, is to take advantage of existing communication networks. That’s the one thing that viral marketing software might be able to do for you. But, it cannot offer everything that you need for your campaign to be a success.

Technorati Tags: buzz marketing, internet marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, viral marketing software, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources buzz marketing, internet marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, viral marketing software, word of mouth marketing

In many respects marketing by word of mouth can be said to be the “hidden statistic” for all programs, as it’s well near impossible to actually gauge the effectiveness of marketing done this way. However, it also should be noted that most every product in the digital age has used this method to enhance puclic and corporate awareness of the product.

A recent study showed that fully two thirds of online marketing is expected to be done on this basis alone in the coming year, which when coupled with the advent (in leaps and bounds) of Web 2.0 social networking and social marketing sites point towards promoting your product by word of mouth may be both more cost effective, and have an increasingly better ROI than more “traditional” online advertising media.

Consider the business model of any of the current online social networking sites. There has yet to be a successful site of this type that charges for any sort of membership, relying instead as they do on ad generated income to fuel their corporate engines. It is difficult to measure the effectiveness of marketing by word of mouth, but it should be noted that there is a method of measuring if your campaign is working – increased sales.

A company must know from their output exactly the difference between pre campaign, during a campaign and post campaign. This gives businesses a measurable statistic to show effectiveness of this type of marketing. It is true that not all businesses need or desire this form of sales technique, but is also through that not one business turns away prospects garnered from the by word of mouth method either.

Whatever your area of expertise, a study completed by Hill and Knowlton this year showed that decision makers are highly influenced by personal experience’s (58%), with recommendations tied at 51%. Coming in at a smaller than expected third was direct marketing at 21% with internet advertising lapsing to 17%. These figures reflect the buying habits of decision makers, but a housewife in Washington deciding to buy her car insurance is the key decision maker in that case, and suggesting that her friend Tammy also deal with this company, will ultimately have more weight on Tammy's future decision than a TV or print advertisement any day.

In essence, this statistic can be shown to reflect into any industry, any segment or niche, if every purchaser is considered the key decision maker. This makes the re-appearance of the world’s oldest method of marketing a no brainer – so get talking or tweeting, but tell everyone!

Technorati Tags: by word of mouth, internet marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources by word of mouth, internet marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, word of mouth marketing

Before you hire a viral marketing agency, take a moment to look objectively at your website. With a proven technique, marketers may be able to drive millions of visitors to your site. But, it won’t do any good if your site does not sell your products or services.

If you are confident in your website and the products that you offer, then there are many companies you could choose from. You can even take a course and learn how to implement it yourself. Take your time and shop around. Read about the company’s strategy and see if it makes sense to you. Try to establish how many people are in the network. Read all the testimonials that are available online.

There is one company that operates very quietly, almost hard to notice. The strategy that they use may be good, but websites like YouTube would not be too happy with them. Besides, their services are not customized. They highly recommend the exact same strategy for all of their clients.

If they are to effectively grow your business, a viral marketing agency should tailor their solutions to suit your products or services. To be worthwhile, they should offer ways to keep in contact with your existing clients and help convert your clients’ friends into your customers.

One of the effective techniques is a regular newsletter, sent to your client’s e-mail address. If you do not have any customers, you may need to buy a list of e-mail addresses. Some of these lists were generated by other successful businesses. They ask their customers if they would like to receive information from affiliates. If the customer opts in, the business adds them to the list.

You might find an agency that specializes in viral marketing and could also provides this sort of list, as well as offering other services you may want to engage. To be most effective, you want the list to be targeted to include people in your niche market. For example, if you sell toys, parents are your target market. It would be a huge waste of time to blast dozens of emails out to senior citizens.

Some of the easier methods that you can employ include “social networking”. Become a member of a social network group, a message board or forum, whose members have interests that align with your niche. If you have yet to identify your niche, you may need a little more help than a viral marketing agency can offer. Everyone has a specific niche or target market. Sometimes, it is just going to be difficult to make any sense of it, no matter how you look at it. Someone outside of your business might offer solutions to help you find your target market and grow your business.

Technorati Tags: buzz marketing, internet marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, viral marketing agency, word of mouth marketing

Internet Marketing Resources buzz marketing, internet marketing, referral marketing, viral marketing, viral marketing agency, word of mouth marketing