Introduction
Viral marketing has been defined as “the process of getting customers to pass along a company's marketing message to friends, family, and colleagues” (Laudon & Traver, 2001, p. 381). Similar to a virus, information about the company and its brand, product or services is transmitted to potential buyers who then spread the information along to other potential buyers in an exponentially growing way, often through the use of social media applications (Dobele, Toleman, & Beverland, 2005; Lindgreen & Vanhamme, 2005).
With the introduction of electronic media, these networks are created much more rapidly to assist the interconnections between firms and potential buyers (De Bruyn & Lilien, 2004; Gruen, Osmonbekov, & Czaplewski, 2006). The growth and evolution of internet, allows electronic peer-to-peer referrals as an important phenomenon, therefore marketers are recognizing this opportunity and are jumping on the viral marketing bandwagon. The goal of viral marketing is to make use of consumer-to-consumer (or peer-to-peer) communications to spread information about the product or service, which will lead to faster and cost effective adoption by the market (Krishnamurthy, 2001).
Adding on, with the endless development of technology, from the firm’s perception as well as brand awareness and communication, the power has shifted from a one-way communication to a two-way communication between company and customers. This whole new approach of a two-way communication has introduced the concept of word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing (J. Larson, R. (2009):3). Moreover, according to Jure Leskovec, the increasing use of WOM has justify that it will affect the chances of consumer buying a product, from the feedback or information the custo...
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Viral marketing is essential for Post-it to increase brand awareness. Furthermore, viral marketing can be the result of the “Go ahead” campaign where people showed creative ways to use Post-it notes. However, Post-it should not aim at creating at the fastest viral videos, since all of the fasters viral videos come from music artists (Statista,
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The key strategic marketing concepts which would be important for the implementation in this project are various. From the effective Clarification of business objectives to customers to greater a market segmentation. The ability to create viral marketing with lateral communication could increase market opportunities.
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Over the last decade, product marketing and ways through which communication takes place between manufacturers and consumers has changed tremendously (Belch & Belch 2004). Due to the technological revolutions and the rise of innovations such as the mobile phones and the internet, control over information has shifted apparently from the manufacturer's hands to the hands of consumers (Belch & Belch 2004). The market environment has also changed due to globalization of marketing strategies, loss of confidence in media advertising, increased reliance on targeted communication methods, and media fragmentation and so on (Belch & Belch 2004).
Viral marketing is a form of word-of-mouth marketing that aims to result in a message spreading exponentially and campaigns work when a message is spread exponentially and it results in a desired outcome for a brand (Stokes, R., 2010). Viral marketing uses the internet to disclose and spread the company’s products or services. It harnesses the electronic connectivity of individuals to ensure marketing messages are referred from one person to another (Stokes, R., 2010). There are two types of viral marketing. Organic viral campaigns spread with no input from the company who wants to advertise. The message or product/ service being sold by the merchant are passed around in a viral nature without any intention from the marketer (Stokes, R., 2010). In organic viral marketing, no planning was done on how to broadcast the products or services and those who expose the products or services made a choice just to pass it around by word of mouth in the internet. Amplified viral marketing on the other hand have been strategically planned, have defined goals for the brand being marketed, and usually have a distinct method of passing on the message (that can be tracked and quantified by the marketer) (Stokes , R.,2010). To go viral, sellers or services provider have to define the aims of the campaign. Sellers or service providers have to decide if the company wants brand awareness, drive traffic or make sure customers avail of the products or services. Secondly, the company should plan the message it wants to go viral. The message has to be unique and easily noticeable by consumers. Third, the message you want to convey must be passed on to others efficiently. The company has to provide incentives for sharing. The greatest ince...
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· Use of social media for promotion- word of mouth and social media help to get the message across and promote the product efficiently
This method is used to “gain mutual understanding and find a win-win common ground” between brand and consumers, and develop a more long-term relationship beyond just sales (Straubhaar, 300). From Facebook posts and Tweets to Youtube videos, each channel offers a distinct venue for brands to share its content with consumers on platforms they frequent. Each of these social channels help develop the brand’s overall aesthetic and personality, giving consumers a more personal connection with the brand. In return, social media provides consumers with the ability to engage directly with the brands they take interest in, 24/7. Consumers can “favorite” or “like”, share, and post comments on brand posts which can increase brand awareness and spread their message. PR teams have taken advantage of the move from “business hours
The omnipresence of online social networks in today’s world has reversed the traditional ‘push-pull’ marketing model that fashion retailers were previously accustomed too. Social networks have prominently impacted the fashion industry by creating a two-way interactivity between companies and consumers and enabling brands to reach customers on a global level at a minimal cost (Lee, 2009). Blogs, virtual communities and online social networking sites have empowered ‘regular’ people from all over the world by providing them with a voice that has the potential to impact other millions of consumers’ purchase decisions (Mangold & Faulds, 2009). According to a recent report by the Search Engine Journal, 72% of all Internet users now connect through social media, with 23% of facebook users accessing their page at least five times a day (Jones, 2014). This reflects the prominent place social media has taken in people’s daily lives, hence explaining why 86% of marketers in 2013 indicated placing a very high value on social media for their business (Stelzner, 2013). According to Nielson, a leading global information and measurement company, approximately 46% of online users count on social media when making a purchase decision (Nielson, 2013). As a matter of fact, one-third of shoppers surveyed in a study by the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) revealed that a brand or product was discovered through social media and that the later influenced their opinions during the buying process (Quinn, 2013) and 72% of consumers trust online recommendations as much as real-world personal recommendations (Olenski, 2012).
Businesses use the media to convince consumers to buy their products. Since the start of mass media, companies have used communication to broadcast to large numbers of people about their product (Shah). Companies spend a great amount of money to encourage people to buy their product, by winning them over (Shah). The media provides information, rates, and suggests new products and services such as movies, computers, restaurants, books, fashion items, and more (Rinallo and Basuroy). Back in the days where brands had to buy advertising or secure media placements are gone. Today it is becoming really hard to know the difference between the role of marketer and publisher. This gives the chance for companies to become satisfied conservators, making their own items on their websites for their businesses (“Media Influence”). More and more people are considering traditional advertisements as untrustworthy; in fact, 75% of people do not think traditional advertisements are true. Companies uses online advertisements to influence people to buy their product. People today are trying to make more informed buying choices, using all the information they can find online. A person’s online experience can influence them to shop at a particular store; in fact, 91% of people shop at stores because of reviews online (Peneycad). People spend a large amount of time researching products before they decide to buy them. 86% of people use search engines to research products. 62% of people who research products online buy products in the store. People who research services and products online are more likely to make a buying decision (Peneycad). 78% of people are influenced by post from companies on social media websites. 72% of people are trusting of online recommendations of products. Peneycad mentions,“This means 72% of people trust complete strangers just as [much] as people they know when it comes to making a purchase decision (Peneycad 2).
Technologies are increasing rapidly and shaping not only the traditional marketing but internet marketing as well. That is why marketers are facing a great global competition in terms of modern marketing. Marketers should know this thing that new technologies can help them by making their work simple, so they should shift to latest technologies and some new things. Business gets success when it comes with something new and interesting. That is why marketers must change their strategies as the tradition, trend, and environment changes. When we talk about changes and technologies, we can’t forget viral marketing, which is a form of fresh marketing. Many advertisers and companies are moving towards it. (H.B Klopper, 2002)