Social media is where your audience is. Nearly 70% of Americans, who reside in the United States, use at least one social networking platform, according to a recent PEW research. Around the world, there are more than 2.5 billion users of social networks, a number that is continually increasing.
In this digital age, entrepreneurs must be active on social media. Using the power of social media, developing a viral marketing campaign is a fantastic method to raise brand exposure.
Consider the exponential curve of virality. If a piece of material is shared by two persons who are directly associated with the brand, and that figure multiplies 30 times, then indicates that the content has been shared by more than a billion people.
Businesses may use viral marketing as a valuable weapon. It’s how businesses like Facebook and Lyft, among many others, have successfully attracted new clients. By imitating the strategies used by some of the finest businesses in the world for viral marketing, you may develop a successful social media campaign.
Social media is where your audience is. Nearly 70% of Americans, who reside in the United States, use at least one social networking platform, according to a recent PEW research. Around the world, there are more than 2.5 billion users of social networks, a number that is continually increasing.
In this digital age, entrepreneurs must be active on social media. Using the power of social media, developing a viral marketing campaign is a fantastic method to raise brand exposure.
Consider the exponential curve of virality. If a piece of material is shared by two persons who are directly associated with the brand, and that figure multiplies 30 times, then indicates that the content has been shared by more than a billion people.
Businesses may use viral marketing as a valuable weapon. It’s how businesses like Facebook and Lyft, among many others, have successfully attracted new clients. By imitating the strategies used by some of the finest businesses in the world for viral marketing, you may develop a successful social media campaign.
1. Master the target audience.
In order to create viral content, you must first understand your target audience. Viral content is only effective if it speaks to people so convincingly that they are eager to share the content.
Social media marketers should start a viral campaign by creating at least one marketing persona. A persona is a depiction of the target consumer that contains demographic and psychographic information, as well as information connected to social media behavior and content preferences.
Create a marketing persona by talking to actual and potential customers to learn what matters to them when they are thinking about making a purchase or sharing content online. Armed with this information, it will be considerably easier for you and your team to create content that users are likely to share online.
2. Select the right social networking channel.
Every social media platform is different. Select a platform on which to focus before beginning to produce content. The platforms you choose to launch your viral marketing campaign—such as Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook—will affect the type of content you produce.
If you want to develop content for Instagram, for example, a series of Instagram Stories or an image with an engaging caption might inspire viral shares online. However, material that will do well on LinkedIn is frequently produced from a Pulse article or from a clever LinkedIn update.
The platform you choose should be informed by the information gleaned from your work creating a marketing persona.
3. Create content with high engagement.
Most social media platforms use an algorithm that ranks content based on the likelihood that the user will engage. Typically, the top of the page is reserved for content that is anticipated to engage followers, while the bottom of the page is reserved for content that is anticipated to be less engaging.
Content that creates engagement is rewarded by being amplified to other users; content that does not create engagement is buried. Viral marketers should focus on creating content that has high engagement, since it will have greater reach and is thus more likely to be re-shared.
4. Time content for greatest reach.
To ensure that content performs as well as possible, time its release so that it will receive maximum visibility. Ideal timing will depend on the habits and preferences of your target audience, and on the social media platform you are using.
As noted above, social media platforms use algorithms that rank content based on the probability of user engagement. Timeliness plays a key role in that equation as well, which means that releasing content at just the right time can positively impact performance.
5. Boost visibility with advertising.
While not impossible, it might be challenging for a small organization to develop viral content. Investing in paid ads on social networks can boost the visibility of a campaign. Consider producing advertisements that are targeted to a group of prominent users. If these users re-share the ad, the ad will be broadcast to a wider audience in an efficient and cost-effective way.
6. Partner with a social media influencer.
Nearly 95% of marketers who use influencer marketing strategies think the approach is worthwhile. Social media influencers have the ability to provide brands with improved reach, and can add fuel to a viral marketing campaign.
7. Measure performance to create better campaigns in the future.
Marketers in today’s digital environment must use a social media analytics tool to measure performance, and to understand what is and is not working. It may take a few tries to create a viral marketing campaign. If you need to make modifications or switch direction, the analytics can assist lead the changes in approach.
8. Provide a clear call to action.
Don’t let social media engagement go to waste. Make it clear what brand enthusiasts should do after liking or resharing a piece of content, in addition to that. Brands like Facebook and Lyft didn’t just grow by creating brand awareness through social media; they encouraged members of the target audience to take a specific action.
In most cases, encouraging the target audience to sign up for a free trial or to make a discounted purchase are effective ways to use the power of viral marketing to grow customers.
9. Arouse media interest.
If a viral marketing campaign really takes off, endeavor to amplify the message of the brand via various media outlets. News outlets will be ready to include brands when it is obvious that they are doing something noteworthy.
A excellent technique to prove newsworthiness is to demonstrate media outlets that hundreds or millions of people have responded positively to your brand’s campaign. Prepare a press release with all the pertinent numbers and your contact information before reaching out to a news outlet.
10. Publish fresh material.
Content that is unique and uncommon is more likely to be shared than content that is similar to other firms’ efforts. Great content sticks in people’s minds, like the ALS Association’s ice bucket challenge or Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl commercial. Content that is a ripoff of earlier efforts will be disregarded and can even get bad press.
Conclusion
A successful viral marketing campaign might be difficult to develop. Priority one should be given to producing content that communicates directly to the target audience. Marketers should measure performance using a social media analytics platform and concentrate on producing timely content that encourages engagement.
