The reason this present research is necessary lies in the lessons that public
relations can learn and implement to make adoption of viral marketing that much easier.
The data showed that understanding the audience is one of the most important aspects of
viral marketing (“Umbria Selected by…,” 2007; Mack, 2004; “Touch Point
Marketing…,” 2007; Klaassen, 2007). No longer do marketers dictate what consumers
hear about brands. Becoming apart of consumers’ communities online is a way to not
only listen to what they are saying, but be a part of that conversation.
There is an ability to build brand relationships to gain loyal consumers who
become brand ambassadors. When public relations practitioners create this relationship,
consumers feel that they are getting specialized attention. That is invaluable to a brand.
In order to successfully do this, professionals must know what makes their target
audience tick. The selling points of the brand must match the desires of the audience,
they also must match how they reach that audience.
Knowing how to target the right audience with the right message and the right
medium is something public relations practitioners need to comprehend. It is a main
advantage of viral marketing. With new media, right now the younger audience
dominates, as was seen by the present and past research. This is changing, but it seems
that the best way to reach this audience is to utilize social media. By tailoring messages
to the correct medium, effective campaigns can be produced (“Godfrey Offers
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Solution…,” 2007; Smethurst, 2006). This demonstrates the added personalization that
viral marketing allows. Personalization gives added credibility and respect for a brand.
It also gives consumers a sense of the control they enjoy.