4. Viral Marketing Communication
Woerndl et al. assert that information dissemination and sharing
among individuals is rapid when word-of-mouth occurs: viral marketing
is firmly positioned in the e-marketing domain, and fits into
marketing communications, can impact on consumer behaviour by
influencing consumer perceptions, attitudes and views, and is inexpensive
in comparison to many other forms of advertising and marketing
campaigns. Woerndl et al. emphasize that there are risks and
challenges that marketers have to face when engaging in viral marketing
campaigns (the biggest risk is the lack of control associated
with viral marketing campaigns). There are five key issues that influence
viral marketing campaigns: the overall structure of the campaign,
the characteristics of the product or service, the content of the
message, the characteristics of the diffusion and, the peer-to-peer information
conduit. Viral communication is interaction between message
sender and receiver about a worthwhile issue. The intention of
social interaction is not viral marketing.
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Lindgreen et al. say that the advent of technology has meant a
viral message can travel farther and faster than a traditional referral:
viral marketing is a tool that is within marketers’ control (they can
actively use to encourage product adoption and word-of-mouth referral).
Viral marketing may involve consumers who know each
other and those who do not (it can be used for both promoting and
distributing products), and reduces the potential payback window to
a few hours, raising the risk associated with marketing expenditure
to ensure widespread product trial or adoption. A key part of any
viral marketing message’s success, is the message. Lindgreen et al.
posit that viral marketing can hugely lower the cost of promotion and
boost the speed of adoption. The role of emotions is pivotal in viral
marketing. Brands, products, or services most susceptible to viral
marketing are unique, highly visible, naturally susceptible to wordof-
mouth discussion, early entry, or simple in the underlying idea.
Lindgreen et al. notice that people generally engage in viral marketing
when they receive freebies. Products should be services built
around the viral message. Viral marketing is effective as a means of
drawing high response rates. Consumers may feel they are being
exploited by viral marketing campaigns.
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