Let's Talk Viral Marketing

I'm beginning to think more and more about viral marketing... By that, here's what I mean:

Instead of working so hard to build links yourself that point back to your site, create a fun / unique / useful tool, app, game, etc... that is hosted on your site. Hopefully, people will like your tool / app / game, and naturally link to it.

Here's my question... Has anyone tried this? Have you had any success?

If I were to create something of real value, and people did start to link back to it naturally, how much benefit would that have for the rest of my site? What if the keywords for the tool itself weren't really all that related to the rest of my site? Would it still help the SERP's for the other pages on my site?

I'd like to hear your general thoughts and experiences.

It's called linkbait. It can be pretty good when it works. But there are a lot of ifs in the equation. If it was so easy to create viral content then everyone would do it.

But you can see the potential when you see a viral video on YouTube with 7 million views. Or FarmVille. Or a whole bunch of smaller examples.

But there's not a real formula to it... or at least not that I've ever found. I've had a few things go viral in the past. But it's hard to engineer it (at least it is for me). It's more about playing the game and keeping fresh stuff out there and sometimes lightning strikes.

If you create something of value - like a game or app, and if you plan to give it away for free, be sure to create an opt-in (squeeze) page, so that anyone who wants to download it will have to give you their email address. By doing that, you will be building a subscriber list. And as they say, "the money is in the list."

You can then build trust and start email marketing to your list.

Cheers! - "Wiz"

WizGizmo said:

If you create something of value - like a game or app, and if you plan to give it away for free, be sure to create an opt-in (squeeze) page, so that anyone who wants to download it will have to give you their email address. By doing that, you will be building a subscriber list. And as they say, "the money is in the list."

You can then build trust and start email marketing to your list.

Cheers! - "Wiz"

Click to expand...

I'm not sure that the email list thing really applies to my business. What I was really hoping was that all of the links to my app would benefit the SERP's of many of the other pages on my site. Or will that not work?

If a list doesn't apply to your business, it should! Like Wiz said, the money is in the list, and by this we mean the REAL money is in having a list. You should definitely think about.

timtation said:

I'm not sure that the email list thing really applies to my business. What I was really hoping was that all of the links to my app would benefit the SERP's of many of the other pages on my site. Or will that not work?

Click to expand...

timtation said:

I'm not sure that the email list thing really applies to my business. What I was really hoping was that all of the links to my app would benefit the SERP's of many of the other pages on my site. Or will that not work?

Click to expand...

1) A list is more valuable than links to your site in terms of money. After all
you can keep it as an asset even if you end up bankrupt. It can't be taken

2) HOW can this not apply to your business? Even if it doesn't (???) you can
use the list to make $$ when you need it by promoting other useful things.
You can use a free mail service if you need time to get your heard around
things first before committing $, like MailChimp.

3) If you want links to your pages you need to be incontrol of that.
Specifically you need to control the anchor text and make sure the site
you link from is seen as revelevent to your site by G (better than just any
old link).

I agree, a targeted email list is beneficial. I'll give more thought to working on that. But... from a purely SEO stand point, will many links to my "cool app" help the SERP's of the other pages on my site?

Building a list is a beautiful thing, BUT your bounce rate will skyrocket. If your content is really good enough to go viral you just might shoot yourself in the foot. 90% of your traffic fucks off because they don't want to submit an email and they sure as hell aren't going to pass it on.

You need to figure out what's right for your situation. You definitely want that list, but not at the expense of all your traffic.

build a game and reward people for spreading the word on the popular social networks/email tell a friend type scripts (click this button, and get 10 free game currency points. invite your contact list and recieve 100 game currency points +10 for every friend who also joins and plays for 7 days, opt in for 50 free points, ect) build list, mail them special offers for ingame items (think a christmas themed eyecandy item) they can use cpa or pay $$ for. or lots of other things. of course, you would have to have a game that mostly everyone likes. the more social the better (help me beat this boss, shared city alliances/economy type stuff, best player leaderboard, ect)

Going viral and building a list are at opposite ends of the spectrum in most cases. Viral, is viral, spreading uncontrollably while list building is tactical consideration of risk/reward liberation by the end user (do I want this product,download, etc for the cost of my email), not really in line with massive sharing.

I do not think you engineer a list campaign to go viral. if it does, fine, but it shouldn't be the prime motivation as it probably won't happen.