Viral Marketing

The latest thing going on in the world of marketing is viral marketing. What is Viral Marketing and how can you make it work for you?

The first thing you need to understand is that viral marketing is marketing that uses the technology of the internet to spread your message. What is your message? How do you get it out there now? And, how effective has that been for you? Are you getting a good bang for your buck?

A good example of viral marketing would be a video on YouTube. Now hopefully you know what YouTube is, if not, go do a search and find it and spend a day or two staring at things that have been created there. The site was not put together to host stupid videos put together by ten year olds, although that may be your first impression. Like many sites, it is, itself a viral campaign. The message is “come to my website and look at all the crazy videos.” No, that’s not the message. The real message is come to my website. With enough traffic, you can sell advertising on any site and make enough money to retire.

Popular websites like XANGA, MySpace, EZine, FaceBook and Blogspot are all in the same game, advertising. This is the beauty of true viral marketing. People going to the website really don’t think about the real reason for the website, they are going for the fluff that is provided as the bait. Do you get that? Even the very site you are on now is in the same game. Look around the edge of your screen; what do you see? It’s not a pretty frame to make my writing look good, it’s advertising to #1, pay for the web hosting and staff, and #2 to make the owners money. People blog willingly, and BlogSpot doesn’t have to pay for content (bait) .

Now why do writers submit articles and why do people blog and why do people submit videos? Is it for the glory and fame of being on YouTube? For some people it is…mostly for the unimaginative or the young. Other people see the opportunity to promote themselves, their products, their religion, their hobby or whatever. Now how do you promote yourself or your business? The point of it all is to get name recognition out there for yourself, your product or your website. The trick is to have the right type of viral marketing working for you.

There are two types of viral marketing; the good kind and the kind that totally sucks. If you are making a straight commercial and you put it on YouTube, it will go down in flames; verbal flames. If you make your commercial amusing, it may get some play. How many people liked those Budweiser frogs? You actually liked watching the commercial, sort of like the Superbowl. People watched for football, and then suddenly a new audience was added as the commercials became a highlight. (Some of the games were suck blowouts, that the commercials really were the best part after halftime.)

So what constitutes a sucky video? How about a guy standing on the side of a road telling you about his business? One camera (shaky) and a monologue about the benefits of toe jam juice. Or someone preaching at you to repent and join their cult? These types of videos get no play and soon are forgotten, even by the people that made them. If there is no amusement factor, don’t even upload. If you can incorporate a funny concept and blend your advertisement in a minute or two, your video may get passed around and become famous, along with your message.

Well, that is enough of my viral attempt. Now go to the side of this screen, check out my profile, visit my websites and buy my products.

: )

The Next Level

yesterday Deb and I went out and bought a laptop to use for presentations and health fairs. I found out about a 'work at home' expo near here that is looking for people to set up tables. Fantastic!

We also bought a new video camera. The old one was from the early '90's and loaded full size video tapes. It was also the size of a studio camera - well that is a slight exaggeration, but it really is about 9 pounds and twice the size of a shoe box. The new one can plug right into the computer and is 14 ounces with the battery and mini dv tape. It also, of course, fits in the palm of my hand. Handycam HC28 for anyone who wants to know, and comes with firewire capabilities - very much needed to edit and upload to the 'puter.
The point is, we are moving to Web 2.0 and it is going to drive our businesses to the next level. This blog is also a part of that web presence, so this isn't just for me sharing with the planet, but also part of the overall plan.

Enough for now. I need to get to work...

Metamorphosis

What does it take to move to the next level? We aren’t caterpillars literally waiting for some physical transformation to take place. We can’t wait for someone else to bring the change to us; we need to make the change within ourselves.

I am not talking about you necessarily, but talking about me as well. I keep buying the next book or course thinking that the missing piece is out there somewhere, or that my internal processes need just one more bit. But what if that really isn’t the case? I have more educational materials around my house that haven’t been finished than most people probably buy in a lifetime. Are the answers in there? No. The answers are in me. I know the things that I need to do. What is the real blockade that is stopping me? What internal struggle is taking place and how can I push myself over the edge?

I talk and write about making changes in your life, while I still need to make changes in mine. Is this surprising? Not really. Everyone I have met has room for improvement and life is constant change. I thought that getting my book published would be the thing that would take me over the top and really get me going. I made a mistake with that, but still have been blaming the publisher instead of myself. I should have looked into the practices of the publisher instead of rushing into a contract. I was so happy to have a contract that I didn’t look past the contract.

The secret to success in anything is marketing and that is one area I am lacking. I think the course Deb is taking in internet marketing may be the key to that aspect of our on-line businesses. If I write the holy grail of articles or a great novel, who is going to know about it without a solid marketing plan? If my USANA business is the great vehicle I believe it to be, how do I communicate that to the masses?

I am attracting the resources into my life that I need and getting out of my own way. The metamorphosis I need is to get me out of the cage I have built for myself. You may not be a Pink Floyd fan, but we all have a wall around us that we have built to make us feel comfortable and safe, but that wall is a prison we have constructed… and it is limiting our growth.

Ride

We are meeting at my younger brother's house for a ride to Harrisburg somewhere. There is a charity run for a fallen police officer, or something like that. it should be a couple hour ride. Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be really nice. Should be a good run with a few hundred motorcycles.


I just got my ElectraGlide tuned up and got new oil, so I am ready to go...

Twisted

Well, I twisted my ankle wicked bad two days ago. I cried. I thought my marathon quest was thwarted. I've been training for months to run next weekend and it looked bad, but today, very limited pain and pretty much total mobility. I can only attribute it to the supplements I am taking. Last time I did this, I was down for about a month and my ankle was still tender and swollen.
I already paid my entry fee and I am going to run. I will complete, whether it takes me all weekend. I will not go quietly into the night. I will persevere.

on other news fronts, things are buzzing along. I think we have about 4 new USANA associates in the pipeline for October, and new strategies for moving the businesses to new levels. Deb is busy with a new affiliate marketing program and that looks grand.

Preparation

The marathon is coming up soon. I had a calf injury of some sort and haven't run for two weeks. I think rest is the best medicine at this point. I know I can run the distance, it is just a matter of what my time is going to be. I am aiming for 4.5 hours, but will be happy if I am under 5. Actually just finishing will be a major victory.
I am continuing to take the Procosa 2 from USANA, along with the Essentials and the Omega3 oil. Without the supplements, I would not be able to run this distance.
Also, new article at www.RobertBritt.com

Contest

Today is the first day for the "What is your dream?" competition. We are starting to use purchased leads and are totally dropping the fear factor. So what if someone says no to an opportunity that could turn their life around. There are over 6 billion people on the planet, all I need is another dozen to be financially free for the rest of my life. The odds are greatly in my favor.
my whY is bigger than my eXcuse Y>X
I will be replacing my old income within 60 days and buying a new car or I will be selling my Harley. How's that for a reason?