Every day a new product or advertising campaign appears that spreads like wildfire, is shared by people and achieves wide spread. But what sparks this rapid rise? Does it stem from a premium product or an exceptional promotional campaign? Or it could be a stroke of luck that propels a product or video to widespread fame.

The reason behind this widespread dissemination often lies in a carefully crafted plan that was broadcast to the public at the right time and a lot of work and creative thinking, which is called Viral Marketing .

In this article, we will delve into the meaning of viral marketing, its mechanisms and benefits, and highlight some examples of viral campaigns.  

What is viral marketing viral marketing? 

Viral marketing refers to a marketing strategy through which companies encourage the public to share content, through social media or email, with the aim of amplifying the brand message, allowing it to spread quickly and naturally in the same way viruses spread among humans. 

This marketing approach can get a message across trade mark It can be the most cost-effective approach, as the content is promoted not only by the company but also by the audience. 

Factors that contribute to the success of a viral marketing campaign include, gravity Emotionality, relevance and shareability.

Successful campaigns leverage emotion, quick engagement, and deliver value, leading to widespread sharing. 

Advantages of viral marketing: 

• Cost-effective: One of the primary benefits of viral marketing is its cost-effectiveness. Once the initial content is created, the audience promotes it at little or no additional cost.
• Broad Reach: Viral content is fast-spreading and has the ability to reach a broad and diverse audience quickly, increasing exposure trade mark To the maximum.
• Increase brand awareness: Viral content increases brand awareness, helps with brand recognition, conveys its message to the audience and is remembered.
• Build trust: Content shared by individuals, not brands, often commands more trust, as people tend to trust peer recommendations.
• Engagement: Viral content often generates discussions, shares, likes, and other forms of engagement, building a community around the brand.
• Boost Sales: Increased exposure and trust can lead to increased sales or lead generation as more people become aware of the brand's products and services.

Although viral marketing offers these advantages, it is essential to approach it strategically, ensuring that the content aligns with the brand values and resonates with the target audience.

 

What are the characteristics of viral content: 

Viral content has unique characteristics that enable it to attract attention and spread quickly, knowing that viral content does not have any rules or characteristics that confirm that this content will achieve viral spread, but these characteristics increase the possibility of the content obtaining widespread attention and shares.

• Emotional: Viral content evokes strong emotions, whether it's humor, sadness, joy, or shock. Emotionally charged content encourages engagement as it touches people's feelings on a personal level.
• Relevant: Content resonates with a broad audience, ensuring it is timely and addresses current trends, events or sentiments such as National Day.
• Easy to share: Viral content is formatted and designed in a way that makes sharing simple, maximizing its reach.
• Engagement and interaction: Engaging content generates discussions and comments and encourages viewers to interact, increasing its visibility and virality.
• Unique and authentic content: Content that feels real and is of high quality in terms of production, information or value is more likely to be shared.
• Provides value: Whether it's educational, entertaining, or offers a unique perspective, content provides value to its audience, making them more likely to share.
• Algorithm-friendly: Viral content typically matches the preferences and algorithms of the platforms on which it is published, ensuring it reaches a larger audience.

Examples of viral marketing 

Although there are few examples of viral marketing in our Arab countries, we will mention these examples, some of which may have been created by commercial companies and others were created by chance by social media celebrities, but they are a living example of the power of viral content on Social media . 

• Habibi, Come To Dubai: The phrase “Habibi, Come to Dubai” spread on social media like wildfire, and many content makers and celebrities began sharing it on a large scale to share the luxurious lifestyle in Dubai, the high towers, and the ideal life. Some also used it as a joke by adding the phrase “Send me.” money to come to Dubai. 

Then this phrase turned into a tourist attraction phrase used by many content makers and tourism companies to promote their tourism programs, such as: Habibi Come to Egypt, Habibi Come to Türkiye, Habibi Come to Iran. 

• The “Don’t worry about roaming” campaign from the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) is a very successful advertising campaign that has won several awards, including the “Best Influential Marketing Campaign” award at the 2019 Effie Mena Festival. The campaign is based on the idea that STC provides smart solutions. For roaming services, 

This enables customers to connect with their loved ones while traveling without having to worry about the cost. The campaign was implemented innovatively through a series of television and digital advertisements focusing on the real experiences of people who were traveling abroad.

The campaign achieved great success at the local and regional levels, which confirms... The importance of understanding the target audience And using innovative ideas, high quality, and appropriate timing to launch successful advertising campaigns.

 

• “Saudi Arabia is Beautiful” campaign from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage
  In 2022, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage launched the “Saudi Arabia is Beautiful” campaign with the aim of promoting tourism in the Kingdom. The campaign included a collection of photos and videos showing the Kingdom's natural and cultural beauty. The campaign was a huge success on social media, as it was shared more than a million times in just a few days and is considered one of the successful examples of viral marketing in Saudi Arabia.

 

How to create a marketing campaign that achieves viral spread 

Determine the target audience:

Because what appeals to customers and audiences in a particular country may not appeal to customers in a different country or country, and what worked in the past with an age group may not work with a younger group.

By defining the target audience and the category you want to reach, you can craft a message that resonates widely.

Use market research, surveys, and analysis tools to understand the demographics, interests, behaviors, and preferences of your audience. The more details you can get, the better.

 

Create high-quality content:

The core of any viral campaign is the content itself, this could be a video, article, photo or even a tweet. Content must either educate, entertain, inspire or evoke strong emotions, whether it is humor, surprise, happiness or even sadness, a strong emotional connection can lead to engagement and discussions online. 

It is also important to ensure that the content is high quality and professionally presented.

Read also: A comprehensive guide to developing a content marketing strategy 

Leverage user-generated content:

User-generated content ensures that your audience is motivated to produce content related to your brand or campaign. This can be in the form of comments, photos, videos or stories. 

Since this content is created and shared by users, it appears more compelling and impactful, which can often lead to more engagement and trust. Not only does it add value to your campaign, it also diversifies the content available, ensuring a wider reach. This article mentions your favorite products at very low prices. Choose between same-day delivery, drive-thru, or pick-up.

Customers also trust people's reviews more than brands. When real users create content, it adds value to your campaign.

Strong presence on social media:

Social media platforms are primary channels for viral content. Posting regularly, interacting with followers, and following the trend can lead to higher engagement rates.

Social algorithms favor content with higher engagement, so the more likes, comments, and shares your posts receive, the more visibility they will have. Using trending hashtags and participating in discussions can boost visibility.

 

Read also: Marketing strategies via social media platforms

Collaboration with influencers:

Social media influencers have amassed large, engaged audiences who trust their opinions and recommendations. Collaborating with influencers who your target audience follows can provide strong reach to that audience, and collaborating with influencers can increase the credibility of your campaign. 

note :

What is meant by influencers here are specialized influencers with partial influence, who have small but highly interactive audiences, or what is called a mini influencer, and not major influencers or people who provide general humorous content. 

For example, if you work in the field of beauty, you can communicate with influential cosmetic doctors and pharmacists who provide advice in your field, and thus you guarantee access to a wide audience.

Incorporate the challenge into your campaign:

Have you seen the campaign that Chipsy ran years ago entitled Don't Stop Laughing? This campaign called for the public to participate in the challenge through a simple advertisement in which the star Ahmed Helmy appeared interviewing the frivolous salesman with the phrase “He broke the grimace“.

This campaign reached millions, and celebrities, content creators, and most people participated in it.

Making your campaign interactive can significantly increase user engagement. Interactive elements, such as quizzes, polls, and challenges, encourage users to participate and share their results or experiences. This not only expands the scope of the campaign, but also creates a more personal connection with the audience, making the campaign more successful.

Monitoring and control:

 Even after launching your campaign, the work is far from over. Use analytics tools to track metrics like reach, engagement, and conversion. Feedback, both positive and negative, can provide insight into areas for improvement. Responding and making the necessary adjustments based on this data can improve your campaign further, ensuring it continues to resonate with your audience.

 

Viral marketing summary: 

Achieving diffusion is a combination of art and science. While the above steps increase the likelihood of a campaign going viral, the unpredictable nature of the Internet means there is always an element of luck. By being strategic, real, and engaging, you will be well-positioned for success.

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Sources:

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