The definition of viral marketing depends on who you ask. Some may say that it is an unethical and close to spam.Truthfully, there is really nothing unethical about it.Companies that make use of it are relying on word of mouth advertising to virtually sell their business, and word of mouth works exponentially.

Remember Mary Kay.  They are overpriced cosmetics that are not any better than anything else on the market. But the company has continued to be highly successful for one reason.Women buy them and then suggest that their friends buy them as well.

In order to be a successful Mary Kay representative, you would believe that the product is better.  You would then tell all of your friends that the product is better.  Next, you would ask your friends to sell the cosmetics.Then, they would tell their friends, and those friends would tell their friends, and so on.

That’s the real definition of viral marketing.  It is word of mouth advertising.You broadcast to your friends.  They tell their friends and the process continues exponentially until you, the business owner, have generated more sales than you might have ever dreamed possible.

It is commonly referred to as a virus, due to the fact that it spreads and multiplies, easily and swiftly throughout the population.Any advertising strategy that invites individuals to pass along your message to others is called a viral marketing strategy.

There are historical examples of this viral marketing strategy.“Hotmail” is one example.They usually offer a free service and every time that an person takes advantage of that service, by sending an e-mail, they also broadcast an advertisement to the recipient, asking them to sign up for their free e-mail service.

People love things that are free.That’s the essence of the definition of viral marketing.  You offer something free, in order to generate sales at a later date.  You have to be willing to wait.  It may take months to see the sales figures climb, but eventually they will.

he free certificates or gifts keep your company’s brand right in front of the consumer.It is not unlike the free calendars that banks, florists and insurance conpanies offered, before the advent of the internet.  All year long, every customer saw that company’s name and anyone that came to their house saw it too.

Currently, you can reach thousands and thousands of your customers with one regular e-mail.What’s real definition of viral marketing?  It is putting your name out there, where everyone can see it.