| Viral marketing is so aptly named because the | | | | signature (as with your e-mail) designed to |
| idea, when promoting a product, is to allow for | | | | encourage forum members to click through to |
| brand recognition to spread quickly, like a virus. In | | | | your site. As you become a part of these |
| the case of marketing, naturally, the end result will | | | | communities, you also have the opportunity to |
| not yield illness, but sales. For the author, viral | | | | establish yourself as an expert on forum subjects. |
| marketing - or word of mouth campaigns - is an | | | | Post and reply to posts, and increase awareness |
| essential method of promotion. | | | | of your brand. Employing such a subtle, viral |
| When one thinks of viral marketing as a means to | | | | technique can be helpful in bring people to your |
| promote books, music, or other items, more than | | | | website and your book. |
| likely it is believed that such techniques are limited | | | | Articles: Similar to the concept of being a forum |
| to the Internet. This is not necessarily the case. | | | | expert, writing articles relevant to your book's |
| Viral marketing refers to the use of exist social | | | | topic is a useful method of viral marketing. |
| networks or communities for promotion, and while | | | | Whether your write fiction or non-fiction, poetry |
| the Internet lends a good amount of convenience | | | | or plays, supplemental articles for distribution |
| here, there are ways to spread "the virus" | | | | enhance your credibility and allow for the increase |
| beyond cyberspace if one is creative enough. By | | | | of traffic to your website. |
| establishing recognition of your book within a small | | | | Concise, short articles of about 300-400 can be |
| network, you have the opportunity to expand | | | | submitted to third-party article databases for |
| your audience as people engaged in that network | | | | distribution. With each article you write, include a |
| move outward and employ word of mouth to | | | | biography and URL link to your site. As website |
| recommend your books. | | | | owners needing content pick up your material for |
| Here are just a few examples of online and | | | | use, they are obliged to use your links. This |
| offline viral marketing techniques designed to raise | | | | method of viral marketing sets you up as an |
| awareness: | | | | expert on the subject at hand, and also increases |
| E-Mail signatures: Every time you send an e-mail - | | | | opportunity for higher link popularity on your |
| to a friend, relative, or to anybody - you should | | | | website. |
| take the opportunity to promote your work. You | | | | Article writing as a viral marketing technique is |
| need not send a full-blown pitch with every | | | | also effective in print. Find periodicals and journals |
| message, but it is imperative to include your URL | | | | relevant to your book's topic, and submit articles |
| and catchy one-line slogan in your signature. You | | | | for publication. For mystery and romance authors |
| would be surprised how a few carefully chosen | | | | in particular, there exist opportunities to write |
| words can remain fresh in a consumer's mind for | | | | anecdotes on the writing process and story |
| years. Slogans are the core of advertising, and to | | | | inspiration. Mystery Readers Journal and Mystery |
| include a tagline in your e-mail signature can entice | | | | Scene Magazine are two such outlets that |
| readers to click through to your website. | | | | welcome author input. |
| Having worked with a number of romance | | | | Mailing Lists: Similar to the message board, the |
| authors with regards to promotion, I find a | | | | topic mailing list brings the conversation and |
| number of them have effective e-mail signatures | | | | information directly to the readers' mailboxes. Visit |
| designed to lure readers: | | | | a database for mailing lists, such as Yahoo Groups |
| Bridget "an author who never goes" Midway | | | | or Topica, and you will also find a number of |
| Do you dare? Ellwood...If She Could. Leigh Ellwood, | | | | authors have mailing lists set up to promote their |
| Romance Author | | | | works. Some lists are employed purely for |
| Where spicier romances are concerned, a reader | | | | newsletter distribution, while others allow for |
| is going to want to know exactly what Leigh | | | | readers to interact with each other and the |
| dares, and how far Bridget goes in her writing. | | | | author. |
| Such a slogan, however, does not have to be | | | | Whether you decide to maintain your own list or |
| limited to a body of work. If you have only one | | | | join lists relevant to your books, viral marketing |
| book to market, think of a phrase or line relevant | | | | comes into play through your posts and |
| to the story that will attract readers. Sell your | | | | signatures. Try not to be an overt advertisement, |
| book in ten words or less and offer visitors | | | | but maintain some degree of visibility and |
| incentive to click through to learn more. | | | | authority on relevant subjects. Build trust among |
| Forums and Messageboards: Depending upon the | | | | the readership, and eventually you will find readers |
| subject of your book, you can find readership in | | | | clicking through to your site to learn more. |
| the many online forums available to you. While | | | | Signage: Perhaps while driving you have seen the |
| some forums may not allow direct advertising, | | | | a window sticker on the care in front of you, |
| equating such blatant promotions to spam | | | | advertising a URL. It might have been a |
| techinques employed by robots, there are ways | | | | commercial vehicle, or a mom's van promoting an |
| to steer around restrictions. | | | | in-home business for cosmetics or other goods. |
| If you have written a non-fiction work, it is highly | | | | You might have it thought it amusing at first, but |
| recommended to spend some time each day | | | | such signage can be useful in imprinting a brand |
| patrolling any message boards relevant to your | | | | into the general consciousness. Billboards would not |
| topic. Whether you have authors a sports | | | | exist otherwise if there was not some proven |
| biography or self-help work, there is certain to be | | | | effectiveness. |
| one or two forums where potential readers exist | | | | The good thing about a sticker on the back |
| for your work. If you write fiction, there do exist | | | | window of a car or truck is that it does not have |
| a number of readers forums related to many | | | | to be too obnoxious, just large enough to be |
| genres, from romance to science fiction to | | | | seen. Shop around for a custom design, then you |
| fantasy. If your works are in similar vein to | | | | have a traveling advertisement for your book |
| popular books and movies (a fantasy novel akin | | | | everywhere you drive. |
| to Tolkien, or a hard-boiled private eye story), | | | | Just as word of mouth advertising helps promote |
| seek out those forums as well. Readers of a | | | | books, music, and other items, so can viral |
| certain fandom may be willing to broaden their | | | | marketing be as effective. Plant seeds of interest |
| interests if they are duly enticed. | | | | throughout the Internet and watch as your traffic |
| Depending upon the forum, signatures are | | | | and sales bloom. |
| permitted. Use the opportunity to create a | | | | |