How to Influence Viral Marketing and Word of Mouth Communications

The Power of Social Media in a Marketing Campaign

Bill BalderazWebbed Marketingwww.webbedmarketing.com@bbalderaz

• “We can't open this up to our employees, it will pull them away from work."

• "What about legal implications? The FDA regulates all our communications. An employee can distribute un-reviewed content to the world and we could liable."

• "We lose control of our brand."

Sound Familiar?

• Quick, that's a corporate executive talking about what? • Blogging? • Twitter? • Facebook? • LinkedIn?

Sound Familiar?

Wrong.

Sound Familiar?

• The year is 1997 and that's a conversation about email.

A Trip Through Time

• We won’t have time to check email because we spent a lot of time faxing, reading & writing memos and on the phone. Email reduced our dependencies on these communication channels.

• Today with the flood of email we all receive, no one has time to Tweet. Done right, Twitter and other social networks reduce the amount of email you send, just as email reduced the number of memos we all typed.

Other Parallels

• Email is purely a social application and a way to distribute get-rich-quick-scams and pornography.

• The same thing is said about social media every day. We've all become pretty good at sifting through the garbage and using email as a key part of our work environment.

Other ParallelsOther Parallels

• Email is a fad and a disruptive element that new college grads want.

• Just like email, Twitter, LinkedIn Groups, Facebook and other social networks have fundamental benefits over other forms of communication.

Other ParallelsOther Parallels

Teach a Man To Fish…

• Sales – Give a man a fish

Teach a Man To Fish…

• Marketing – Teach a man to fish

Teach a Man To Fish…

• Social Media Marketing – Give a man a bass boat, 12 rods and reels, a case of beer and free weekend.

What is a Social Network?

• An online meeting place for consumers and influencers • to create, • share and • interact with • content.

What is a Social Network?

• YouTube• Facebook• MySpace• LinkedIn• Amazon• Technorati• Flickr

• CitySearch • Wikihow• Wikipedia• Craigs List• Newsvine• Yahoo! Answers• Digg

Why Social Networks Matter

• 47% of all respondents said they would go to a social networking site to download coupons or search for gift ideas if those services were available;

• 45% said they would visit a social networking site to find out about upcoming sales in stores or discounts on products;

• 22% said they would read or write a product review on a blog.

--BrandWeek

Using Social Media in Your Marketing Plan

Set Clear Goals

• There are three kinds of people in the world: those who can count, and those who can’t

Set Clear Goals

• Can’t measure “more buzz”• Define measurable metrics – 16 media placements, 40

relevant links, increase sales 12%• Take baseline metrics before campaign starts

• SEO metrics, social media metrics• Break metrics down into quantifiable goals

• Mentions in blogs, social networks, links to the site…• You can quantify metrics

Determine the Hook

• Set goals before determining the “hook”• Questionnaire to determine need – what gets the participants

excited?• Examples: free sample, white paper, video, online

calculator/application, stunt

Determine Distribution Plan

• Earn your way into distribution• Avoid using the word “free”• Look for specialized networks or “celebrity” bloggers that don’t

often get pitched• Rate the value of each participant and determine the pitch

Determine Distribution Plan

• Think in terms of most efficient coverage• Examples: pitch a blogger, obtain a following on

MySpace/Facebook, use tagging sites, Tweet to your target, make new connections on LinkedIn and build a presence on targeted social networks

• Great Content + Great Distribution=Great Word of Mouth

Case Study: Shizuka New York

• Located in midtown Manhattan• Cosmetology & skin care with “Eastern holistic knowledge”• Featured in international media, including Marie Claire, Shape,

Vogue, and Harpers Bazaar

Shizuka New York

• Following Word of Mouth program:• Mention on Jay Leno• Mention on CNN• Home page of CNN.com• E! “The Soup”• The Hollywood Reporter• Featured on the Today Show

We Set Clear Goals

• Branding and awareness• Increased site traffic• New clients

Used that Compelling Hook

• Highlighting “Bird Poop Facials”

Determined the Best Distribution Plan

• SEO Press Release• Blogger Outreach• Video• Social Networks

SEO Press Release

Blogger Outreach

• Identify bloggers in key categories:• Already talking• Skin care• Pop culture• News of the weird

Blogger Outreach

• Read the blog!• Clearly identify who you are• Tailor your message• Provide only relevant content• Ask yourself again before you hit “send”

Video

• Spoof interview produced• Uploaded to YouTube• Embedded in press release• Sent to bloggers

Video

• The YouTube Geisha Facial video – 20,000+ views

Web Results

Ice Rocket Web results were at 3,960 at the beginning of May and are now up to 20,700

Summary

• Create a great hook, you can’t fake it• Funny• Useful• Outrageous• Taboo

• Find the right mix of complementary channels• Measure results

Get Social Today

• Attendance and enthusiasm are half the game• Dedicate time to making this work• Bring wine• Seek first to understand, then to be understood• The conversation is going on right now, the only decision is if

you will be involved

Questions & Comments

Bill Balderazbbalderaz@webbedmarketing.com

www.webbedmarketing.comTwitter: @bbalderaz