Definition & Meaning of "viral marketing"

Viral marketing

a method of marketing in which a company encourages customers to share information about its services or products by email or on social media

What is "viral marketing"?

Viral marketing is a strategy that encourages people to share a marketing message, content, or advertisement with their friends, family, or social networks, creating a rapid spread of information. The goal is to make the content so interesting, entertaining, or engaging that it is shared widely, often without the need for paid advertising. Viral marketing can include videos, social media posts, memes, or challenges that capture attention and prompt users to pass the message along. It relies on the power of word-of-mouth and the sharing nature of online platforms to reach a large audience quickly.

Example

The brand 's latest video ad utilized viral marketing techniques, rapidly spreading across social media platforms and garnering millions of views.

Companies often rely on viral marketing to create buzz around a new product, hoping that users will share the content with their networks.