Above: Dos Equis beer’s spokesman, The Most Interesting Man in the World.
Viral success is possible for all
[pl_blockquote pull=”right”]
To get exposure, “you have
to have an exceedingly
successful online presence.”
[/pl_blockquote]
No matter what your industry, everyone wants their brand to be successful. In today’s business world, that means going viral. If you really want to give your business more exposure, you have to have an exceedingly successful online presence. This can be difficult to achieve, particularly if you’re a smaller brand. It IS possible, but it involves thinking outside of the box.
So many people run the same tried-and-true SEO, social media, and web design tactics that others have seen success with. This isn’t a huge problem, but it is boring. Sometimes, in order to be successful, you have to get a little bit creative. The most successful viral brands are the ones that took a chance and did something totally different.
So, what did they do differently?
They were funny, approachable, and sweet. Carly Rae Jepsen. Did you even know who that was before the summer? How about PSY, of “Gangnam Style” fame? These two music artists applied humor and approachability to create smash hits that probably wouldn’t have succeeded without the help of YouTube. While you may not be in the music industry, and you may not like these songs, you CAN take a hint from them. Use humor in your marketing and don’t be afraid to sound sweet and approachable. You want people to feel comfortable with your brand. That’s how you build loyal customers.
[pl_blockquote pull=”right”]
“If you have a marketing
medium that’s incredibly
successful, that’s the
one you should stick to.”
[/pl_blockquote]
Commit to your “brand personality.” If you’re going the humor route, then make sure you stay funny all of the time. Consistency is key to gaining a loyal consumer base. There’s a reason that brands like Dell become huge sensations: they pick a personality (like the quirky character in their “Dude, you’re gettin’ a Dell” commercials) and stick with it until people tire of it. By then, they may have to do some reinventing, but they have more name recognition and a more loyal consumer base by that point.
Stick to what YOU do best. There are many people, particularly smaller brands that try and copy every single successful idea they see on the internet. This won’t get you anywhere. What works for one company may not work for you. If you have a marketing medium that’s incredibly successful, that’s the one you should stick to.
Connect with influencers. These are the people who will shape public opinion of what you’re sharing online. The more well-connected you are with those that influence your industry, the more likely it is that public opinion will sway in your favor.
Share EVERYTHING. Don’t hold back or be shy. Stay respectful, but don’t be afraid to get a little outrageous sometimes in your online marketing. You never know how the public will react, but you’ll also never know unless you take a risk. Playing it safe might keep you out of trouble, but it will also keep you boring.
These are just a few of the ways that you can turn your brand into a viral success. All of them involve taking risks, being creative and letting go of your fear of rejection. Done the right way, you can become a household name, no matter how small of a brand you are. You just have to reach the right number of people.
