Viral marketing is sometimes known as “word of mouth” marketing. Taking advantage of viral marketing on the internet can be a very cost-effective means to increase your company’s name and brand awareness.

The concept is simple, but is also an art in the same sense. Take an idea, usually a video clip, a press release, or an online game–and give it away to internet users for free. The theory behind the concept is that the “thing” you give away for free is something so high in value, something so funny, or something so shocking that people can’t help telling others about it, until it spreads throughout the internet like a virus.

The classic online viral marketing campaign you’ll always hear about is MSN’s Hotmail. MSN gave away free email accounts to anybody who wanted one. At the bottom of every email read was Hotmail’s logo-so anytime someone read an email from a Hotmail user, they would instantly receive the advertisement. We all see Viral Marketing everyday; many of us just don’t realize it. When thinking of a Viral Marketing campaign of your own, just remember to generate something that’s free, that generates buzz, and that will get people taking about your product or company.