Web 2.0 Discussion

Viral marketing refers to a system in place where you use your already existing social networks to spread awareness about your brand through methods whereby promotion is rapid and similar to a viral infection.

Means could be sending mass mails or newsletters and similar.

Viral Marketing is on rise and many webmasters have been using it in excess. Few are comfortable with it, while others see it as spam.

One of my friends claim their business has increased by upto 10%, but on other hand i am reluctant to use this as its not what i would like to receive if I were a client or customer.

When people start seeing it as spam, it becomes a curse. It becomes a boon when it informs people about your product or service. So, its more of dilema, whether to go ahead with it or not.

How do you perceive concept of viral marketing?
Do you see it as curse or boon? Would you like to use it to promote your brand or spread its awareness or would you prefer not to risk your business which may be seen as spam?

Not always.
As a business oriented site, you would like to have better conversion ration than have more traffic with poor conversion ration. Conversion ration means out of 100 visitors how many of them converted to your clients or members.

If you purchase traffic hits from the existing agencies, you'll get hits and traffic but its only going to be badwidth drain if they aren't the ones who convert.

You are correct in assuming blanket cover for site evenif people talk about it in bad terms. We now have a system where even bad publicity gets you traffic, but then traffic isn't the main thing you need. Its conversion ration which matters.

I have though noted your point in "FOR VIRAL MARKETING" category and would love to hear from other members as well about how they would approach such a situation.