The Good And Bad Viruses
Nov 22nd, 2007 by Johan
You are aware of the flue virus, the Aids virus and the computer virus. But today I want to share with you a useful virus a virus you are already using – the idea virus.
Let’s assume a couple of lady friends are having their weekly lunch, one of these ladies has a frustrating issue to resolve with her husband. She tells her friends about her impossible husband.
And if you really want to hurt your hubby this is the person you need; the powerful and connected gossiper who spread the story and add details to make it more colourful. It will spread in all its psychedelic colours like wild fire through the community.
And it surely helps me to explain the “ideas” behind the idea virus used by marketing people today. The idea virus technique has become cheap and effective as more and more marketing people use the internet.
- They design a viral idea, like articles on a blog, a video or an email newsletter.
- The idea must be spreadable or viral so that people can gossip about it ….. easily.
- They identify the kind of people (in the community) who like new and different stuff.
- They identify the powerful connectors (or sneezers) who will literally gossip about the idea in their community.
- Then they release the idea virus to the sneezers.
And the idea spread like a wild fire.
It’s important to note that the Idea Virus Creators did not spend lots of money on advertising. No. The most important ingredient was the design of the product or service.
You can use the same idea virus to market your real estate expertise and one of the ways I promote is a community newsletter you run from your blog.
A blog and newsletter are cheap and effective and it’s easy to spread. Go out there and design it. Then get the powerful sneezers and invite them to join your newsletter. And as long as you have viral worthy community news (the design of your idea virus) your expert ideas will become viral.
The man who made the idea virus famous is Seth Goldin and you can get a pdf copy of Unleashing The Idea Virus here.
Johan Horak
P.S. Claim your Free real estate blog here.