Viral marketing is not a new concept.  The fact that it’s
been taken to the web as a tool of Internet marketing
is, perhaps, the only reason why most people know it by
name.

Viral marketing is the well-known name for
pass-it-along marketing, better known in the form of
word-of-mouth marketing such as referrals.  So can this
form of marketing really work in a niche?  Absolutely.

Although there are some forms of marketing that are not so
well-suited for niche marketers, viral marketing is
not among them.

Viral marketing may be one of your most effective marketing
tools if you’re a niche marketer.  You may be
wondering now why I would say that.

Let’s examine it for a moment.

Niche marketing is usually most successful when you find
the least-served sub-market.  For instance, say you’re
interested in marketing art supplies, something you know
a good deal about.

Well, that’s a pretty broad market. You’ll want to look
at smaller, less-served groups within that market.
So you narrow it down to calligraphy supplies, a much
less-served market.

And, as is a well known fact, people with common interests
tend to like to network, share ideas, information and
connections.  This is where viral marketing can be very
effective in niche marketing.

Here’s how it works.  You set up your website and start
driving traffic to it.  Then you put together update
mailings, a newsletter or other such mailings and offer
an area for people to sign up for them.

When you send these out you include a great offer such as
a freebie or attractive discount along with an
invitation for people to pass them along to their friends,
knowing that most of the people who have visited your
website will know at least one other person who would be
interested in your products.

Viral marketing is a great, nearly free method of
advertising.

As with any marketing method you’ll want to track the
results of your campaign to see which offers are
responded to the most and which ones your recipients
may want to see, or see more of, which you can do by
providing a method for them to send you feedback and
ideas.