Creating the Internet Buzz - Internet Methods of Buzz Marketing
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1. Blogs
One of the latest popular ways of buzz marketing is via blogging. In essence, the blogger is someone who generally has many elements of his or her life online for the entire world to see, and it is through this openness that the blogger gains the trust of the reader. So if your favorite blogger recommends a product, there is a very good chance that you and their other readers will either check it out or buy it.
If you truly have a product that relates to a particular blog, then send the blogger a letter, and in some cases, simply an email could do it. It also can't hurt to send that blogger a free sample item or possible service in order to enlist their help to recommend your product, or write a review. You might see if you can offer the blogger a link on your website or help them with some other buzz marketing method in return.
2. Sales Letters
I touched on this in the previous article. There are multitudes of sales letters on the Internet for just about anything. You know just the ones I mean; you recognize them by their long single page that usually has a brightly colored background, with a table centered in the middle with a white background and a font size ANYONE can read even without their glasses. There's usually lots of highlighting, quotes from people, perhaps trusted people in their areas, like doctors or other certified professionals, even celebrity endorsements. There are huge headlines and bold text, italics, and anything else that can jump at you from the screen.
A good sales letter should be measured by how effective it actually is. If a sales letter doesn't inspire people to purchase, or doesn't elicit trust in the reader, you might as well toss it out the door.
One of the most important elements of a successful sales letter are testimonials and amazing success stories. Many times there are just so many testimonials that the reader is either fascinated by the testimonials or bored and scrolls on. But the point is that they scroll on. They want to get to the meat of the letter. The letter is going to "let you in" on a little known secret. You are going to be the lucky one to have this life-changing information.
I know it sounds like I am very cynical and hate sales letters. Much to the contrary, I write lots of them. I don't write them for myself, but I certainly write them for others. And you know what? I get EXCITED just writing them. Readers get excited too reading them. Excitement leads to talk, and talk leads to credibility, which leads to people being interested and passing on...the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone and the...well, you get my point.
3. Freebies
Offering promotional software, an e-book, or a trial sample are methods that encourage buzz marketing. The try-before-you-buy technique is not by any means new, but by offering a sample or by withholding certain items (like software features), you are in line for a buzz about your product. Geeks definitely share recommendations on what software does this or that for them, and they always know where to find it. Trust me, I have plenty of geek friends, so I know this on a personal level.
4. Polls or Feedback Forms
People love to give their opinion, whether it has been asked for or not; if you ask your audience for feedback, you better believe they will give it. And while you may not want to know all the negatives, knowing what people are saying about your stuff will encourage you to streamline your product into something they want. Many times, just generating open discussion about a product can help imprint that product in someone's mind and promote branding.
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