VIRAL MARKETING YOUTUBE

What is viral Marketing?
Viral marketing and advertising are known marketing techniques that are use social networks to create awareness. It’s known as the self replicating viral process, through either word or mouth, or the power of technology such as web 2.0 and user generated platforms such as YouTube. Viral marketing can be carried out in many ways, such as video clips, flash games, text messaging, online popup and images as well as through a technique of stealth marketing. 
What audience does it target
Viral marketing can be known to target a specific audience. Considering the use of techniques that viral marketing is done through, younger audiences and those who have access to the web and other forms of technology are the main focus and audience type for viral marketing.
Examples
Cloverfield is a prime example of the use of viral marketing, and how using such techniques can be a great success. Before the release of this film, Paramount pictures carried out a viral marketing campaign. Film makers decided to release a teaser trailer which was put together during the production process. This teaser was released without a title, it included the release date of January 18th 2008 and this was all. This alone acts as an example of viral marketing. A trailer was released, but with limited information, in result creating a buzz among the audience.
A more recent example of a viral marketing campaign in the film industry is the campaign for Paranormal Activity. This video below shows a 20second video clip which was shown online, on platforms such as YouTube. It was shown through pop ups and word of mouth and the video also played at the sides of websites. This is one of many viral videos that were released for this film, and its sequel.  



The Blair witch project is an older example of the success of viral marketing It was released in July of 1999. The success of the film could also be given to its unique website, where there included slideshows and real images with the caption 'less than a week before their disappearance', Again having similar effects to the viral marketing of Cloverfield.




How i will use viral marketing
By researching and understanding the importance of viral marketing, it is essential to include this type of marketing technique for my film. I have created a video which is shown below, which I have made to present my idea of what I would use as a viral marketing campaign. I would present this video on web 2.0 and audience generated platforms such as YouTube, and social networking sites such as facebook and MySpace and Twitter I would not release the name of my film, as I would create a word of mouth process. Audiences would send the YouTube link across sites. Also being published on YouTube can allow access to the video via mobile, which can create a bigger audience.




Below i have included a mock up of what my Twitter page would look like, zooming into the details. Twitter is a fast growing social networking site and by following the page the audience can find out details of the film as they are released. I also made a Facebook page, which other users can like.



This print screen shows the front page of the facebook page for the film.



Videos, images and other links can be posted up on this page. I have posted up my viral marketing video as an exmaple of this. This way facebook audiences are viewing my video through this site, as well as youtube users viewing the video through the Youtube site.  If this video is posted up anywhere, external sites can get a hold of it, many may wish to blog about the video and upcomming movie that is creating a buzz, and as a result the video may be shared on various blog sites.



Options on the facebook page allow me to post status updates for the films audience, Promote the facebook page on external websites, which will gather a greater audience size, and also set up the page for mobile users. So anyone using facebook on their mobile can view the page and keep fully up to fate with the details of the film. Having this page connected to your mobile will allow audiences to recieve automatic information, and becuase they would recieve it at any time through their mobile, it can easily be sent to hundreds of other mobile users, by instant messenger,SMS or email.





Facebook also allows me to take this page and promote it as an advert. When i promote the advert through the process shown above, The page will be an advert for facebook, showing up on the sides of users homepages.
Using facebook and other web 2.0 technologies is a great way to market the film. In particular facebook does not just allow you to create a page, but allows you to advertise your page, post youtube videos and images which will work together to create a buzz for the film and market the film virally.