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Viral marketing is one of the most powerful marketing techniques on the Internet. Yet, many small Internet entrepreneurs either don't know what it is, or how to use viral marketing to effectively promote their website.

Viral marketing can be one of the most cost-effective marketing techniques and, once you've launched your viral marketing campaign it practically runs on autopilot.

There are few types of Internet marketing that can boast both of these features. Search engine optimization, Pay Per Click advertising, and so many other forms of Internet advertising can be time consuming and costly. Meanwhile, viral marketing costs little or nothing to implement and, once you get started, it can take on a life of its own, continuing to drive prospects to your website even when you aren't actively advertising it.

What is Viral Marketing? Viral marketing refers to an advertising technique that is spreads from person to person ' much like a real virus. Viral marketing is word-of-mouth advertising at its best.

Some prime examples of viral marketing include:

* Tell-a-friend scripts that allow visitors to share a website with other people they know through an email.

* Free e-books or software that people share with each other because of the value of their content.

* Affiliate programs that pay members to tell others about your product or service.

You don't have to be an expert author or programmer to create a great viral marketing product. A simple information product which contains valuable information about your niche market or product is all you really need. This can be a simple report that is provided in PDF format.

The key element to making your viral marketing product truly viral is giving people a reason to pass it along. This might include:

* A way for them to make money ' such as by reselling your product.

* Advertising space in your article.

* Entertainment value ' joke sites, cartoons, and games often work this way. We pass them along simply because they amuse us.

* Tug at their 'heart strings' - if your report covers a sensitive issue, or one that is very personal to many people, then they will pass it along because it offers a solution to a common problem. Recall all the emails about 9/11 that were passed around.

Viral marketing can be a truly powerful part of your advertising campaign, especially if you are operating on a shoestring budget. A little effort and creativity are all that you need to get started.