As a business owner, you've probably heard the phrase "going viral" thrown around as the ultimate solution to your financial woes. However, the truth is that more than just viral social success is needed to build a sustainable business model. In this post, we will uncover the realities of viral success and discuss alternative strategies to achieve financial growth and success for your business. Keep reading to learn more.
Why going viral isn't the solution to your money problems
Going viral has become a buzzword in the digital marketing world as businesses strive to create content that will explode across social media platforms and bring in hordes of customers. However, the truth is that going viral is not a silver bullet solution to money and sales problems.
Here are some reasons why:
The hype around viral success: While it's true that viral content can bring in a lot of attention, it's important to remember that not all viral content is created equal. A viral video may get millions of views, but that doesn't necessarily mean those views translate into sales. Additionally, there's often a bit of luck involved in going viral - it's hard to predict precisely what content will resonate with audiences and cause them to share your content.
The limitations of a viral strategy for small businesses: Going viral is often associated with large corporations with big budgets and many resources. For a small business with limited resources, it can be challenging to create content that will have the same impact as a viral video or social media post made by a major brand.
Real marketing happens directly after the viral: Even if your content goes viral, that's just the start of the marketing process. After the initial burst of attention, it's up to you to turn those views into conversions of actual sales. This means having a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that includes targeted lead generation, conversion optimization, and customer retention strategies.
So what should small businesses do instead of relying on going viral? The answer is to build a comprehensive digital marketing strategy tailored to your business and target audience. This strategy should include a mix of organic traffic and paid advertising, as well as tactics to improve customer engagement, lead generation, and conversion rate.
Here are some specific tactics to consider:
Conducting thorough keyword research to identify high-value search terms that can drive organic traffic to your website.
Optimizing your website for search engine algorithms to improve your online presence and search rankings.
Develop targeted marketing campaigns to attract and retain your ideal target audience.
Building a solid brand identity that inspires brand loyalty and repeat business.
Incorporating inbound and outbound marketing tactics to reach your audience at every marketing funnel stage.
Leveraging the power of influencer marketing to connect with new audiences and build your brand's credibility.
Going viral may be a lofty goal, but there are other ways to succeed in digital marketing. Small businesses can achieve real, sustainable growth and financial success by focusing on a comprehensive strategy that maximizes ROI through targeted lead generation and conversion tactics and building brand loyalty through customer acquisition and retention strategies.
The hype around viral success: separating fact from fiction
In the world of digital marketing, the term "viral" has taken on a life of its own. Companies dream of creating the next viral video, meme, or hashtag to make their brand an overnight success. But the truth is, there are better solutions to your business's money and sales problems than going viral.
There's no denying the power of viral marketing. When a piece of content is widely shared, it can reach a massive audience and generate a significant amount of buzz. And while it's true that going viral can increase brand awareness, it's not a guaranteed recipe for success.
Going viral is tough. There's no formula for creating a viral piece of content, and even the most skilled marketers can't predict what will go viral and what won't. Have you ever felt that a piece of content you worked very hard on for a long time was going to be THE thing that goes viral, and instead, it flops?
The algorithm behind social media trends constantly evolves, making it harder to know what content will resonate with users.
Even if you strike viral gold, the effects are often short-lived. Yes, you may see sudden traffic to your website, but that doesn't necessarily translate into sales. And once the buzz dies down, you're back to square one.
I don't want to say viral marketing isn't something. Creating shareable content is going to help boost brand awareness and engage your target audience. But this also is not a magic bullet for solving your business's money and sales problems.
Instead, the marketing focus must be creating a comprehensive digital marketing strategy. Creating a strategy means understanding your target audience and communication, developing a brand identity, conducting keyword research, and optimizing your website to improve your search engine ranking.
It also means investing in both organic and paid advertising to drive traffic to your website. Organic traffic is free and generated by search engine algorithms, while paid advertising is targeted and requires a financial investment. A well-put-together digital marketing strategy will balance both to generate the best ROI.
Ultimately, lead generation and conversion tactics are the key to any marketing success. You want to attract qualified leads to your website, engage them with your content, and persuade them to become paying customers. Conversion requires a deep understanding of your target audience and how exactly to connect with them.
While going viral may seem like the holy grail of digital marketing, there are more guaranteed solutions to your business's money and sales problems. Instead, focus on developing and executing a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that incorporates a range of tactics, including viral organic marketing, to maximize your ROI and achieve long-term success.
The limitations of a viral strategy for small businesses
As tempting as it may be to aim for viral success as a small business owner, it's important to consider the limitations of this strategy. While going viral can provide a temporary surge in brand awareness and website traffic, there are more sustainable solutions for increasing sales and revenue.
Here are a few reasons why:
Lack of control over virality: Most viral content is created organically, meaning it spreads by word of mouth or through social media shares. Small businesses need more control over when and how their content goes viral, making it difficult to plan and execute a successful viral marketing campaign.
Limited impact on sales: Even if your content goes viral, there's no guarantee that your website visitors will convert into paying customers. In my experience, most people who visit your website as a result of viral content are simply curious or interested in sharing the content with their friends rather than being genuinely interested in your product or service.
Short-lived success: Viral content tends to have a short lifespan, meaning that the surge in traffic and brand awareness is often short-lived. With a solid plan to capitalize on the momentum, small businesses can retain the attention of their newfound audience as quickly as they gain it.
While viral marketing can be effective for large corporations with established brands and massive marketing budgets, small businesses are generally better off focusing on more sustainable, long-term marketing strategies that can drive consistent traffic, leads, and sales.
Some effective alternatives to a viral strategy include:
Investing in targeted paid advertising to reach your ideal customers
Creating high-quality content that speaks directly to your target audience's needs and interests
Optimizing your website and content for search engines to drive organic traffic
Building a solid social media presence to engage with your audience and build brand loyalty
Implementing a comprehensive inbound marketing strategy that guides leads through the marketing funnel to conversion
Partnering with influencers or industry leaders in your niche to increase brand awareness and credibility
By focusing on these digital marketing tactics, small businesses can slowly and steadily build a loyal customer base and drive sustainable growth over time. While going viral may seem like a quick fix, the reality is that it's often a flash in the pan that won't provide lasting results.
The actual marketing happens directly after the viral
It's easy to become enamored with the idea of going viral. After all, the prospect of millions of views, likes, and shares feels like the ultimate achievement for any small business looking to build brand awareness and connect with potential customers. However, the reality is that going viral often provides minimal benefit for your bottom line.
The truth is that going viral is often little more than a flash in the pan. All too often, businesses invest significant time and resources into a viral campaign that generates short-term buzz but ultimately fails to drive meaningful sales or conversions. Worse, many businesses misinterpret viral success as proof of a successful marketing strategy, leading them to rely too heavily on the fleeting benefits of internet fame.
Instead of focusing on going viral, strategic businesses focus on what comes next. While a viral campaign may generate initial interest in your brand, it's what happens after the fact that truly counts.
By prioritizing customer/community engagement and lead generation, businesses can build a loyal and dedicated following to sustain long-term growth and success. This means investing in organic traffic through SEO-optimized website content, targeted outreach to specific audiences on social media, and paid advertising designed to reach your target audience where they are.
The key to maximizing the Return On Investment of your time creating the content is to focus less on going viral and more on building a comprehensive marketing strategy that is strong in customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction. By focusing on these core goals, businesses can build the strong, engaged customer base that is essential for long-term growth and success in today's digital marketplace.
The mystifying thing in my experience is when a business goes viral and gains more followers, it also gains some social street-level credibility. The number you have in your community following is the world we live in now. I would advise using this to your advantage when reaching out to wholesalers, editors, or any other type of project you want to do now that you have this vanity number that may have excluded you from a deal before.
Can you go viral again with content you want your followers to see?
In my experience, an initial viral has happened because of following a trend. Most of the time, the viral is not because the business is actually showcasing what it is truly about; it is instead riding a wave of trending audio or templates. But you can go viral again with the content of what your business is known for. When you begin consistently posting content RELATED to your business, you can go viral again and see increased engagement. However, as I have repeatedly stated in this article, in my experience going viral does not make you more money; you still need to sell your products and services In Real Life (IRL).
Building brand loyalty through customer acquisition and retention strategies
When running a successful business, building brand loyalty is key to maintaining a steady flow of revenue and ensuring repeat customers. While going viral may bring in a surge of new customers, it is the strategies implemented after the initial buzz that truly make a lasting impact.
Here are some effective strategies for building brand loyalty through customer acquisition and retention:
Customer Engagement: Customer engagement through surveys, feedback forms, and short-form social content filled with valuable insights into their preferences and desires. By showing that their opinions matter and your process (not the secret stuff ), customers are more likely to feel valued and return to your business in the future.
Targeted Marketing: Targeting specific customer segments through digital marketing campaigns can help increase conversion rates for both new and returning customers. Understanding the interests and behaviors of your target audience allows for more effective marketing, leading to increased customer loyalty.
Personalization: Personalizing the customer experience through emails, promotions, and other marketing efforts can make customers feel appreciated and understood by your business. This personal touch can go a long way in fostering long-term customer loyalty.
Exceptional Customer Service: Providing excellent customer service not only resolves any issues or concerns immediately but also helps build trust and credibility with customers. This personal touch can lead to customers choosing your business over competitors, creating more brand loyalty.
Loyalty Programs: Offering rewards and incentives for repeat customers can encourage them to continue choosing your business over competitors. Rewards can include discounts, free merchandise, or exclusive access to events or promotions.
Building brand loyalty takes time, effort, and dedication. But when you implement these strategies, businesses can maximize their ROI, increase customer satisfaction, and ultimately create a more prosperous and sustainable business. Going viral may bring temporary success, but building brand loyalty is the key to long-term success and growth.
Why You Should Reach Out to Maven and Muse Media for Your Social Media Strategy
The truth is going viral may seem like a quick fix to increase sales and revenue, but there are more sustainable strategies for the long-term success of your business. The truth is that building a strong foundation based on solid financial practices and a focus on generating consistent sales is what will truly make your business thrive. For expert assistance with your social media strategy and more, contact Maven and Muse Media.