| The principle of viral marketing works very | | | | these one-way links originate from quality |
| much like a computer virus. Left unchecked, a | | | | websites it will boost the pagerank of your |
| computer virus will affect one PC to the | | | | web page. Writing and distributing quality |
| next. But unlike a computer virus, which is | | | | articles or ebooks will increase your web |
| harmful, viral marketing is harnessed for | | | | page link popularity. |
| good. It is very effective in spreading word | | | | |
| about your business. The logic is very | | | | Make backend sales |
| simple. Catch it, and then pass it on. | | | | |
| | | | The primary reason experienced marketers |
| So, how does viral marketing fit with content | | | | offer free content is to build their opt-in |
| distribution? I'm glad you asked. If you | | | | lists. They offered what they termed 'front |
| offer high quality articles, white papers, | | | | end products' in the form of free content. |
| reports, ecourses or ebooks, you can be sure | | | | Their strategy is to get people to their |
| that they will be passed around to others, | | | | website to signup for their mailers. |
| and others will pass them on to others and so | | | | Eventually through the mailers they make |
| on and so forth thus producing a 'viral' | | | | 'backend sales'. |
| effect. | | | | |
| | | | Make extra income through affiliate programs |
| Unlike a computer virus, this kind of virus | | | | |
| works for you and it harms no one. Soon | | | | Another added advantage of distributing free |
| you'll find your writings circulating around | | | | content via ebooks is the opportunity to make |
| the Internet. | | | | extra income through affiliate programs. You |
| | | | could easily insert affiliate links into your |
| Drive targeted web traffic to your site | | | | ebooks. Some words of caution here though... |
| | | | |
| An effective way to introduce your website is | | | | 1.You must insert affiliate links that are |
| through content distribution. Targeted | | | | relevant to the content of your ebook. |
| visitors will arrive at your website when | | | | |
| they click the links in your ebooks or | | | | 2.Insert affiliate links strategically, |
| resource box at the end of your articles. You | | | | discretely and sparingly. Don't turn your |
| stand to gain more website traffic through | | | | ebook into one mega sales promotion. Provide |
| the 'viral' effect of content distribution. | | | | your readers with quality content, not sales |
| | | | pitch. |
| Earn credibility | | | | |
| | | | Most newbies to Internet marketing do not |
| Writing quality articles, ezines, ecourses, | | | | take advantage of the effectiveness of viral |
| ebooks, white papers and reports will quickly | | | | marketing to make profits and build their |
| establish you as an expert in your field. You | | | | opt-in lists. Their hands are already full, |
| will earn credibility if the content you have | | | | learning how to start and run their online |
| written provides solutions to people's | | | | business, that they have no time to write |
| problems. That's the reason why 'How tos' | | | | quality content for distribution. |
| articles and ebooks are popular and in great | | | | |
| demand. | | | | Any aspiring online marketer should invest |
| | | | time to research and write quality content |
| Increase link popularity | | | | for distribution or invest money to hire |
| | | | someone to do the job. After all, the |
| Another advantage of distributing free | | | | Internet is about information. Majority of |
| content is gathering inbound links. When | | | | people surf the Net to harvest information |
| people post your articles or distribute your | | | | first and foremost. So, quality content is in |
| ebooks on their website they are in essence | | | | great demand now and will still be in the |
| providing one-way links to your website. If | | | | future. |