Viral Marketing -- The New Rules

The New Rules of Viral Marketing: How word-of-mouse spreads your ideas for free is a great new & free ebook by  David Meerman Scott you should download and read now -- it'll just take a few minutes.

David knows viral marketing, as evidenced by his last viral ebook which has had hundred of thousands of downloads and which he can directly track hundreds of thousands of dollars revenue too, including a book contract and speaking gigs (and he's a great speaker!).

His book includes great examples and simple advice. There is also an enormous dose (of often missing) reality: "viral" is an art, not a "science." For example, it better be remarkable and memorable.

How can you tell if something will go viral or not? You can't! You can increase the odds greatly by following some simple advice though.

How do you make a successful viral YouTube video for example? Make a whole mess and hope one takes off -- really.

David also gives some very specific advice for creating a viral ebook, of immense interest to me as I released my somewhat viral (OK, maybe only bacterial so far) ebook, Effective Internet Presence, Now required for success in business and life, a couple of weeks ago.

It's doing well. My server's been overloaded a couple times from several thousands of downloads, the media has been quoting me and my ebook, I've been doing podcast and radio interviews on the topic, and one publisher so far has approached me with the thought of writing a full blown paper bookstore book on the topic.

I didn't follow all of David's advice. No surprise, I rarely follow all of anyone's advice. I'm not a gifted leader by any means, but I'm a poor follower :)

I agree with and did most of what David advises, but I don't have many pictures or images as he suggests (hmmm, do I have any??), I didn't use a professional editor or proofreader (I should have, but was in too much of a hurry to get my ideas out), and I am going to use conventional advertising to help promote it; My ebook will appear on the Good Year Blimp at the Superbowl.

OK, I'm lying, but I will have a facetious ad in Personal Branding Magazine in a few days -- will post it here too.

David's book is a very fun, interesting, and remarkable read. I'm not posting about it because David's a great guy, or because I like it, but because it's remarkable and I think most people will like it.

Quite viral indeed.

Comments

[David Meerman Scott]

Hey Ted,

Your new ebook is a great read. But like a beautiful model wearing mundane grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt it is not dressed up as well as it could be. Why not have it re-worked with some professional design and re-post it?

Cheers, David

[Freeebooksdownload]

Great post Thanks Dude :)
http://www.freeebooksdownload.net/

[T Demop, Blogging for Business]

David,
Thanks for the kind words.

I'd prefer to think of it as a model nude, as opposed to in mundane grey sweatpants and a black t-short :)

And most models look better in clothes; that's their job after all, to look good in clothes and make the clothes look good (ignoring nude models, which are an entirely different thing).

Good idea, I'll ponder it briefly, and either quickly take action and re-release, or start working on the next one!

[Vikram Rajan]

yes, I'm on the side of Rumplestiltskin! I believe he was unfairly treated by Google... see, we all have to manage our personal brand web presence.

I'll take a look at both your e-books. My text book just got into the bookstores last week. And I'm working on my Entrepreneur Brand article for the Personal Branding magazine!

thanks for all your help...

;) ~ Vikram
PersonalBrandMarketing.com

[T Demop, Blogging for Business]

Vikram,
Thanks for stopping by. Any idea when your book "365 Personal Brand Marketing Thumb-Rules: Daily Workbook for Rainmakers" will be available through Amazon?

[Mark Brown]

Greetings Ted, Thanks for your e-book; a couple of questions:

1) Why the 'I'm just learning how to use Word' design and layout?

2) What is with the boring title? Get creative!

Mark

[T Demop, Blogging for Business]

Hi Mark,

1) Wanted to get it out the door as soon as possible.

A new version is coming in probably a day or two, with a decent cover and some other changes -- but I like the layout.

2) Of the two types of names, creative and descriptive, I chose descriptive. yes, a name *could* be both.

Thanks for your comments!