How to Create Content that Sweeps the Internet Like a

How to Create Content that Sweeps the Internet Like a Prairie Fire

Whats viral content? Its content that gets passed around until its sweeping through your niche like an out-of-control prairie fire on a windy day. And since your marketing message is a part of that content, you get instant, massive exposure when you create and launch this sort of content.

All marketers hope to create an ebook, video, tool, software or even an article that gets this sort of exposure. Its easy to fantasize about creating a video or ebook that overnight becomes the next big thing that everyones talking about. And we all feel like it could happen, because the social media sites (like YouTube and MySpace) make it so easy for anyone to create and share content.

But few marketers actually accomplish this. And even fewer know how to create content thats buzz worthy and likely to be shared. Heres what you need to know before you launch your next viral campaign:

* Create Edgy Content

If your 85-year old grandma sees your content and approves, its probably not going to sweep the Internet like you hope. But if her jaw drops and shes shocked and offended, then you might be on the right track.

In other words, bland newspaper style articles, videos or other content wont make the rounds online. It needs to push the envelope, be engaging, maybe controversial and a little offensive, and/or highly useful.

Just think about the last article, ebook or video you shared with a friend. I bet it wasnt the sort of content you could find in a thousand other places, was it? It caught your attention because it was different. And likewise, you can catch your markets attention by delivering something different than theyre used to seeing.

* Encourage People to Share It

You cant create content and then just cross your fingers and hope someone shares it. Instead, you need to encourage sharing it. That means that you tell people, specifically, to pass it along to their friends. You may also use a tell a friend form. And of course, you should make it easy for people to share it on social bookmarking sites (like Digg.com and StumbleUpon.com) by adding those badges and widgets to your site.

* Get Your Content in Front of People

Finally, you need to get your content in front of as many people as possible. Indeed, pretend its a paid product and launch it with a marketing campaign. Use Digg, MySpace, Squidoo, YouTube, article directories, blogging and every other tool and site at your disposal to get the word out. The more people who initially see it, the better chance it has of going viral, fast.

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