Viral Marketing Checklist - Neutrality is Useless

So now that you understand what viral marketing is, how do you do it?

As you'll see on the graphic below, one key element is doing the unexpected. Stop doing what all your competitors are doing. You'll never stand out if all you're doing is blending in.

I'll spend the next few posts talking about each item on the checklist below.

1. Stop Being Neutral

Controversy breeds notoriety. Look at Ann Coulter. I think she is a vile human being. She has said so many offensive things many people want her dead. Here's the thing: the only reason she's relatively famous is because she says stupid things. Things that get people talking.

Now, I'm not saying become the next Ann Coulter. Lord knows one of her is more than enough. As a writer, you never want your image to outshine or distract from your work. The one and only piece of credit I will give Ann Coulter is she knows how to get people talking about her.

Here's your homework:

1. List five public figures (e.g. politicians, celebrities, etc.) that you strongly dislike.
2. Pick one thing each person has said or done to make you dislike them.
3. List five public figures (e.g. politicians, celebrities, etc.) that you admire.
4. Pick one thing each person has said or done to make you admire them.

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The below graphic is from the Kissmetrics Blog. They provide html coding if you want to include this on your own blog (because they understand viral marketing.)

++ Click Image to Enlarge ++

Source: The Viral Marketing Cheat Sheet Infographic