Buzz Marketing: Go Viral Quickly!

Welcome to ReferralHero, the hottest spot to start a buzz! Like bees collect nectar to produce honey, we collect data to create a stir and get your brand noticed.

Do you have an exciting product or service that needs more eyes? Buzz marketing is the way to go - and we’re about to become your guide.

From the smallest startups to the largest enterprises, all organizations need to create buzz to survive and thrive in today’s competitive market.

Buzz marketing is like giving your brand wings and letting it take flight. It’s a surefire way to get the word out about what you have to offer, creating an “aura of excitement” around your brand. And what brand doesn’t want to become a viral sensation?

So get ready to fly high with this article and learn the secrets of how to create a buzz for your brand. You’ll learn all about buzz marketing and how effective it can be!

What is Buzz Marketing?

Buzz marketing sure does kind of sound like viral marketing, doesn’t it? When it comes to buzz marketing vs viral marketing, viral marketing is a gradual process - buzz marketing turns up the volume and amplifies the noise.

It’s also known as word-of-mouth marketing or stealth marketing. Why? You’re getting people talking about you without them even knowing you’re behind it. Hence, stealth!

When we say we want to get people talking about our brand, we mean that literally. 

We’re talking shouting from the rooftops, banging pots and pans together, and creating a hurricane of chatter! 

Instead of relying on creative content to do the talking for us, buzz marketing involves people-to-people conversations about our product or service. It’s like throwing the newest and oldest forms of marketing into a blender - word-of-mouth and digital.

The goal of buzz marketing is to create a “buzz” about your brand – get people talking, excited, and engaged in what you’ve got to say. 

It's like a bee sting - one sting, and everybody's talking!

You’re here to create a “Hey, look at me!” type of hype and curiosity that sparks a ripple effect that keeps getting bigger.

Why is Buzz Marketing Effective?

Look at this stat by Nielsen’s Global Trust in Advertising report. 92% of people (28,000 from 56 countries) say they trust recommendations from friends and family more than all other types of advertising.

You know where this is heading, right? 

Buzz marketing plays right into this trust factor. When people hear about your product or service from someone they know, it’s like a stamp of approval. 

The advice is “tried and tested,” so they know it’s legit. And that’s why buzz marketing works - it’s a legit platform for people to swap product or service recommendations. 

It’s not like traditional forms of advertising where people think, “Oh, this is just someone trying to sell me something.”

It’s about creating an emotional connection with people and giving them something worth talking about. There are SO many benefits to picking up buzz marketing, like:

• Reaching out to more potential customers than ever before, both online and offline
• Building brand loyalty by showing current customers that you’re always innovating and staying ahead of the game. 
• It’s a cost-effective way to get the word out about your brand since you’re relying on people to spread your message for you

And the list goes on!

How Does Buzz Marketing Work?

Okay, at this point, you’re bound to be like, “Great! I get it. How do I create a buzz-worthy marketing strategy?” 

Don’t worry - we’ll get to it. But first, let’s check out the basics.

• Uses all-encompassing content - It's kind of like with just one push of a button, you can spread your message to the masses. Buzz marketing uses all kinds of content like videos, blogs, social media posts, and more to get people talking about your brand.
• Triggers FOMO - Fear of missing out is a real thing. You've definitely seen your friends post about an event or a product and then were like, "I need to be there." When people see their friends having fun, they want to be part of it too!
• Sticks in peoples’ minds - Buzz marketing does this by creating hype around something that makes people want to talk about it and share it with their friends. 
• More power to the people - While you’re the center of attention, the people are what create all the excitement and give it the boost.
• Takes advantage of the network effect - Buzz marketing relies on the network effect. It’s a lot like dominoes - when one person starts talking, it triggers a chain reaction of people talking about your brand or product.

Good news. We think you’re ready to move on to the fun stuff - creating a buzz!

Buzz Marketing Strategies

Creating a buzz means the weirder, the wackier, and the more original you are, the better. 

After all, you want people to react - and reactions involve activating the brain with some cool, unusual, funny, and outrageous stuff.

Here are some buzz marketing strategies to get you thinking:

• Partner with influencers - Influencers are powerful tools. Whether it’s a celebrity, an athlete, or a social media star, partnering with the right influencer can give your brand instant credibility and reach.
• Use humor - People love to laugh, so injecting some humor into your content can be a great start. It doesn’t have to be slapstick - even subtle jokes can go a long way in creating an enjoyable experience for your audience.
• Tap into pop culture - Keep up to date with what’s trending in the world. In 2021, there was the Friends reunion. And in 2022, Elon Musk bought Twitter. Tie your brand into current events, pop culture, movies, and TV shows for maximum impact.  
• Talk about taboos (in moderation) - People love to talk about what’s considered forbidden or out of the ordinary. Whether we’re happily surprised or grossed out, we have a response. Just be sure not to cross a line that could damage your brand. 
• Revolve around the unusual - If you're a beauty brand, instead of just posting about the latest eyeshadow palette, why not post a video of someone using it to make art? Or, if you're at a restaurant, how about taking your signature dish for a road trip?
• Create something remarkable - Here comes the cliché - think outside the box! It could be a stunt, an event, or even a feature film - whatever it takes to get people talking about your brand.
• Do something outrageous - Do something unexpected and unique that will make people go “WOW!” Take people by surprise and shock them, but be careful about it.
• Drive curiosity - People are curious by nature, and you can use that to your advantage. Get cryptic, pass on secrets, drop hints, or even make people feel like they’re part of something special.
• Start a referral program - Referral programs reward people for spreading the word. Offer discounts or exclusive products and services to those who refer others - it’s a win-win situation!

Successful Buzz Marketing Campaign Examples

Buzz marketing has been done before - and successfully. Let these popular brands inspire you to create AMAZING campaigns!

• Starbucks - “White Cup Contest” campaign - In 2014, a Starbucks buzz marketing campaign blew up. Customers would design their own white cup and post it on Twitter or Instagram using #WhiteCupContest. The winner had their design printed on a limited edition Starbucks plastic cup. In just three weeks, there were just under 4,000 entries!

• Old Spice - “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" campaign - Old Spice did a 180° for their brand by creating a funny video featuring spokesperson Isaiah Mustafa. They launched it on Super Bowl weekend and on TV, and it dramatically doubled sales. It was even called one of the top campaigns of the 21st century!

• Taco Bell - “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” Campaign - In 2007, Taco Bell rolled out their “Steal a Base” campaign during the World Series. If any player stole a base in the game, everyone in America would get a free Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco - now that’s something we can get behind! The stunt was successful, and it became a yearly tradition.

• Apple - “Get a Mac” campaign - Apple took its rivalry with Microsoft to the next level with its iconic “Get a Mac” ad campaign. The ads featured a friendly rivalry between two characters - a “Mac” and a “PC” - which poked fun at the differences between Apple and Microsoft products.

• Red Bull - “Red Bull Stratos” campaign - In 2012, energy drink brand Red Bull sent Felix Baumgartner to space (yeah, dude - space!) in an attempt to break the record for the highest skydive ever. The stunt generated a massive amount of buzz, with millions tuning in to watch the event live. That’s what we call remarkable!

Final Thoughts

The online and offline world is getting crowded - you've got to be creative, innovative, and daring to become the queen bee of the beehive. Whether you’ve decided to do something outrageous or subtle, partnering with the right influencers, creatives, or a buzz marketing agency like ReferralHero, you’ll be able to earn that crown!

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