I was watching this show the other night on National Geographic about the h1n1 pandemic. The interesting thing is that the h1n1 virus, while it spreads super awesome does not kill very many people. Actually it kills less then .01 percent of the people who get it infected by it.
Compare that to the 2003 SARS epidemic that infected 8,098 people and killed 774 world wide. Giving it a 9.6% chance of killing. Much more effective then h1n1.
One of the things the show also talked about is how many people don’t know that a virus goal actually NOT to kill people. Its goal is to reproduce and sustain life for as long as possible. When its living in a human and the human dies then it dies too.
So how does this apply to internet marketing?
Well everyone is trying to create something “viral”. But most of the time they don’t have a end goal. I know some of the most gifted programers/designers in the world who have created some of the most viral websites on the internet yet can’t figure out how to profit from them.
But there are several people who do “get it”.
Remember the super viral 2 girls 1 cup. Would you believe me if I told you that site sold for 6 figures?
Know the super viral funny lolcat site icanhascheezburger? Did you know that site sold for a group of investors a couple years ago for 2 million dollars?
What about super nuclear viral site hot-or-not which let you just vote “hot or not” on people that sold for 20 million dollars ?
Super life caster/viral video maker iJustine has turned her 5 mins of fame into a huge brand. She now does tons of videos for giant brands.
But for every incredible story of a viral property that made a lot of money there is hundreds of starving youtube stars that had their 5 minutes and millions of views… In fact the last couple years at SXSW in talking to the biggest stars on youtube I have been surprised to find they most make only a couple thousand a month (from youtube AdSense revshare).
So what are you doing that is viral and what is your end goal for it?
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November 22, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I agree with Zk up there. Impressed the way you added h1n1 with viral.
A lot of people including myself don’t have time to monetize
November 12, 2009 at 1:15 am
I’m guessing that going viral happens by accident about 90% of the time.
November 11, 2009 at 3:41 am
Having a virus is something i think little hrad to kill it as it spreads so fast and quite dangerous to damage anything.
November 8, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Being Viral is hard because I can never think of anything
-Mike
November 7, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Many of the viral videos are ‘accidental’ in that they were never expected to be as big as they are, hence no monetisation. Some people are just happy with the fame, its not all about money you know!
November 7, 2009 at 1:04 am
Oh snaps!! i didn’t know two girls one cup really sold for that much.
Getting something to go viral can be tough and it’s especially tough when your aim is to turn it into profit.
It’s mainly because people think about the money too much. Just have fun with it and think outside the box…err should i say cup lol ;p
November 6, 2009 at 8:53 am
http://www.ragetoons.com is another example of something that has gone super viral.
November 5, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Really impressed the way you added h1n1 with viral.
That is the symptom that you also get infected lollzz
November 5, 2009 at 12:56 am
Shoe this is an awesome article, I believe I read somewhere that HotOrNot was started for fun was never planned to go viral which it of course did, and iJustin just made a video that happened to go viral same with 2 girls in a cup, I mean I don’t believe any of them were planning to go viral, but it did the key is to know how to react and monetize the viral wave.
November 4, 2009 at 1:49 pm
h1n1 actually has very similar statistics are the common flu, it is just more visible and hyped up thanks to the media.
November 6, 2009 at 11:15 am
I agree. I think this is just a big scam so that the drug companies can have a big payday from all the paranoia that they’re causing. And of course the government is helping with the paranoia because they’re getting kickbacks from the drug companies.
November 4, 2009 at 11:37 am
More peoples kills in other things rather then h1n1. Small small diseases are killing more peoples then h1n1.
November 4, 2009 at 12:13 am
i’m still newbie here, i’m not sure can make thousand of dollars yet.
November 3, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Some hugh amount, c’mon its just virus. Every month is born a new virus.
November 3, 2009 at 6:32 am
I am quite shocked that there are takers for sites at such huge amounts.
November 3, 2009 at 12:27 am
Is this a matter of getting surprised? even making thousands of USD is not a joke, not every one can be like google. There is a place for every one out in market and once settle around that space depending upon their potential.
November 2, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Making something viral is so tough these days. The tactics that you think might work don’t but you trip over something else that does. It’s no coincidence that many of the top viral successes were accidents.
November 3, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I think it’s easier making something viral. Everyone is connected meaning even something slightly interesting can still travel pretty far.
November 2, 2009 at 8:40 pm
i thought if my plan has spread like virus then it will easier to make money from it..
November 2, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Most of the time people dont have time to monetize. Often its all over within a month. I mean, how often do you hear the phrase, “I just did it as a hobby” or “I just wanted to have a little bit of fun”.
November 2, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Great post. Most people with viral videos only have a short amount of time to monetize, and it’s a shame they don’t realize how to do so.
November 2, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Depends what the initial aim is, I’ve found that many times when you set out to ‘create’ a viral money spinner or gimmick side its hard to make it happen.
however, when aiming for a marketing ploy to promote one of my other project or sites, the gimmick actually takes off and becomes a viral success in itself.
November 2, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Trying to avoid viruses all-together
November 2, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Very intelligent transfer you’ve done there
And you’re right: the most of ever-seen virals have already been forgotten.
November 2, 2009 at 10:59 am
I think for the effort, the return is good. But these youtube stars are one dimensional. They usually aren’t business savvy. They just wanted to be an internet sensation. They never once thought of sustainability. Just my 2 cents.
November 2, 2009 at 10:47 am
‘One of the things the show also talked about is how many people don’t know that a virus goal actually NOT to kill people.’
I would have to disagree with National Geographic. A virus does not have goals in how it develops. The virus simply mutates and the successful variations are passed on.
A virus that is able to remain within a host for a longer period of time may also be able to ’spread’ better. Therefore would be more successful since that variant is sustained. However, a virus has no ‘idea’ what is going to kill its host.
November 2, 2009 at 8:17 am
You just got me thinking. We all begin somewhere..
November 2, 2009 at 8:00 am
“I have been surprised to find they most make only a couple thousand a month” …. ?!?!??Jeremy, everyone has to start somewhere and leaving a vid online for people to click ads on isn’t such a bad start at US$24K per annum excluding potential free t-shirts.