Word
viral marketing
Phoneticsvi·ral·mar·ket·ing
Uncountable noun
Definition
compound. a way of advertising where people share information about a product with their friends, usually on the internet. It works like a virus because the message spreads very quickly from person to person.
compound. a method of product promotion that relies on consumers to market an advertisement to others, typically via social media. Operates on the principle of exponential growth, where each recipient is encouraged to pass the content along to their own network.
Examples
“The company used viral marketing to promote their new game.”
“Their viral marketing campaign succeeded because the video was so funny that everyone wanted to share it on their social feeds.”
“While traditional advertising pushes a message onto a passive audience, viral marketing leverages existing social networks to achieve organic, self-replicating reach that often exceeds the impact of paid media.”
Examples
simple
“The company used viral marketing to promote their new game.”
contextual
“Their viral marketing campaign succeeded because the video was so funny that everyone wanted to share it on their social feeds.”
complex
“While traditional advertising pushes a message onto a passive audience, viral marketing leverages existing social networks to achieve organic, self-replicating reach that often exceeds the impact of paid media.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “viral marketing” in context.
Verb
01. employ viral marketing
“Small startups often employ viral marketing to compete with larger corporations.”
verb + noun
02. launch viral marketing
“The agency plans to launch viral marketing for the new energy drink next month.”
verb + noun
03. utilize viral marketing
“The charity utilized viral marketing to raise awareness for the global water crisis.”
verb + noun
04. viral marketing spreads
“Once a video is posted, viral marketing spreads rapidly across different platforms.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. effective viral marketing
“Effective viral marketing relies on content that users feel compelled to share.”
adj + noun
06. successful viral marketing
“The brand's successful viral marketing led to a massive increase in sales.”
adj + noun
07. unethical viral marketing
“Some critics argue that deceptive social media posts are a form of unethical viral marketing.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. campaign of viral marketing
“The company initiated a clever campaign of viral marketing using mysterious teasers.”
noun + prep + noun
09. power of viral marketing
“The power of viral marketing was evident when the app reached a million users in a week.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a viral marketing strategy
“Developing a viral marketing strategy requires a deep understanding of internet trends.”
11. harness the power of viral marketing
“Modern political campaigns seek to harness the power of viral marketing to reach young voters.”
12. rely on viral marketing
“Many indie games rely on viral marketing because they lack a traditional advertising budget.”
Usage
Often used as a compound noun; can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific strategies or campaigns.
Real-World Examples
“Viral marketing is a deliberate enterprise, though the distribution of a message happens organically.” “The term itself comes from viral marketing, which started in pre-social-media times with advertising agencies that promoted whisper campaigns or tried to manufacture word of mouth.” Etymology
Combines the adjective 'viral', relating to the rapid spread of a virus, with 'marketing'. The term gained popularity in the mid-1990s as internet usage grew, famously associated with the rapid growth of early free email services like Hotmail.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
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