Viral Marketing

Ok, here it is, Sunday morning and I, as always, put on my eyepatches and head for the computer…coffee in hand, of course.  I woke up with no idea about what I was going to talk about for Monday’s blog and logged on to check email.  I had multiple friend requests from Facebook, I was “tagged” in a video from Michelle Jones and her team (actually her husband Brian keeps her Facebook page up to the minute with new and exciting stuff) and a few emails from both BC friends and some from my life before BC.  As soon as I log into Facebook, I start chatting with a  few of my Facebook friends  from BC and then it became painfully apparent what I should write my blog about…viral marketing.

Viral Marketing (and no, it is not a disease) is a term to describe marketing techniques that use social networks to produce increases in brand awareness.  When I use the term social network, I am referring to web communities like My Space, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. 

Ok, let me be the first to tell you.  I am NOT a computer guy.  I check email, I forward jokes, I can look at my checking account balance, I see what people are saying in my blog and I can download songs…and that is about it!  Several months ago, I got a request from a girl that I used to know in Jr. High School to be her “friend” on Facebook (Hi Melanie!).  Naturally, I wanted to see what she looked like after nearly 30 years, so I created a Facebook account so I could log on and look at her pictures.  I did not want something else to keep up with, look at or take up any more of my time.  Well…quickly, friends from college and high school start wanting to be my “friend” (ok, funny we weren’t friends in high school, now everyone wants to be friends all these years later…what is up with that?).  Anyway, it was a matter of days before BC friends locate me.  Literally, within a week, I had over 300 friends on Facebook…and that number has grown to close to 700 today. 

Here’s what I love about these web communities and what they can do for your business.  When one of my BC friends posts messages, or posts videos or photos on my Facebook page, everyone in my “friends” list can see it.  Since I have joined Facebook, 6 of my friends from High School and college have become Consultants.  Dozens of my personal friends have become clients.  That is the power of viral marketing.  People who had no idea what BeautiControl was, are now consultants and clients…without me having to do a thing except find them a local Consultant in their area.  And, I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I love having hundreds of exceptionally beautiful women in my “friends” list…it makes the guys I knew growing up green with envy…they sit around with their middle aged beer bellies and I have all these photos with beautiful women…EAT YOUR HEART OUT!!!

Ok, I digress.  Anyway…there is tremendous power for marketing yourself and what you do through these social media channels.  It is a small world and these social networks link so many hundreds of thousands of people every minute.  If you haven’t yet taken advantage of these, you really should check it out.  If you do, please look me up and add me as a “friend”.  I think you will love the BC support and sisterhood that you will find.  I have gotten to know so many of you on a more personal level through our chats online.  I love looking through your photos and getting to know more about you through pictures.  It truly personifies this business and allows us to know each other in ways outside of business.

Ok…gotta go.  I need to get these eye pads off!

Have a great week.

Comments

[Debbie John]

Gary,

Could you e-mail me? I have a BC question and cannot seem to contact you through the customer service e-mail.

Thank you,

Debbie

[Cindy]

How do we find you on FB, Gary? There are over 500 Gary Jones' lol

[Julie Fielding]

I'm a college student and have been using facebook since my senior yr (3 yrs ago) & once I joined BeautiControl in April 2008, I instantly started telling everyone on facebook about it. I have a page for BeautiControl, and it's actually how I got my first recruit. I live in Texas and she lives in North Carolina. We went on a mission trip together about two years ago, and when I was telling her about what I was doing, she said that someone had done a party a yr ago and she really liked the stuff but didn't know who the person was or anything. But soon she signed up and it's crazy cuz she lives in north carolina and I live in Texas! :D

[Laurie]

I use Facebook for BC occationally too. I don't have a lot of friends, don't really want "friends" I don't know.

Today in Iowa it was record high temps and humidity. I encouraged my friends to try the 20's or Clear moisturizer in this weather.

[Brian]

Gary ~ Michelle came home from doing a team building event and one of her girls (Anna L.) reads your blog religiously! She brought a copy of your blog from yesterday. Michelle called me on the way home and said "I got something that will warm your heart." She gets home and is smiling ear to ear and reads your blog to me. I was very touched to be mentioned in your blog, as a matter of fact it was an honor. Thank you sir! I do my part to help Michelle spread the amazing word of BC and have a lot of fun doing it. ~The lucky husband of Michelle A Jones....Brian

[Crystal Henry]

Gary,

Funny you should blog about this! A consultant friend and I were talking about this very thing the other day. I was sitting at my computer with my morning coffee checking my email and Facebook page. We both us it and have been encouraging other consultants in our unit who don't to do the same. We like it because we can comment on each other's posts which adds a trust factor for people they know and are talking to about BC. We like being able to send virtual BC gifts with the application someone made. (However, it's not been letting me send any in a few days- some kind of glitch.) I even chatted with a consultant under me about her skin troubles. She might have never called or emailed me, but took a minute to chat on Facebook. In a few questions I was able to tell her what to do...get back to doing her regimen BOTH morning and night and use her IFL products as needed too. Also, just today I invited some ladies to come by on Saturday morning for IFL treatments and makeovers. I'm loving being able to connect with everyone this way. Every time another consultant adds me as a FRIEND and doesn't have you as a mutual one, I suggest they add you. It's one more way to keep up with technology. We have to connect with people in a way that they will respond. This is a relationship business.

[Bonnie W]

Oh something else I forgot to mention-I also started a blog about my business! Why I started how its changed my life etc-and that has REALLY been an awesome marketing tool!I use blogspot.com-its very easy!

[Bonnie W]

I am so glad your blog was about this! I got my last 3 spas booked via Myspace and am close to have 3 girls join my team-all from Myspace. I started a special myspace page with info on spas-and what you get etc. The status thing helps a lot! I posted that I had made $79/hour one Saturday-I had girls emailing my like CRAZY! I'm also on Twitter and Facebook-

Thanks Gary! :)

[Stacy J]

Gary - Great blog. I am one of your 700 Facebook friends. Think #30 or something. :)hehe I immediately started using FB and Twitter to promote my BC biz. I've had friends ask me...what is this spa thing all about? Girl I used to work with who I don't even talk to ordered a Lip Apeel from my web site (as result of Facebook connection). My Twitter feeds my Facebook status. So getting in front of hundreds of people. Been named most popular spa site on Twitter by a couple of tweeps. It's crazy. The power of social media is enormous. I've attended webinars and seminars on topic. It's only going to explode more. You can't forget about personal connections. But covering all of your bases, including online, will only help propel your biz. See you on Facebook! :) Stacy