Internet Marketing Success Stories

I wanted to take a post to talk about just how powerful the internet can be.

Sites like Twitter, Facebook and Youtube are becoming places that fit into people’s everyday routine. They serve as great platforms on which your business can be heard, but I don’t want you to believe that just because I said it. Let’s take a look at some examples of internet success stories.

1. Twitter- $#*! My Dad Says.

Justin Halpern began a twitter feed to showcase the inane things that his father said in early August of 2009. Before the month was over, he had gained over 100,000 followers. His huge success led to a book deal in October as well as a Television deal in November. A TV deal and a best selling book were both born from a simple twitter account.

2.Youtube- Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber was just a regular kid from Canada who, like many others, posted videos of himself singing and playing guitar on youtube. Scooter Braun, who works as a talent manager for two record labels, happened to come across his video while browsing youtube and the rest is musical history. Bieber, 16. has had multiple Bilboard top 100 songs, has been nominated for and won many music awards and has even starred in his own movie, Never say Never. Justin Bieber will be able to retire early and it’s all thanks to Youtube and a little luck.

Justin Halpern and Justin Bieber are just individuals, though. They aren’t businesses looking to promote their products and services. However, in both cases, they were given great opportunities because they put their messages on these high-traffic sites and were found by people who were looking for that specific genre, be it hilarious anecdotes or aspiring musicians. That same idea works for businesses. Let’s take another look.

3.Youtube- Old Spice

Old Spice changed the game with their viral marketing on Youtube. After receiving a favorable response from a few of their newest TV commercials starring Isaiah Mustafa, they began a youtube campaign in which he responded to comments on youtube, twitter, and other social networking sites. The result from this campaign was a staggering 107% rise in sales. Now, once this internet fad has faded, that number will level out. However, the real genius I see in this campaign is that it captured people’s attention and gave them a reason to friend them on facebook, follow them on twitter, subscribe to their youtube channel, etc. Everybody wanted to be the recipient of that next video. What’s great is that a large number of the questions being asked and comments being made were about the Old Spice product itself.Even celebrities such as Alyssa Milano, Christina Applegate, and Perez Hilton were talking to the Old Spice Man. I’m a woman and I still watched all of the videos and continue to quote them.

Furthermore, if they keep their tweets, Facebook statuses, and other forms of information relay in the same form of dialogue as The old spice man, then they can ensure that their friends and followers will keep reading what they are putting out. The first goal of a social campaign is to establish a relationship. You can’t ask someone to marry you if you haven’t first met them and wooed them.

Now, your Social campaign certainly doesn’t have to be as flashy(or manly) as Old Spice’s was, but it should cater to your demographic’s needs and wants. Old Spice was successful because people want to be entertained, but people are also looking to be educated and informed. Build a relationship and let them know what it is that you have to offer. That's how you become an internet success story.