Coke, for example, is reported to have created funny videos where the Coke brand appears, but it doesn't look like an ad. People passed these videos on in purely on the merits of their humor. Little did they know, they were inadvertently adverting Coca-Cola.

The two case studies above were definite tools to gain favor for their organizations (the North Korean dictatorship and Al-Quaeda), but people were passing them along for reasons other than that.

They were passing them along because they liked hip-hop music, or they thought they were funny, or they liked the anti-America/Ronald Reagan/Michael Jackson/whatever message.

An interesting mutation of the sub-viral gene! More on these mutative factors below ...

** Pop Culture Predators **

If you can associate your cause with pop culture, it's easy to gain favor for your marketing message. Corporations are dedicating time and research into discovering what kids think is 'cool' and getting their brands to fit. Of course, kids are extremely insecure and at their core, they have a desperate fear that they are *not* cool. So, if you can convince them that doing something will make them cool, the influence is quite profound.

** Current Event Free Rides **

If a particular topic is popular, people are going to scour the net to learn more about it. Hitch your wagon to one of these stars and you get some free publicity.

Can you think of a few ways the above two videos did that?

SIDE NOTE: Remember the Monica Cigar? Here's a clever example of how a marketer hitched his wagon to current events to get free publicity. I remember The Monica even getting a little blurb on Fox News as a matter of fact.

** Enigmatic Content **

Who is that sexy Sheik Terrah?!

Since no one knows who he is, it adds to the controversy and gets more people talking. This spreads the virus even more ...

Further, look at how easily Bin-Laden's messages are spread. If Osama speaks, the whole world listens now. The media runs it as it's top headline. You stop everything and listen. You tell your friends.

Skilful manipulation.

***

So, there you go. Now you too can use terrorist tactics for fun and profit.

Obviously, I'm not supporting terrorism in any way shape or form. I only wish to describe their Internet Marketing tactics as they may, indeed, be useful to marketers.

Copyright 2004 Val Halla

Val Halla is a web marketing consultant specializing in traffic generation and conversion analysis. She may be reached at: webgoddessvalhalla@yahoo.com