The fact remains that viral marketing is purely a creation of the Internet but it is nothing more than "word of mouth" advertising in a different medium. There are an increasing number of people operating websites from their homes and viral marketing is a very effective means of increasing traffic flow and generating new business. Simply stated: viral marketing can make you money.

Viral marketing consists of five basic components. It is not imperative to engage in all of these components for an effective viral marketing plan. However, the more marketing strategies you employ, the greater chances for success. What are the details of each viral marketing component?

Element number one involves marketing by giving something away for free. This type of plan brings in many potential customers and helps them discover your business. This is the first attraction to your website.

The second component deals with getting a message out that can be easily sent all over the digital world. The purpose of viral marketing is to have your friends tell their friends who tell their friends and so on. A great way to spread this information is through the use of email. Email is quick, cheap, and you can send the message to several people at once.

Any marketing effort generally seeks to use the inner motivations of people to compel them to make a purchase. This is the third element, and it is common to all marketing plans: finding a hook that will draw people in.

The fourth component is to maximize the use of social, business, and personal networks. Word of mouth works the best when people hear the message from people they trust such as friends and coworkers. Become part of these close networks that usually consist of at least 10 contacts per person. These contacts will have the best potential of forwarding your email marketing message.

Element number five involves closing the deal. You have spread the word about your business, but now you need to convert word of mouth into sales.

Set up a website that can handle heavy website traffic so you can provide exceptional customer service. Prepare ahead and have viral marketing messages on hand for any situation.

Find the right emotional hook to capture your prospects and prepare for business success with viral marketing.