Chris and I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We look forward to an amazing year in 2009, and hope we can keep bringing you up to date and informative articles, case studies and ideas in the SEO industry. Again - here’s hoping everyone has an amazing 2009 and thanks for a great 2008!
I love swimming, and I practically live in the pool from May - Nov. so when i was asked by my friends at Presidential Pools, an Arizona pool builder what kind of things their local Arizona swimming pool company could do to go viral - I had some great ideas!
I am in the process of finishing up my landscaping and everything around my pool, so I have been looking at design after design and trying to come up with something amazing. While doing all that - I have come across some pretty amazing pools, and have found my self day dreaming and doing a little more surfing for pictures then I think I needed to. I am amazed at what some people do with their pools these days. I also found some funny (and very dangerous) things that people do in their pools that I know would be a huge success and hit with social networks - especially YouTube.
Based on my research - here are some of the titles that I think would do pretty well in the swimming pool industry -
1. Top 10 Celebrity Pools.
2. The Worlds 10 Largest Pools.
3. The Top 5 Most Exotic Pools in Las Vegas.
4. The Top 5 Most Luxurious Backyard in Arizona. (local based idea)
You could include 10 pictures of amazing pools like the one above, and give details where they are (like this on in Tahiti) and why you feel they deserve to be in the top 10. It could be a vote, or based on cost, or location? It really is up to you - this is your post and idea. I think anything you would do would be amazing and make people want to keep reading on (staying on your site longer).
Some video ideas would be:
1. 10 Of The Most Dangerous Things Ever Done In Pools
2. 10 Things Dumb Kids Do In Pools
3. The Top 10 Things Your Kids Do That Will Void Your Kids Warranty
Then you could share some videos like this one I found: You would find 10 other videos similar to this one, and I would title it “10 Diving Board Jumps That Hurt To Watch”
If you are in the swimming pool industry you are lucky when it comes to viral content. There are enough stupid people out there, that there is a never ending supply. If you do some research and really dig into some of the examples I have given you even here - I think you will do well! Could probably do some cool infographics here too. As always - let me know if you have any other viral marketing questions in the form of comments here!
For today’s viral marketing idea Friday post I am answering a viral question from a reader. I think there is much potential with this one. Here is the question:
Hi Matt,
I’m opening a new company with a friend of mine, and I am pretty sure its the oldest and most boring business ever, plus its advertising is abused all the way… Limo services. Its based in Stamford CT, and I’m putting some ideas together along with a web site. Do you think this business deserves a post? Thanks
I am not sure about the abuse you are talking about (I have not seen any abuse in this industry in regards to viral marketing or social media). I have a good feeling that there is some huge viral marketing potential with the limo industry. My title should tell it all, and where I feel this industry would do very well.
Most people don’t get the opportunity to ride around in a limo many times in their life, but when we get that opportunity - watch out! People rent limos to feel rich, have a good time and feel a little bit powerful. All of this makes for good potential material for a viral campaign.
A quick search for “limo fun” on Google images brought back almost every image with people with their mouths as wide open as possible, and tongues sticking out. I instantly think of a fun link baited post title like this - “What Is It About Limos That Make People Act Like This? [10 Pics]” Then I would share 10 (of what I felt where the funniest pictures of people with their mouths wide open, or doing something silly inside limos) like this picture below:
I also have some other ideas that would take a little more time and research to come up with, but I think would be amazing. If you go back to the title of this post, my first idea for a viral post would be “Drivers Tell All - 10 Unbelievable Things That Happen In Limos” or “The 10 Most Luxurious Limos On The Market” and find pictures or video, and detail some of the amazing features that limos nowadays have. One final one I think would do really well - “10 of the most unique limos ever built” and you could include pictures like the general lee limo.
I think that would be awesome to read a post like that, and see all those images. I really think these three ideas alone should give you hundreds of other ideas that you could run with.
I really don’t want to get into it on this blog, but you could go down a more risky route with this one, and come up with some amazing stories, images, videos and content based on the dirtier or darker side of limos.
I also just saw a video of two limos racing on YouTube and that would be awesome to compile a list of the coolest limo races ever. Again - so much potential in this industry, so to the person that asked this question I think you have some options. Thanks for asking the question, and as always please feel free to send us in your viral marketing idea questions?
