Viral marketing refers to a marketing technique that uses social networks to promote a brand. Companies feel that viral marketing isn't worth if they aren't getting high numbers of hits via social media; but viral marketing is really effective if the target market is small and if it's constructed around new product.

Viral marketing uses certain ideas to propagate commercials, advertisements, campaigns at an accelerated rate. Some Viral marketing techniques include the element of weirdness, the idea behind this is to create something unique that people enjoy as fun, while it has a memorable impact on them, for instance the campaigns including rapping hamsters, guys in cat costumes, elves, etc

An effective viral marketing tactics should be uniquely genuine, transparent and community driven; and remember the key to successful viral marketing is innovation.