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© mgrayflickr

Hershypark, the famous theme park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is using a viral marketing strategy to generate buzz around a new roller coaster code named "Attraction 2012". The park has started dropping hints around the Internet, and leading some coaster fans to hope that if they can piece them all together it will unlock the mystery of the new ride.

Viral marketing strategies are not new to Hershey park, which also used them in 2007 ahead of the introduction of its Fahrenheit coaster. But this time, the depth and detail involved are significantly higher, utilizing fake Web pages, hidden messages, foreign languages and symbolism. Clues have started to be released more frequently, and a website dedicated to the attraction promises to release four new "studies" every Monday over the next four weeks.

© Rev Dan Catt

Having their content go 'viral' is a fantasy of business website owners and designers, and many companies believe that social media and online marketing isn't worth it if they aren't getting high numbers. It's true that viral success can greatly benefit a company, especially if it is built around a new product. One tip for getting your content to spread faster is to embrace weirdness.

A good example is Skittles, which has some strange and unique commercials both online and on TV. This has garnered press coverage for the company and millions of views on YouTube. Other viral campaigns based on weirdness include elfyourself.com by OfficeMax and the cute Kia Soul Hamster commercial. These campaigns are all unique and make people laugh, while creating a memorable impression of the brand at the same time.

© PIAZZA del POPOLO

Viral video content online has been growing fast. Videos sometimes go viral by showing us things that we've seen plenty of times before, but doing so in a new light or unique perspective. Even common items or locations can become new to us, and several recent viral videos demonstrate that concept.

For example, a great video comes form Vimeo user Philip Bloom, who took advantage of exceptional hotel room views to film an homage to Seattle's Space Needle. Another Vimeo user employed unique perspectives to show off the reality and beauty of Phuket, Thailand. A video called Time Machine was first shot in 1906. It's a ride through downtown San Francisco, filmed just days before the quake and fire that nearly destroyed that city, making this video eerie and beautiful all at once. By showing the audience something they know, but in a new way, the hints of the familiar will draw them in, while the new perspective will keep their attention.