viral marketing

noun

: marketing designed to disseminate information (as about a new product) very rapidly by making it likely to be passed from person to person especially via electronic means

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Paramount Pictures was previously responsible for last September's viral marketing campaign for the horror film Smile, which saw actors sit behind home plate at various Major League Baseball games with creepy grins on their faces. Tommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2023 This viral marketing for 80 for Brady is next level. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 1 Feb. 2023 Why biology is in dire need of some viral marketing (and why the creationists are winning at SEO), by Kevin Zelnio. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2011 The combination of heavy viral marketing and an immediate chorus has helped Smith score their biggest hit in years, and Petras her biggest hit to date. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2022 What happens if no one notices the viral marketing campaign for your new horror film? Clark Collis, EW.com, 29 Sep. 2022 With lofty claims and unnecessary additives, food scientists say it’s the epitome of viral marketing. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2022 The movie was made under-the-radar and used a viral marketing campaign to tease out interest. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Sep. 2022 No one pulls out her phone to take a picture of sliders or mini quiches—here was a way to turn catering into viral marketing. Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'viral marketing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of viral marketing was in 1989

Dictionary Entries Near viral marketing

Cite this Entry

“Viral marketing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viral%20marketing. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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