Category: viral

Learning Viral: The Basic Viral Model

I have written in the past about how people include “viral” in their marketing plan but are missing the point of what’s really happening. Your site can be growing but not viral! Shocked? How can this be.

Not Viral Model


link to photo

10 people join your site *
10 invites sent per person sent *
10% of those people convert to new users =
10 new users to the site

10 new users / 10 original = 1 viral coefficient / virality level (whatever you want to call it)

Viral means that for every person that joins they bring at least more than themselves. It’s kind of like going on a group date with 1 other person. Viral grows in pairs.

Viral Model


link to photo

10 people join your site *
15 invites per person sent *
10% of those people convert to new users =
15 new users to the site

15 new users / 10 original = 1.5 viral coefficient / virality level

General Viral Formula
X * Y = virality level / viral coefficient

Things you can do to make viral:

    improve x: figure out a way to get them to send more invites. Or return more times to be able to invite more often.
    increase y: work on ways the recipient is more likely to accept an invite.
Welcome to Noah Kagan's Okdork! I am really glad you found me. Don't go just yet. If you're killing time at work, enjoy marketing, online communities and other business things; then you are at the right place.

You should check out my Okdork Virgin Guide to get started.

If you like what you read why don't you subscribe to RSS Feed?

Thanks again for dropping by and I hope to see you soon! - Noah

Want More? Get new articles via email:

people read Okdork everyday!

3 Responses to “Learning Viral: The Basic Viral Model”

  • Aniq Rahman
    April 23rd, 2008
    12:56 pm

    Noah:

    In theory the first model is still viral though isn’t it? (because if the 10% that signs up gets 10% of their friends to sign up - you’re getting a greater than 1:1 return with regards to the absolute - but I guess if your metrics of relative scale are different, then you’re right)

    I think that overall though - engagement for something will increase over time after people hear about something. For example, I wouldn’t have signed up for StumbleUpon or LinkedIn a few years back if nobody was on them and the content wasn’t there. Virality is definitely impacted by the size of network and familiarity that the user has with the platform.

  • Michael
    April 30th, 2008
    8:06 am

    Fast Company just did a great article on “Viral Expansion Loops” - you should check it out.

    http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/125/nings-infinite-ambition.html

  • Eva White
    June 16th, 2008
    12:52 am

    Good way to increase traffic to the site. I think Orkut basically grew out of this system. I would have never joined had 3 different friends not sent me invites

Leave a Reply




Most Popular Posts...EVER!

    will brb.

Noah.licio.us

July's Top Commenters