This is the most successful flea market promotion in history. 2 million people have played this clip on Youtube. It’s the #1 result in google for “minimall”
and as of this writing, it’s on the first page of google for flea market.

People stop on their vacations at this place to film the owner, and learn how to dance like him.

Do you have any marketing piece as powerful as this?

There’s no way to know what’s going to be viral. I sat for years bemoaning the fact that it was impossible to have fun or be funny about the wholesale industry. Wholesale industry websites exist at the pleasure of their advertisers, so it’s hard to suggest to your customer that they make a fool out of themselves. But, look at the above video. Sammy Stephens is no fool, and even if you started watching and thought he was, you don’t think that now, do you? The only place he is laughing is to the bank.

The name of his business and his slogan have been driven into millions of people’s heads. What would that be worth to you? This is what I learned from Sammy Stephens and the Montgomery Flea Market Video.

• Be Fearless – It’s your business, are you ashamed to be out in front of it? Way too many web guys, this web guy included, enjoy the anonymity that comes from making web sites and selling without having to talk to anyone. It’s a great thing but if you don’t want to be out front promoting it along with yourself, you are going to miss some big benefits. Meeting people for instance, its not just finding customers, but if you want to meet talented people that can help you, whether its Ellen DeGeneres or a blogger or just a talented web designer you can hire.those people need to have a face to connect with. When you build links, send a newsletter or go to a trade show, you will gain more if you also have a personal presence. Sammy Stephens can get a meeting with a lot of people, just because he made a commercial where he dances and sings. If you’re ashamed to dance and sing about your company, maybe you should sell it.

• There’s no real good way to start out and “Be Viral” – I’ve seen some pretty heinous corporate video. You can see plenty of it on YouTube. What you can do is try to be original and funny to the best of your ability. It’s not that hard, here’s a company that works hard on its internet marketing with great success, and they have made a viral video.

When I show you what your Competition is doing, I’m trying to move you towards action. There’s a lot more to the new style of internet marketing than just “going viral” but what going viral ultimately means is that your message is picked up and carried forward by others. Other people, other sites have to not just drop you some links, they have to host your message as art of their content. Once they are hosting your content, they are investing with you and your goal. Honor that investment by giving them good stuff to chew on. You’re going to hear a lot more about this over the coming weeks.

Related Posts on Other Blogs:

The Secret Strategies of Behind Viral Videos

Seven Deadly Sins of Viral Video Advertising

Why Everyone Wants a Viral Video