Godin's Book Give Away Off to a Fast Start
Internet marketing author Seth Godin began offering free downloads of his new book, "Unleashing the Ideavirus," last week at his Web site. The viral marketing campaign is off to an impressive start, according to the author.Godin said 12,000 Internet viewers a day downloaded the book through the first week of its release. He said those viewers on average e-mailed the portal document format file to three friends.
"Unleashing the Ideavirus" lauds the positive marketing effects of giving away products, according to a written release. The symbiosis between the content of the book and its own viral marketing campaign is clearly intentional.
Godin's Web site, Ideavirus.com, encourages viewers to download a PDF containing the book, then forward it to a friend. The intention is to generate high interest for the book's September hardcover release. The hardcover will have a list price of $40.
A press release is the only promotion the free download has received so far. Godin's past books have charted on The New York Times' Bestseller List, and he is regarded by many in marketing circles as a promotions trendsetter.
