What term describes rapid, widespread online sharing that promotes products?

• A. Viral marketing
• B. Direct mail campaigns
• C. TV advertising
• D. Print brochures

Answer: (A)

Rapid, widespread online sharing that promotes products is viral marketing. It relies on people quickly passing along content within their online networks, so the message spreads organically and often exponentially. The appeal is usually entertaining or highly useful content that others want to share, leading to broad reach with relatively little paid media. This differs from direct mail campaigns, which are targeted messages sent directly to individuals; TV advertising, which uses broad mass-broadcast spots; and print brochures, which are static physical materials distributed to potential customers. Viral marketing captures the idea that the message spreads like a virus through social sharing.