Many of the most successful Web 2.0 companies, including MySpace, YouTube, eBay, and rising stars like Twitter and Flickr, are prime examples of what journalist Adam L. Penenberg calls a "viral loop"—to use the product means having to share it with others. After all, what's the sense of being on Facebook if none of your friends are? The end result is a business that spreads rapidly, scales quickly, and has the promise to create staggering wealth. In this game-changing, essential book, Penenberg—who identified the phenomenon in a ground-breaking cover story for Fast Company—tells the fascinating, vivid story of the entrepreneurs who first harnessed the unprecedented potential of viral loops to create the successful online businesses (some with billion-dollar valuations) that we have all grown to rely on. While Viral Loop is fascinating for Penenberg's savvy, incisive explanation of the concept, it's even more valuable for its prescriptive nature. Throughout the book, Penenberg illustrates how any kind of business can uncork viral loops to benefit its own bottom line, even retrofitting the concept for the offline world. Penenberg explores viral loops and their impact on contemporary American business, while illustrating how all kinds of businesses—from the smallest start-ups to nonprofit organizations to the biggest multinational corporations—can use the paradigm-busting power of viral loops to enable their business through technology.
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"Lots of useful information on the history of viral networks. I wish it included more statistics and math around the subject. Felt like he simplified the viral coefficient and didn't go into more details on time factor, forms of virality and the effect of churn on the viral loop. Needs more math, but good history lesson." — Haider (4 out of 5 stars)
"Lots of useful information on the history of viral networks. I wish it included more statistics and math around the subject. Felt like he simplified the viral coefficient and didn't go into more details on time factor, forms of virality and the effect of churn on the viral loop. Needs more math, but good history lesson."
“Solidly researched and briskly-written, Penenberg at once captures a great business and tech story, as well as a defining moment in our online culture.”
A snappy, topical read made even more memorable by Allen's performance: his vocal range is wide, but he wisely scales back his intensity to command our attention with his sheer charisma.
" Great historical look at the evolution of the digital age and where we go from here. A must read for anyone in business and the field of marketing and PR. "
" Liked the stories of how people started viral companies like eBay and paypal. Good book. "
" Viral Loop: From Facebook to Twitter, How Today's Smartest Businesses Grow Themselves by Adam Penenberg was chosen by Soundview Executive Book Summaries as one of the Top 30 Business Books of 2010. "
" Good history lesson on how the best viral companies did it. "
" If you are a information hogger! and is ever excited to read about those small wonders which keep happening behind your back and eventually comes in front of you as big corporate miracles. This time its about word of mouth marketing and the domino effect! an entertaining read :) "
" A bit wordy in some topics. Not sure why authors feel like they need to somehow make a book a certain length and then waste our time and theirs with 'filler'. Overall a good read about tech startups and overall marketing techniques for contemporary success. "
" Interesting to help understand the growth of how businesses spread virally. Whether in the beginning with Tupperware or currently with how the web influences our lives. "
" A solid explaination of how companies took advantage of the immediacy and free nature of the web to quickly build audiences prior to reaching critical mass. "
" awesome information helpful for everyone "
" A little repetitive and unoriginal, but still had some very interesting stories and solid examples. "
" Provided a decent historical perspective. A bit slow... "
" Great review about what startups or any site really should consider when attempting to go viral, especially those in the world of social media. "
" I expected to be taught how to build a viral business. Instead this book is an entertaining and informative series of case studies--both of successes and failures. I still highly recommend the read. "
" Some interesting ideas on social media, some bias towards certain sites, but altogether an informative read, priced right too!average writing style, got bored toward the end.. "
Adam L. Penenberg is the editor of PandoDaily, the site of record for Silicon Valley, and has written for the New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, Slate, the Economist, the Washington Post, and Wired. He is the author of Viral Loop: From Facebook to Twitter, How Today’s Smartest Businesses Grow Themselves and a journalism professor at New York University.
Richard Allen is an accomplished and respected theatrical actor whose work includes Ragtime and PBS’ Great Performances: Play On! His voice can be heard on numerous television and radio productions, as well as the animated series Jumanji. Allen is also the winner of seven AudioFile Earphones Awards.
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