Automotive Industry

New way of advertising spreads like a virus; Automakers turn to Web promotion to boost sales.(News)

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Byline: Jason Stein

"Viral" marketing is spreading in the auto industry as automakers question the effectiveness of traditional sales pitches.

Viral marketing is reaching consumers in the way advertisers crave - through word-of-mouth.

Viral campaigns encourage people to pass on a marketing message to others.

Advertisers aim to create an avalanche of buzz worldwide through online short films, low-key events and Internet messages.

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Web "mockumentaries" use offbeat messages that appear to have been created by individuals rather than companies. They ...