Viral coefficient is a metric that measures the number of new users generated by existing users through referrals or word-of-mouth. A high viral coefficient indicates that a product or campaign is spreading rapidly through its user base.
For example, if each user of a mobile app invites three friends, and one of them signs up, the viral coefficient is 1.0. A coefficient above 1 indicates exponential growth.
This metric helps marketers gauge the effectiveness of referral programs and organic sharing. A high viral coefficient means existing users are driving new sign-ups, reducing acquisition costs. By enhancing shareability through incentives, social features, or valuable content, businesses can leverage viral growth to expand their audience quickly and efficiently.