Viral Selling and New Social Media Marketing

Alli, the new over-the-counter brand of prescriptionlist of fifty social media sites categorized by market
drug Xenical from Glaxo-SmithKline, is being marketedsegment. These social networking site lists will continue
by a new mix of messages. Their marketersto grow and change over time. One thing is certain, as
understand both the emergence and importance ofis proven with the current political drama unfolding in
social networking as a new media marketing tool, ascyberspace: Marketing and the timely dissemination of
evidenced in their latest commercial. They get it. Theyrelevant information has evolved beyond anything
are now able to grasp the concept of social mediapreviously available or conceivable and will continue to
networking as a tool for viral marketing. What isdevelop. Social networking is now viewed as a
particularly interesting, is that neither of these termslegitimate means of strategic marketing.
were even a part of general marketing vocabularyHow will your sales be impacted by the development
and strategic thinking until just recently.of new social media and viral marketing tools? You
Marketers employed by the pharmaceutical giant haveneed to be paying attention and learning new selling
created a huge buzz surrounding this new productskills to take advantage of this growing phenomenon
addressing a huge and hungry market; No punsas the sales cycle in most industries is certainly being
intended! Their latest ad clearly displays the power ofimpacted. Sales strategies are becoming more
word-of-mouth viral marketing. It displays peopleconversational as social media marketing unfolds.
conversing via email and phone extolling the benefits ofPerhaps the marketing mainstream is grasping what
this new product. The ad then begins to accelerate thehe direct marketers have known for some time; that
layering of these images so that we can more easilyselling is most effective when it is made to be personal
perceive the word-of-mouth methodology and viraland conversational.
growth of their message. It works; Their messageRelationships continue to win sales. Salespeople who
connects with us and they understand it.make the time to understand their customers and their
At his legendary and highly respected blog DoshDosh,needs, connecting with them, will sell more and have
Maki has posted an impressive, detailed listing ofmany more satisfied, referral-providing, long-term
forty-seven social media sites. Brandon Fritz, whocustomers than those who look only for a quick sale.
writes for Kolbrener, has also assembled an amazingWhich path will you take?