If you are as old as I am (few people are these days) do you remember sales training where you learned to stick your foot in the door,  talk a lot, guide the conversation, overcome objections, and push the product before they got buyer’s remorse?  I do.

Consequently, I used to think (and rightfully so at the time) that the words “selling” and “marketing” were bad words.  Thankfully I found out the definition has really CHANGED in this age of the Internet and Social media!

This past weekend, I had the privilege of spending quality time with some of the premier Social Media (Social Marketing) experts in the country.  Gina Gaudio-Graves, Ron Capps, and Mike Wesely shared their success stories, love and wisdom with a small group of us gathered at the Defoor Center in Atlanta – an event sponsored by online marketer, Phil Cullum.

The biggest thing I walked away with is this:  Selling online (or off-line)

 does not mean pushing stuff onto people they don’t want.  Selling and social marketing means connecting with the customer first, getting lots of feedback, customizing products and services based on this feedback, and delivering them in a way that really serves the customer. 

 The Internet has transformed the way we do business into a much more customer-oriented community.  By getting to know each other as friends and associates, “marketing” becomes simply another word for social networking and connecting heart-to-heart.

 

Michael Craig was a call-in guest on their Blog Talk Radio Show “Niche Radio” on Saturday (see link below)!