Why Oprah is Marketing Nirvana

I, like most Americans, love Oprah. I find her warm, intelligent, and spot-on when it comes to picking great guests, topics and books. It’s amazing how a single woman has defined popular culture just based on her tastes (or maybe the tastes of her staff). But how many people have you heard say “I saw it on Oprah,” or “I read it because it was in Oprah’s book club?”

Oprah is the very definition of viral marketing. She likely doesn’t get a cut of sales of items she promotes. But as soon as something is featured on her show, it gets snapped up by middle America. And they tell other people, who buy it and tell other people.

I have clients whose goal is to be on the Oprah show. And who can blame them? It’s basically a sign you’ve arrived.

Take her newest endeavor, the book “A New Earth.” No one had heard of Eckhart Tolle (well, I hadn’t anyway) but now half of America is buying his book because Oprah endorses it. Oprah is also offering a free online course with the author surrounding the premises of the book.

At first I said, “Bah. I don’t have to follow the mainstream and read that book!” But then I remembered I said the same thing when Oprah was pushing “The Secret.” I was late on the bandwagon, but the book changed my perspective, and I have Oprah to thank for that. So I gave in and became one of the thousands of people buying and reading this book. I will blog about it as her online course unfolds.

And remember: Oprah is always right.
-Susan

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