Did Walmart just launch us into a new age of marketing?

When was the last time you watched commercials? For me, the only time I watch commercials is during football season- and i often opt for that “moment of zen” instead.

Now, on social media we can tippy-tap right past ads and we all collectively got too smart for product placement very quickly.

Influencer marketing is where marketers started to get real good and real sneaky… And I think Walmart may have just launched us into a new era with their new Walmart “Deals of Desire” holiday ad.

3 Reasons Walmart Nailed It:

#1. Walmart scripted this ad like an episode of The Office- hello millennial nostalgia. It allows for a quick pace, cut away scenes, humor and keeps viewers captivated for the entire 2 minutes and 53 seconds.

I can’t remember the last time I gave an ad 10 seconds of my time, let alone 3 minutes.

#2. Walmart cast Jake Shane as the star of this ad, a well-known and totally likeable TikToker across multiple age groups. Jake is someone we all are rooting for, he uses everyday humor to win over millions of followers and brought the same ‘little brother energy’ to this commercial.

Cameos also included Lisa Rinna (hello, Bravo fans) and Ian Somerhalder (Vampire Diaries), creating recognition and adding to memorable moments.

#3. This ad never lists the details of the actual deals, but by the end you know Walmart deals are dropping on November 11th and can recall details and brands (Barbie, Lego, Skechers, Gourmet, etc) without a break in the action.

Walmart now has consumers begging for a series of these ads.

What can Salesgirls learn from this new age of advertising? Nostalgia, humor and sneaky sales are capturing the attention of buyers. 

• While you may not have the budget to hire a big-name influencer, you can create relatability with your community and use that when it is time to launch. 

• You can use pop culture references, from now and the past, to capture the attention of your ideal clients.

• And you can break free from the chains of listing out the details of your offer and instead as yourself: “How can I share the specifics of my offer in a unique and entertaining way?”

What I hope you take away is that you can have FUN when marketing yourself and your business.

The Holiday season is the perfect time to play with socials. Release the outcome and have fun with creating!

That is why you started a business in the first place, right?

Xo, The Salesgirls