We might just be nearing a time when email is considered slow and delayed. Although email may comprise a lion’s share of the pie in online marketing, the prominence of Blogs, Social Networking and Instant Messengers cast a spell in pronouncing the decline in the ROI that emails may provide to Online Retailers and Marketers.

In her WSJ Article, Jennifer Saranow Schultz says, “Many retail sites have email-a-friend features which make it easy to ask friends what they think of a product by sending a link to the page it is on. But the approach has one big drawback. Shoppers might not get immediate feedback while they are still at a retailer’s site, so their decisions may be delayed, putting sales at risk.” Jennifer’s statement holds water – we live in a generation where instant gratification pays off richer dividends and there is no better time than now to capture your audiences’ attention and get them to act.

Let the Numbers talk
The Pew Internet Study brings out some staggering statistical information on the proliferation of Internet Messaging.

• 53 Million Adults trade instant messages
• 24% of them swap IM’s more frequently than email
• The Demographic is primarily circled around young adults and technology enthusiasts
• More than 250 Million people, or a quarter of the world’s internet population send more than 7 Billion Messages a day!

There is no further need for validation of the buzz on internet messaging - it is the quickest way for the already online market to communicate with each other. Further, this is a vital market that is virtually untapped - people are actively talking and listening - why not get them to talk about your product?

We got you covered

At SocialTwist, we understand the demands and challenges of the market and want to offer you cutting edge technology that provides you the maximum bang for your buck. With that in mind, we become the first to provide you with a Word of Mouth Marketing Widget that includes Instant Messaging. Now, visitors to your website can log into their favorite Instant Messengers (Yahoo!, MSN Live Messenger, Google Talk and AIM) through the Tell-a-Friend widget, without leaving your site and share content with their buddy lists. Find a buddy offline, simply send a message and they will receive it when they are next online. We have incorporated the features of the desktop version of the Instant Messenger in the widget to give your visitors a quick, rich experience in sharing and again all this without leaving your website. Like every other facet on Tell-a-Friend, we give the Publisher control over every aesthetic aspect of the Marketing Message visitors to the website will be IM’ing.

Instant Gratification, Instant Karma, through the Instant Messenger. So go on - Tell your Friends.