Word of mouth marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools available today. It is also one of the oldest and most effective forms of marketing. There are many reasons why word of mouth marketing is so powerful. Let’s deep dive and find out how.
Customers have the potential to change perceptions of your business, both in a positive as well as a negative manner. Being proactive can go a long way in helping your business gain word of mouth influence among the audience. Word of mouth marketing, also known as WOMM, is a type of marketing that relies on customers sharing information about a product or service with other potential customers. This can be done in person, through social media, online reviews, or any other form of customer feedback.
While traditional advertising can be costly and time-consuming, word of mouth marketing is relatively inexpensive and can be a more effective way to reach potential customers. In fact, research shows that 93% of consumers trust their family and friends for brand and service information. When customers are happy with a product or service, they are more likely to tell their friends and family about it, which can help to generate new leads and sales.
Word of Mouth Marketing – The Benefits
Word of mouth marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools available. It is also one of the oldest and most effective forms of marketing. There are many reasons why word of mouth marketing is so powerful. First, it is free. There is no cost to the customer to tell their friends about a product or service. Second, word of mouth marketing is more credible than advertising. When customers tell their friends about a product, they are more likely to believe them than an advertisement. In addition, word of mouth marketing can reach a large number of potential customers very quickly.
There are a few ways to make sure that word of mouth marketing is working for your business. Make sure that you have happy customers. If your customers are not happy, they will not tell their friends about your product or service. Make it easy for customers to tell their friends about your product or service. For example, you can give them discounts if they refer a friend. Also, make sure that you follow up with customers after they have told their friends about your product or service. This will show them that you are interested in their feedback and that you appreciate their help.
Word of Mouth Marketing – How to Execute
Companies using genuine reviews and user-generated content from their customers in their marketing tactics bolster their reputation while expanding their customer base. Here are a few ways in which you can devise your word of mouth marketing strategy -
Get creative with your content.
Find unique and interesting ways to incorporate word of mouth marketing into your content. This can help make your content more shareable, and thus, more likely to be seen by potential customers.
Make it easy for people to share your content.
Make sure that your content can be easily shared on social media and other websites. This will make it more likely that people will share it with their friends and followers.
Use social media to your advantage.
Use social media to promote your content and reach a larger audience. Share your content on popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Use influencers to promote your content.
Identify popular influencers in your industry and reach out to them about promoting your content. This can help you reach a larger audience and generate more leads.
Engage in real-time conversations.
Amplify your reach by engaging with your customers in real-time. Monitor mentions on social platforms in real-time and join the conversation to address different customer needs. Customers value quick responses, and staying in the moment can help your brand garner positive reviews.
Use customer reviews to build stories.
Your brand would have a mix of both good and bad reviews. Find reviews that most accurately define your brand and build stories around them and elevate on social platforms, articles, newsletters and other media forms to demonstrate your company’s proficiency and consistency.
Give away freebies.
Giving away freebies is a great way to generate interest in your content. Offer free e-books, white papers, or other resources that people can download from your website.
Create a landing page.
A landing page is a great way to promote your content and capture leads. Include a form on your landing page so people can sign up for your email list or download your free resources.
Use content upgrades.
Content upgrades are also a great way to encourage people to sign up for your email list or download your free resources. Include a content upgrade in your blog post or article, and offer it in exchange for an email address.
Promote your content on other websites.
Submit your content to popular website directories and article submission sites. This will help you get more exposure for your content and generate more leads.
Word of Mouth Marketing – The Future
What does the future hold for this ever-evolving form of marketing? Here are a few predictions:
Social media will continue to grow - There’s no doubt that social media is one of the most powerful tools for word of mouth marketing. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook allow you to share your experiences with a huge audience, and if your content is good, it can quickly go viral. As social media usage continues to grow, so too will the role it plays in word of mouth marketing. We’re likely to see more businesses using social media to connect with their customers, and more individuals using it to share their experiences with the world.
Review sites will become more popular - If you want to find out about a good restaurant in your area, chances are you’ll head to a review site like Yelp or TripAdvisor. And it’s not just businesses that are being reviewed – individuals are too. As word of mouth marketing moves online, review sites are likely to become even more popular. We’re already seeing a trend for businesses to encourage their customers to leave reviews, and we’re likely to see more individuals using review sites to share their experiences.
Collaborations will become more common – Word of mouth marketing is all about sharing your experiences with others. And as the world of word of mouth marketing moves online, collaboration is likely to become even more important. For businesses, this could mean teaming up with other businesses in your industry to create joint content or partnering with influencers to promote your products or services. For individuals, it could mean guest posting on other people’s blogs or sharing your content on social media.
Technology will play a bigger role - In the past, word of mouth marketing was an offline activity. But as the world of word of mouth marketing moves online, technology is inevitably going to play a bigger role. We’re already seeing this with the rise of social media and review sites, and we’re likely to see even more examples in the future. For example, businesses might start using chatbots to connect with their customers, or AI-powered algorithms to identify potential influencers.
The line between marketing and word of mouth will blur - In the past, there was a clear distinction between marketing and word of mouth marketing. But as word of mouth moves online, the line between the two is likely to blur. After all, if businesses are using social media to connect with their customers and influencers to promote their products, it’s not always clear where word of mouth ends and marketing begins.
Word of mouth will become more global - In the past, word of mouth marketing was largely a local phenomenon. But as word of mouth moves online, it’s likely to become more global. With the internet, businesses and individuals can connect with people all over the world, regardless of location. This means that word of mouth marketing is no longer limited to just your local community – it can now reach a global audience.
Word of Mouth Marketing – Conclusion
As the internet continues to evolve, so does the way we communicate. Word of mouth marketing is no longer just about talking to your friends and family about the latest product or service you’ve tried – it’s now about sharing your experiences online with a wider audience.
Of course, there are some downsides to word of mouth marketing. For businesses, negative reviews can be damaging, and for individuals, sharing too much information online can be risky. But overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and it’s clear that word of mouth marketing is here to STAY.
If you are looking to implement the right word of mouth marketing strategies, look no further than Pulp Strategy, one of the leading content marketing agencies in India.
