Good ol’ word-of-mouth marketing
Did you know that word of mouth drives at least 5x more sales than paid impressions?
Now, I'm not denying that it's a pay-to-play world out there. BUT, like this little stat suggests, there's something to be said about good ol' organic word-of-mouth marketing.
In fact, I reckon about 80% of my clients are referred to me through word of mouth.
WOM marketing is at the heart Worth Mentioning’s ethos [I mean really, its in the name ha!]. Our mission is quite literally to craft a brand that people want to tell their friends and fam about.
So, how does one take advantage of this amazing [and FREE] marketing tool? Well you have to earn it. And lucky for you, I'ma share some tips on how you can…
How to encourage word-of-mouth marketing:
1. Ensure you're offering a quality product or service
The reality is that you can have amazing branding, content and customer service, but without a quality product or service, it all means nada.
The proof really is in the pudding, and if your brand’s offering doesn’t match consumer expectations (more on this below), then people are not going to want to recommend your business. Or worse still, they’re going to make it known just how disappointed they are.
That all being said, businesses don’t always get it right from the get-go, it can take years to refine and grow your offering to a level that you and your consumers are truly happy with.
When you deliver quality work, or an exceptional product your consumers are bound to tell someone else about it.
2. Be relevant & aware
Think about how you can make your product or service relevant to today’s trends and culture. This might be through the content you share or the experience you provide. There are lots of ways to keep your brand *relevant* - think about all the brands that have been around for decades,
It’s also imperative to be aware of any societal, environmental or political issues that may effect your target consumer, so that when you’re delivering communications, content and product or service, you’re coming from an informed and conscious place.
Consumers value brands take the time to educate themselves and are more likely to share content from those that do.
3. Get clear on consumer expectations
Get clear on what your clients or customer needs and wants right from from the start. This ensures that you won’t fall short of expectations.
This means doing research, conducting surveys, sending questionnaires to new clients or keeping track of customer requests. Having these sorts of insights on record means you work to refine and improve your offering.
4. Solve a problem or serve a purpose
This comes back to having a strong brand mission. By offering a product or service that helps people in some way, you’re fulfilling a need and making their lives easier. This adds immense value to your brand.
But we’re not just talking about functional objects or practical services here; your brand’s purpose doesn’t have to be about changing the world. It can be as simple as making people feel good or expressing themselves.
4. Prioritise consumer satisfaction
Put the effort into acquiring customer reviews, testimonials or check in emails. Listen to the feedback and share the kind words across your marketing channels.
You want your customers/clients to take the time to articulate how happy they are to have purchased your product or engaged with your business. Once they’ve shared the love once, there’s every chance they’ll do it again (and this time hopefully to a friend).
And remember to thank anyone who does leave a review or testimonial. You could even provide a discount or special offer.
5. Create an enjoyable and share-worthy experience
Whether we like to admit it or not, we all like to feel a bit special every now and again. And when it’s a brand that makes us feel this way, well, we generally want to share it.
Creating a unique, and maybe even unexpected, experiences for you consumers is a way to stand out from your competitors.
If you’re a product based business, it could be in the after care follow up a customer receives. If its a service, perhaps it’s the amazing welcome pack they receive at their door or could even be the A+ level of communication they receive throughout their customer journey. The options to wow your client or customer are truly endless. So, get those thinking caps on!
