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How to Tap Into the Magic of Word-of-Mouth Marketing
How to Tap Into the Magic of Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Did you know that 92 percent of people admit that they trust word-of-mouth recommendations above any other form of advertising? This statistic shows that striving for consistent word-of-mouth marketing is worth the extra effort.
You want more people talking positively about your business within their circles. This means you won't have to invest as much in traditional forms of advertising that aren't as effective.
However, if you're a small business that's still growing its base of customers, it may seem. Read on for our top tips for success on how to encourage people to start talking more about your business!
User-Generated Content
Customers are far more likely to spread the word about your business if you're authentically engaging with them. One of the easiest ways to do this is through improving engagement on your social media channels.
Posting user-generated content (UGC) that's credited to the user is one way. You'll keep relevant, consistent content on your account as well as engage with customers.
This is because most customers love seeing their content being featured, especially if it comes with a tag to their account. You can also start encouraging users to create more content by holding contests. The prize can be discounts, free services or goods, or gift cards.
We also recommend reposting reviews or positive comments. The more you feature your customers, the less they feel like your relationship with them is strictly transactional!
Positive Customer Reviews
If you don't have a Google My Business page, it's time to create one today. These pages are imperative when it comes to local marketing. Whenever a potential customer does a "near me," search, your business has a chance of rising to the top of search engine results pages (SERPs).
More importantly, Google My Business is one of the best places to collect customer reviews. Many people rely on the ratings and feedback in order to make decisions on who they'll do business with. If you're still building your word-of-mouth marketing, reviews are the second-best option.
This is because 88 percent of people trust reviews as much as they do personal recommendations!
Referral Programs
Sometimes people need some extra incentive to spread the word about your business. There's no shame in offering these incentives in order to get the ball rolling. Consider implementing a referral program that applies a discount to a customer's next purchase if they refer a new customer.
These referral programs help prompt people to talk about your business and encourage their circles to give it a try. You'll also be developing rapport with current customers.
This also enhances the customer experience. People are far more likely to keep doing business with you if they feel as if they're rewarded for being loyal customers.
Exceed Expectations
No matter what your industry is, you'll organically grow more word-of-mouth referrals by focusing on exceeding the expectations of your clients. This can be as simple as making sure you're using secure and attractive packaging with all of your products. You'll also want to try and over-deliver when you can, such as offering free samples or discounts off of new services.
Don't forget that collecting feedback from your customers is a great way to make sure you're meeting their expectations. Customers will realize you're putting them first by asking and following up on their feedback.
You can even personalize your communication with them, such as offering discounts on their birthdays. When you let your customers know that they're valued, it's far more likely they'll spread the word about your business.
Connect With Micro-Influencers
Micro-influencers on social media typically have between 1,000 to 100,000 followers. They typically specialize in a certain niche, and their engagement with their followers is high. People trust them and love interacting with them.
Finding a micro-influencer within your niche is a great way to organically spread the word about your products and services. Even if an influencer's followers aren't ready to make a purchase, their interest will still be piqued. Your brand will receive more attention with an influencer campaign done well.
Some influencers may also be willing to showcase your products or services for free. This may be done if you let them try them out for free and feature those influencers on your own account.
Create Online Communities
Last but not least, you can also create communities centered around your business. Facebook is a popular platform for groups of all different types and sizes. The most successful communities aren't just about promoting your business.
They give your customers a safe space to interact with people with similar interests, and they also help each other solve specific issues. Here are a few examples:
- Marketing for Realtors community for real estate photography business
- Healthy Lifestyles community for business that sells fitness equipment
- Proper Husbandry community for local reptile shop
The community is about supporting each other and exploring a general topic. This means people are more likely to talk about your business in a natural way. They'll also begin to look to you as an authority on the subject.
Word of Mouth Marketing: The Secret to Success
If there's one "secret" to success for any business, it's to exceed customers' expectations. One of the easiest ways to do this is to begin collecting reviews from happy customers through Google My Business. You can then post those reviews on your social media accounts along with user-generated content.
You'll also want to consider creating a referral program in order to incentivize people to talk more about your business. The discounts you give customers are worth the new business they're able to bring organically.
Want to contribute to the future of the greater Allen/Fairview area? Consider joining today in order to access more networking and marketing opportunities!
