Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
Most businesses move along the path of success because of word of mouth. The more people talk about your business, the more other people will become interested and want to get involved. So, how do you get people to talk?
There are a few proven methods that will successfully get people to start talking about what you are offering and what you can do for them.
- Social status: When the Internet was first becoming popular, everyone wanted to remain anonymous. People didn’t want anyone knowing any of their business. Nowadays, with the sophistication of technology, there isn’t such a thing as anonymity. Everyone and everything is out in the open. We strengthen our status through our online exposure. The more exposure, the better. When it comes to your online status, it is something that should be shared with others. In fact, it is something that you will want to share. The more you connect and interact with other people, the more they will want to suspend the buzz about your business and what you have to offer. Another great way to increase your status and reputation is to get thought leaders in your industry involved. They automatically carry credibility and their credibility will serve to enhance yours.
- Value: People love being on the receiving end of valuable stuff, especially when they don’t have to pay for it. Free things make people want to buy things from the business that offers the free stuff. Giving things away helps to make your brand stronger and more noticeable. What marketers have learned is that if you offer products and/or services that have proven value, people will be willing to do almost anything to stay connected to you and your business.
- Exclusivity: If you offer products and/or services that are unique and exclusive, you have an edge over everyone else. Absolutely everyone wants to have exclusivity and be on the receiving end of it. When it comes to the concept of exclusivity, it isn’t only about products and services. It is also about knowledge and information, which can be fodder for enlightened conversations. Everyone wants to buzz about secrets. They want to feel as though they are special enough to be privy to the classified information. This is where the word-of-mouth concept comes in. Once they have been included in the secret, they will tell their “deserving” friends about it. Before you realize it, a tremendous buzz will have been created about your offerings.
- Limited supply: The less abundance you have regarding your products and/or services, the more people will want to get their hands on them. If they are fortunate enough to get their hands on those products and/or services, they will naturally tell other people about the fact that they snagged something rare and scarce. This will (because it is human nature) make other people want to get their hands on your offerings also. It is very easy to create scarcity. All you need to do is to create less of whatever you are selling and tell as many people about it as possible. Create a waiting list for people who want what you are selling. You may even consider offering only one product a day. The more elusive your offerings, the more people will crave them and do anything that they can to obtain them. Whatever you are offering, make sure that it is extremely unusual and something that your customers will not want to live without.
Conclusion
Generating word-of-mouth buzz about your business is not that complicated as long as you follow the logical steps. All people react on a human level and if your approach is correct, you will achieve the results that will strengthen your reputation and your relationships and help you to achieve great success in your business. If you communicate in effective and interesting ways, you will get people to start talking to each other and wanting to opt in to what you are selling.
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Carolyn,
Really great post, especially the first one at least as how it relates to what I do. I hadn’t thought about how we have moved from being “mysterious” about our online work to being very social and “telling” about ourselves! : )
Thanks very much for your continued sharing of your knowledge!
Michael
OutMaturity
One other key that research has born out is the importance of getting your info/ material in front of the right people… those who tell others. There are people who are responsible for 80 percent of all business simply because they tell other people.. they are going to be in touch with the newest and hottest items on the market. So who and how you build your marlet are keys to success.
You need people to go to your site. When they go to your site, you need them to buy. So for people to go to your site, you need to market, you need to connect to people and introduce your product. You also need people to talk about you and your product to serve as an advertisement.
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Marketing Network
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
The best medium when it comes to word of mouth is Online Social Media Marketing (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Infact Online Social media is simple 'Digital Word of mouth'. Many companies do not realise the importance of having a strong Social Media Marketing plan. Networking events, and offline promotions can get people talking about the business but these marketing methods can not be tracked and monitored with absolute control and hence Online Social Media plays a great part when it comes to targeted word of mouth i.e "Getting the Right people to talk about your business" which is very crucial.
Posted by Manjit Singh
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: A Solo Business – Solopreneurs And Business Owners
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
Isn't that the million dollar question? I read the Tipping Point, great book for that very question, just getting it implemented is key
Posted by Dhana (Goldsmith)COHEN
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Medical Education Communications and Pharmaceutical Marketing
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
I'd be very interested in hearing from others on this topic. I've been working at various avenues of self promotion and marketing to get the word out that I'm available for consulting and contract work using my web site, e-mail marketing, and other social media venues.
Posted by Will Murtough
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: AssociationofWriters.com
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
When I was a full time consultant I really learned how networking and making a seemingly "not worth my time" connection can 6, 12, 18 months later prove fruitful. I make sure to network online and face to face at least once a week. I then keep contact info and make sure to not let those folks drop of the radar.
Posted by Dr. Laina Molaski
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Group: A Solo Business – Solopreneurs And Business Owners
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
Tipping Point is next on my list….are you talking about the "stickyness" factor Dhana?
Posted by Pam Burzynski
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: A Solo Business – Solopreneurs And Business Owners
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
The challenges of trying to connect what we love doing to the markets that can use our services or products is not really complex if you understand the road map for accomplishing that. It does necessitate a new road map that works in today's web centric world however.
Here's why:
Given the web where everything seems to be viewed as a commodity,changing sourcung methods as well as changing decision maker titles the tried and true road maps no longer works to gain traction and connectivity at exactly the time folks need and search out a solution. For your your product or service, thats the real key – timing visibility v actual "need now"
In b2b,and b2c, the "stickyness" factor isn't brand ID, its reputation and visability at the time someone actually needs what you "sell".
Its like of this positioning strategy:
…Gaining the reputation as the "go to" person amongst your various target audiences and the ability to be found at exactly the time someone needs your services or products that matters.
In the businesses I have helped, that's exactly what we did together.
In fact I helped an entire industry change its approaches based on what we saw and then did together. Survival and growth was at stake if they did not change how they went after business.
Posted by Neil Licht
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Group: AOL Small Business
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
You offer great services, customers will just spread the word if you have gone that extra mile. It takes time, it may never happen, it might happen next week. If you have just started business you are more likely to give that little extra, dont tell your clients you have just started up! let them think you look after all your clients this way. Word of mouth will come. Good luck
Posted by Desmond Palmer
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Group: AOL Small Business
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
get people to talk by talking to them. people are a resource and you never know who they will talk to. mention your biz anytime you can work it in the conversation. talk to anybody. use social networking like your doing now. hit the bricks and talk to potentential clients and leave biz cards or brochures or flyers cause you never know where they end up. most times in the trash but if one goes to a new client it was worth it. make every client think they are your only client and that will get them talking.
Posted by Rich_ Dressler
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: "Write It Down"-A Website for Writers
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
By talking to Every Body.
I am finding that if I want to Move my business along, I need to Move my mouth… 10 times as much… constantly
Posted by Anthony Hall
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Group: "Write It Down"-A Website for Writers
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
is word of mouth similar to getting the words out there in writing. i seem to be spending a hefty amt. on a web site that gets no traffic. It is as if i have purchased a box of delightful pamphlets and they sit on my desk…
Posted by albert dussault
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Group: eMarketing Association Network
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
Good topic. One (very) happy customer / client will talk with 20+ friends, being your positive agent; so it's important to provide exceptional service / products … 😉
Posted by Sandu Crivineanu [1350+]
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Group: Telecom Professionals
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
Word of mouth helps a lot…Social media marketing is cost effective way to archive that.
Posted by Archana Gaikwad
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Group: Reputation 2.0
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
I am not sure if people realize the power of word of mouth advertising.
The fastest growing company who went from $0-$1billion in sales in 6 years is Google…
They only did one TV commercial at last year's Super Bowl
To answer the question how do you get people to talk is by engaging them in conversation……sort of passing the info, or the scoop, or the recomendation along without being overpowering, and annoying……
There is another company who is on the verge of topping Google's rise to fame…….
Can anyone tell mevthat company's name?
If you're really interested in knowing….and perhaps being a part of it….let me know…
Posted by David J. Weiner
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Guerrilla Marketing Tips for Small Businesses
Discussion: Generating Word-of-Mouth Buzz About Your Business
A quality product or service and awesome customer service are the foundation of getting "positive" word of moth started. There are so many methods to encourage people to talk once you have this foundation in place.
Some of my favorite tools to kickstart the "Talk" are…
Public Speaking…
Contest
Blogging, content marketing, and the rest of social media.
How would you suggest someone kickstart the conversation?
Posted by Ronald Skelton
Thank you for posting this nice and informative article! I've been searching for several inputs with regards about this innovative advertising strategy.
word of mouth sound like world of mouth but do it the same? i feel it the same. Because no matter what you want people to help you spread, good comment won't be so effective but bad comment is double up effective to spread it out. That why it do dangerous with every word you use and you write..