Comments on: Word of Mouth is the Best Marketing http://brandandmarket.com/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/ Branding and marketing information for business professionals Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:04:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Barbara Bix http://brandandmarket.com/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-828 Barbara Bix Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:04:41 +0000 http://brandandmarket.com/2008/02/06/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/#comment-828 One of the best things about the clients that come in through "word of mouth marketing" is that they're ready to buy. Chances are they asked friends, "Who could help me with....?" and they recommended you. There was no need to prospect. You didn't need to help them recognize they needed your service. They completed their buying process before you ever met them. So, the question is how can you create more "word of mouth"? Certainly by providing excellent service to your clients but why not widen the circle? Consider cultivating the individuals that your most promising prospects turn to for referrals. Ensure that they, too, know the types of results you've achieved for your clients. Does your company have a systematic strategy for cultivating referrals? One of the best things about the clients that come in through “word of mouth marketing” is that they’re ready to buy. Chances are they asked friends, “Who could help me with….?” and they recommended you. There was no need to prospect. You didn’t need to help them recognize they needed your service. They completed their buying process before you ever met them. So, the question is how can you create more “word of mouth”? Certainly by providing excellent service to your clients but why not widen the circle? Consider cultivating the individuals that your most promising prospects turn to for referrals. Ensure that they, too, know the types of results you’ve achieved for your clients. Does your company have a systematic strategy for cultivating referrals?

]]> By: Eamon http://brandandmarket.com/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-827 Eamon Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:38:46 +0000 http://brandandmarket.com/2008/02/06/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/#comment-827 Next question. In this day and age, what is a brand / how do successful brands now, differ to successful brands say 10 years ago? Next question. In this day and age, what is a brand / how do successful brands now, differ to successful brands say 10 years ago?

]]> By: Eamon http://brandandmarket.com/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-826 Eamon Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:36:25 +0000 http://brandandmarket.com/2008/02/06/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/#comment-826 Absolutely. 'Tipping point' (title from famous book) is what brands are ultimately always trying to achieve. Clever SEO can never achieve this. Only a company / product / service that tries to be a brand. Absolutely.

‘Tipping point’ (title from famous book) is what brands are ultimately always trying to achieve. Clever SEO can never achieve this. Only a company / product / service that tries to be a brand.

]]> By: Computer Consultants Kit http://brandandmarket.com/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-825 Computer Consultants Kit Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:53:12 +0000 http://brandandmarket.com/2008/02/06/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/#comment-825 Hi Chris, You raise some great points about the value of word of mouth marketing. And you're right... virtually nothing else can come close to its power. However in our industry (small business computer consultants), all too often consulting firms think word of mouth marketing is their entire marketing plan. The reality is that word of mouth marketing is a VERY nice bonus or dividend to cash-in on when you have high levels of customer satisfaction. However word of mouth marketing, without more proactive stimuli, is very difficult to forecast. As a result, most small businesses (at least those in our industry) still very much so need a balanced marketing plan as opposed to relying on a one-legged table. Thanks for raising awareness of this issue. Best regards, Joshua Feinberg Hi Chris,

You raise some great points about the value of word of mouth marketing. And you’re right… virtually nothing else can come close to its power.

However in our industry (small business computer consultants), all too often consulting firms think word of mouth marketing is their entire marketing plan.

The reality is that word of mouth marketing is a VERY nice bonus or dividend to cash-in on when you have high levels of customer satisfaction. However word of mouth marketing, without more proactive stimuli, is very difficult to forecast.

As a result, most small businesses (at least those in our industry) still very much so need a balanced marketing plan as opposed to relying on a one-legged table.

Thanks for raising awareness of this issue.

Best regards,

Joshua Feinberg

]]> By: BlogAngelTeam (Joanna) http://brandandmarket.com/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-824 BlogAngelTeam (Joanna) Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:51:23 +0000 http://brandandmarket.com/2008/02/06/word-of-mouth-is-the-best-marketing/#comment-824 I think you're right - it's too easy to get caught up on the technology and forget to look at the *reasons* someone might want to recommend you (link to you, stumble you, digg you etc). Then again, the media do allow us to make new connections in more convoluted ways - because I jumped here through the web although now I can't remember how ! :-) Joanna I think you’re right – it’s too easy to get caught up on the technology and forget to look at the *reasons* someone might want to recommend you (link to you, stumble you, digg you etc).

Then again, the media do allow us to make new connections in more convoluted ways – because I jumped here through the web although now I can’t remember how ! :-)

Joanna

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