Consumers are always interested in hearing about new and interesting products. Before making a purchase, consumers pay attention to what people are saying about it. Here are four must-have tips for word-of-mouth marketing.
1. Encourage User-Generated Content
User-generated content is content created and shared by consumers about brands or products. It’s honest, builds trust, and gives marketers extra collateral to work with.
How can you get users to generate content?
-
Have a unique hashtag to identify content created by customers
-
Incentivize creating and sharing pictures, videos, and GIFs on social media. Offer a free gift, discount, or feature
2. Share Customer Testimonials
Customer testimonials and reviews can help reassure the performance, quality, and/or value of your service and product and can make consumers feel more comfortable doing business with you. Testimonials can be hosted on your website or pulled from review sites like Yelp & Angie’s list.
3. Offer an Incentive
Giving your customers a reason to share with others can increase your word-of-mouth marketing as well. Big or small, people are always willing and likely to do something if they receive some sort of value in return. Consider giving your consumers a discount or a free gift in exchange for referrals.
4. Connect With Industry Influencers
Influencers are exactly what their name suggests: individuals with a strong following and power to influence the behavior of fans and consumers. Because of their already established reputation, word-of-mouth marketing from an influencer is extremely valuable. According to Social Media Today, 40% of people say they’ve purchased an item online after seeing it used by an influencer on Instagram, Twitter, or Youtube.