In a world that is flooded with all sorts of advertising, it can be difficult for business owners to stand out in the crowd and effectively market their business. If you’re a business owner who really wants to reach your consumers, you should consider word-of-mouth advertising. Happy customers recommending their favorite products and services, often through social media and review sites, is the essence of word-of-mouth advertising.
Let’s talk about some of the ways that you can generate word-of-mouth advertising for your business.
Influencer Marketing
Much of the word-of-mouth advertising that you see on sites like Facebook and Instagram comes from internet influencers — those social media users who have large followings and frequent interactions online. Influencers love to share new products and services with their audience. Studies have actually shown that social media users are influenced more by peers they follow online than by celebrities.
If you’re wondering if influencer marketing is right for your business, there are platforms specifically designed to find the right influencer for your campaign.
User-Generated Content
Another effective way to generate word-of-mouth advertising on social media sites is to encourage your customers to create their own content. You can create a hashtag on Twitter or Instagram and ask users to submit photos and videos of how they use your product.
Social media users enjoy having the opportunity to share that kind of content and they find it more trustworthy than brand-generated photos and videos. User-generated content also gives businesses insight into who is using their products and how they’re using them while driving down advertising costs.
Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs are not only a great way to retain happy customers, they are also a great way to encourage those customers to share their experiences with your product or service. When consumers feel valued by a company, they are more likely to recommend it to their social circles. While larger companies have taken advantage of loyalty programs for several decades, there are now digital loyalty solutions that make it easier for small businesses to run their own programs. These solutions also help owners decide what type of program is right for them and if the program is effective.
Giveaways
Who doesn’t love a giveaway? Consumers love getting something for free and business owners love being able to promote their businesses effectively. Studies even show that promotional giveaways can create a more favorable view of a business in consumers’ minds, especially if the items being given away are unique. Millennial consumers especially love branded giveaway items such as reusable water bottles, lip balm, and cell phone fans. The key is to give them a branded item they will actually enjoy using. Giving these items away through social media channels can create even more word-of-mouth buzz.
As you can see, there are several ways to generate word-of-mouth advertising and it is easier and more cost-effective than ever for small businesses. The key is to decide which method, or combination of methods, works best for you. Good luck with your word-of-mouth venture!
