How to Get Word-of-Mouth in 9 Steps
If you operate a small business, word of mouth may be the finest thing since sliced bread – or like giving out doses of hemlock to your potential customers. Which metaphor to choose relies on the type of word of mouth that is being spread about your company.
In our online-oriented culture, word of mouth is more essential than ever. According to a BrightLocal survey, nearly 9 out of 10 consumers check online evaluations of local companies, and 72 percent of consumers use good ratings to evaluate if a business is trustworthy.
So, how do you get and keep that positive word of mouth going? Here are five strategies for increasing good word of mouth.
1. Good connection with customers
Poor communication will turn away not just the client who was attempting to contact you, but also the others who hear about his terrible experience. Websites that do not give clearly accessible contact information or the right company hours are also aggravating. Your small business must be approachable if you want favorable word of mouth. Get all of the required phone services, such as voice mail and call forwarding, and respond to your emails immediately.
2. Customer service
It's one of the few ways that small firms, especially ones that focus on low pricing, can compete with larger companies. According to a ClickFox poll, more than half of unhappy customers will tell their friends and relatives about bad customer service, and 32% will transfer their business elsewhere.
Show your consumers that they are valuable to you by treating them with the same civility, respect, and attention that you would expect from them. Customers' concerns should be listened to, learned from, and your workers should be trained accordingly. Whether you run a physical business or a website, if you follow these guidelines regularly, great word of mouth will inevitably come.
3. Tactful design
Positive word of mouth spreads quickly. People will comment on how well-organized your shelves are, the condition of your restrooms, and how nice your waiting area is. Consider what constitutes a positive customer experience in your situation, and make sure that all of the aspects that contribute to such an experience are in excellent working order. On the internet, this entails things like having search capabilities and site structure that make it easy to discover goods, as well as having accessible information on buying, shipping, and returns.
4. Positive impression
This implies that small company owners must remember that they are never off duty and must treat all individuals with kindness and respect, not just the consumers in front of them. Don't be one of those jerks that shouts at the kids' soccer referee during the game or cuts people off in traffic while driving a car with a website and business logo emblazoned on it. People love to tell others about the jerks they've met recently, and your actions will have an impact on your small business.
5. Feedback
Customer testimonials (brief written remarks complimenting your service, goods, or both) are strong recommendations that may truly help spread the word. Make it a habit to request them. As I explain in How to Ask for Referrals, while you're asking for referrals, it's also a great opportunity to ask for a testimonial from a client. Once you've got some testimonials, be sure to put them to good use by publishing them on your website, Facebook page, and other places.
6. Be a part of your community
Doing good can only benefit your word of mouth, whether you call it social duty or community building. One method to accomplish it is to sponsor community or philanthropic activities. Another option is to become involved in community groups by serving on boards of hospitals, schools, or other organizations. Others will notice you if you are prepared to put in the effort to get things done and support community groups. Why do large businesses like Target and Coca-Cola contribute up to 2% of their profits to charity organizations? Because it boosts the company's reputation and is beneficial to business.
7. Online reputation
Because so many talks about your company and brand take place online, you need to be aware of what's being said. As a result, it's critical to keep an eye on your internet reputation and observe what type of buzz is circulating about you. Specific social networking programs include capabilities to assist you with this. For example, Twitter Search allows you to look for a brand or product name. By adding the RSS feed for that query to your RSS readers, such as Google Reader or Bloglines, you may check which RSS feeds your search result appears in.
8. Social media engagement
Remember, word of mouth is all about people saying good things about your small business. And social media is where many of them are talking now. Your small business needs to be in that space. It's not hard to set up a Twitter account or create a business page on Facebook. But note that word of the mouth involves other people talking about your business. Your telling everyone repeatedly what great products you have or services you give is going to do absolutely nothing for your word of mouth.
9. Discounts
Discounts generate a sense of urgency to buy, which diverts customers' attention away from other options. The impact of deterring external deal-seeking is especially significant in the internet business market, where price comparison shopping is common due to the abundance of competitors in the digital realm.
Stack discount codes, discounts field on cart, combine discount codes, run multiple automatic discounts, and more!