It’s time to start planning your marketing strategy as we enter the New Year. What worked well in the past may be less effective in the future, so it’s vital to stay ahead of the curve.
One of the most successful marketing strategies is word-of-mouth marketing. This is when customers tell their friends and family about your product or service. It’s the most potent form of marketing because it comes from a trusted source. Nielsen reported that 92% of consumers believe suggestions from friends and family more than advertising.
So, what is word-of-mouth marketing?
Word-of-mouth marketing is the deliberate attempt to promote your business through positive customer reviews and referrals.
In the business world, word of mouth is considered the marketing Holy Grail because everyone’s crazy about it. And quite rightly so. I mean, what’s better than having your customers do your marketing for you?
It’s a powerful marketing tool because it’s based on trust. When someone we know and trust recommends a product or service, we’re more likely to try it ourselves.
But how do you get people to recommend your business in the first place?
Keep reading to learn about the seven greatest word-of-mouth marketing strategies in 2023!
1. Influencer Marketing:
Word-of-mouth marketing is about people vouching for you. And who better to vouch for you than a guy with 1M followers?
As you know, an influencer is somebody with a large following who can sway public opinion. In the past, celebrities were the only ones with enough influence to make a difference, but now there are influencers in all niches and on all platforms. For instance, someone with a reasonable number of Instagram followers, YouTube subscribers, Twitter followers, TikTok followers, or blog traffic is right to be called an ‘influencer.’
So why are influencers so effective? Put, people listen to people they trust. When somebody we trust tells us to buy a product or use a service, we’re more likely to do it. And that’s why this strategy is one of the most potent word-of-mouth tools available today.
2. YouTube Marketing:
It’s no secret that YouTube has a massive reach, with over 2 billion active users and trillions of hours of content watched every year. And it’s not just young people watching YouTube – the platform is popular with people of all ages and continues to grow in popularity.
So, how does YouTube help you generate word-of-mouth buzz?
Through its 15-30 seconds long pre-roll ads.
By targeting a specific demographic with your content, you put yourself in front of people who’re likely interested in your offers and who’re happy to tell others about you.
Imagine one person sees your ads and then proceeds to share with three of their friends. That’s true bang for your buck.
By the way, if you’d like to gain more YouTube subscribers to boost your word-of-mouth buzz, kindly click here.
3. User-Generated Content:
UGC has been shown to generate 6.9 times more engagement than traditional marketing methods.
You must be wondering, what exactly is UGC?
Well, any kind of content created by users for users can be considered user-generated content.
This includes reviews, ratings, comments, posts, and photos.
UGC is a great way to build trust and credibility with potential customers, as it comes from real people who have used your product or service.
As we move into 2023, UGC will only become more important. With more and more businesses competing for attention online, UGC will be the differentiating factor that helps you stand out from the competition.
4. Create Referral Programs:
In 2023, referral programs will be a superb word-of-mouth marketing strategy. Why? Because they are the most effective way to bring in new customers, cultivate customer loyalty, and turn one-time buyers into lifelong fans.
Referral programs work by incentivizing customers to refer your brand to their friends and family. The most successful programs offer rewards that are valuable to the customer, such as discounts, free products, or exclusive access to new products or services.
Creating a referral program is a great way to grow your customer base organically and build brand awareness. Start planning your referral program today to get ahead of the competition.
5. Get Reviews & Testimonials:
Reviews and testimonials will be another effective word-of-mouth marketing strategy in 2023. Why? Because people are more likely to listen to their peers when it comes to product recommendations. A study from Nielsen found that 92% of consumers trust peer recommendations over advertising. And according to another study, 67% of consumers say they’re more likely to purchase a product if they see positive reviews from other customers.
As you can see, reviews are a powerful tool to help you boost your sales and grow your business. But how can you make sure you’re getting positive reviews?
Here are a few tips:
- Make it simple for buyers to leave reviews on your site. Include links to your review pages on your website and in your email signatures.
- Offer incentives. Reward discounts or other incentives to customers who leave reviews.
- Display reviews where others can see them.
6. Delight buyers with Freebies:
As the top word-of-mouth marketing strategy in 2023, using freebies to delight buyers is a great way to generate buzz and build customer loyalty. By giving away free products or services, you can show appreciation for your customers and show them that you’re always thinking of them. Plus, who doesn’t love free stuff?
Giving away freebies is a win-win for both you and your customers. They get something for free, and you benefit from their word-of-mouth marketing. It’s a simple but effective way to gain new customers and also keep old ones coming back.
7. Offer customers a unique experience:
Finally, let your product/service speak for itself.
I don’t need an incentive or extra motivation to recommend Spotify to my friends. I’ve used it and I’ve enjoyed my experience with them.
If someone asked me to recommend a good music streaming platform, I’d happily point them in the direction of Spotify.
Offering your customers a unique experience – the kind they can’t find anywhere else – is surely a smart way to generate word-of-mouth buzz.
So how can you create a unique experience for your customers? It could be something as simple as an exclusive offer, VIP treatment, birthday price slash, custom offer, etc.
