One of the relatively inexpensive ways to get people buzzing about your brand is to use word of mouth marketing. Small businesses who don’t have big budgets for expensive advertising and marketing campaigns should definitely use word of mouth to spread the word about their brand, as it continues to be a great way to build relationships with your consumers and keep them coming back for more.
Word of mouth marketing has actually been around for a very long time, and it continues to be a tried and true way of promoting your brand. It’s based on the fact that people listen to what their friends and families recommend, and they would typically try a new product or service based on word of mouth.
When utilized correctly, word of mouth can really help small businesses build trust with their consumers. This helps them get repeat customers as well as new customers. It is a powerful technique that can really increase sales and get people talking.
So how do you create a buzz around your business? How do you get started on an exciting word of mouth campaign for your brand? Here are some tips.
1. Sell a remarkable product
Even a small business can create a remarkable product that will have people talking and raving about it to their friends. It may not create as much buzz as the iPhone since small businesses don’t really get the attention of the world as much as big businesses do, but it is certainly possible to create a buzz in your local community so that people will flock to your store or place.
For example, a small local restaurant can have a specialty dish that its customers love. Since customers love the dish, they will keep coming back, and they will usually recommend it to their family and friends, who can also recommend it to their own family and friends, resulting in new customers.
Of course, you don’t have to confine yourself with a single great product – the more great products you offer, the more that people will talk about your small business and visit your place.
2. Give excellent customer service
Delivering excellent customer service is definitely one of the best ways to get people buzzing about your brand. Customers like feeling that they’re well cared for when they’re in your store or shop, and they would not hesitate to tell their friends about their wonderful experience.
This is why it’s important that you make sure that your customers always feel welcome in your store. Ensure that your employees really know your brand so that they can really help the customers choose or find what they’re looking for. Give your customers the ultimate experience so that they keep coming back for more, and so they definitely recommend you to their friends.
3. Think of a new and creative ways of presenting your brand
Don’t be limited to old methods of presenting your brand to the world. Customers enjoy a new experience, and this is a way to create some buzz around your small business brand. Food trucks, for example, offer a different experience of bringing food to customers. They’re really gaining in popularity as more and more people want to find out what the experience is like. Offering something unique to consumers can definitely generate word of mouth marketing for your business.
4. Create an interesting tagline for your brand
Word of mouth marketing is about resonating with your customers, and having an interesting and distinctive tagline can help you do that. Think up a great unique selling proposition (USP) that will appeal to your consumers and regularly use it in your marketing campaign. If it’s really catchy, then your audience can’t help but talk about it.
5. Encourage your customers to spread the word about your brand
Sometimes, your customers just need a bit of a nudge to spread the word about your small business. So remind them to give you a review, follow you on Facebook and Twitter, and tell their friends about you.
Social media has made it easier nowadays for people to spread the word about a nice experience they had, so it’s also a good idea to make sure you have some social media accounts set up and a person monitoring what’s being said about your brand in the online world.
Word of mouth marketing continues to be one of the most popular ways of reaching your customers and increasing your sales, so don’t ignore it. As a small business owner, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on expensive advertisements, when you can easily utilize word of mouth and spread the word about your brand.