While word-of-mouth marketing is the most effective marketing strategy, it's also difficult to accomplish. The online world appropriately labeled such strategies as 'viral marketing'. And in both the online and offline business world, small businesses often make the same mistake. They're too concerned with making a big splash. Imagine yourself on a sandy river bank searching for the largest rock to throw in the water. And you're competing with twenty others looking for large rocks. Now you could waste countless hours looking for one big thing, or you could assemble hundreds of small things and make just as big a splash. Add pebble after pebble to your marketing arsenal, and you'll eventually have a bigger splash than one huge rock could have made. Those pebbles are the small details that make your service unique. This could include hundreds of things. Your punctuality, your ability to communicate and return calls, or a thank you gift for a client's patronage. While others might provide these things, the key is to combine all of them into one package. Every detail motivates a client. When every detail is positive, the client's attitude towards you will be positive...and this is how the 'word' will spread. John Smith is one of those people who really wants to talk to a person instead of a machine. He's happy with the way you always answer the phone (or at least always return his calls.) He refers his friend Joe...who doesn't care about talking to a live person. Joe has a busy schedule and wants everything to happen in the background with minimal interaction from him. You accomplish this, and Joe's happy...but for a different reason. Two different details of your performance made two people happy. And both are ready to refer you if the time ever comes up. Improving these details was much more effective (and much easier) than trying to attract clients with one huge service. Word-of-mouth marketing takes time and vigilance. But the effort will pay for itself every time your hear a new client say, So and so told me about you...I'm hoping you can help me out." Those are the magic words that will let you know you're on the right track.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
