Why Word of Mouth Marketing? By Rob Davis

Why Word of Mouth Marketing? Well, the better question is why not? Unlike any other form of marketing, word of mouth, done the right way of course, is simple and fun. Simple because anyone can apply the principles and fun because once it’s rolling, it’s very entertaining to watch what people will do to bring you customers.

So a great place to start your word of mouth efforts is to first understand why word of mouth works.

There are really two basic reasons:

1. It’s a win for the person recommending your business to someone else.
2. It’s a win for the person receiving the recommendation.

Let’s start with reason #1, the person making a recommendation. Say a friend comes to you and asks “Who do you know that does kitchen remodeling?” and you say “Oh, I know just the right person.” Haven’t you now become a kind of “Hero” for your friend in need? Sure you have because think of all the time, money and hassle you’ve saved your friend in trying to find the right remodeler. And guess what, we love to be heroes to those around us, it makes us feel great.

Now if that same friend goes on to have a great experience, there’s another benefit to you for making the recommendation. It validates just how smart you are for having made the decision to use that kitchen remodeler in the first place, and don’t we all like to feel smart? So we’re not only a hero but we’re a smart hero.

Now for reason #2, the person receiving the recommendation. It’s tuff to find good credible businesses, if for no other reason than the time it takes to sort through the sheer number of businesses out there. But if someone makes a recommendation about who to use, than all the time of searching goes away and our risk of losing money by using the wrong company is almost eliminated. Who doesn’t want to save time and money?

But as with the first reason, there’s a second almost hidden benefit to receiving a recommendation. If we use, in this case, a kitchen remodeler that was recommended to us and have a bad experience, whose fault is it? Well, it’s your friend’s for making the recommendation in the first place. At least that’s usually how we let our mind work.

So, the person receiving the recommendation saves time and money not to mention doesn’t have to take on the responsibility of having made a poor decision.

If you give people the opportunity to be smart heroes and make faster and safer the decision making process, than word of mouth marketing can bring fun, simplicity and of course success back to marketing your business. © 2006

About the author.
Rob Davis is the author of the soon to be released book “Who Do You Know?”™ and developer of the word of mouth marketing system also called “Who Do You Know?”™.

For more information about Rob Davis or his “Who Do You Know?”™ system, please email him at robdavis@robdavisnow.com