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Your Most Powerful Word Of Mouth Marketing Tool
Well first let’s make some assumptions. Are you referrable? You have heard me say this before, and it is even more true in today’s economy. We must be constantly aiming for EXCEPTIONAL! How do you know you are referrable? Quite simply you should ALREADY be receiving a healthy amount of new business from word of mouth referrals. But beyond the normal strategies to enhance your word of mouth, like asking for referrals, working with strategic partners and possibly even setting up affiliation programs (psst - if you want to learn ways to do these activities better, check out our Referral Marketing Workshops), there is one activity that you can and should be doing everyday to have the biggest impact and control over your word of mouth marketing. It’s a simple yet effective activity. Quite simply: GIVE Call it Karma or call it the RECIPROCITY PRINCIPLE, but nothing can do more for your reputation and your company than giving to others. There is a human need and tendency to give something back when something is received. One of my clients – Dexteritiy Consulting works in the area of charitable giving and wrote a great article on Recession Proofing Your Business Through Community Investment. But you can also give to your clients, peers and network on a regular basis. While it sounds simple, there is one little caveat to doing this correctly: You need to give without expecting to receive. When I was a little girl I remember lending money to a friend and never being repaid. When I told my father my plight, he said, you are never LENDING to a friend. You are simply GIVING. Repayment is an option and should not be expected. It saved a very good friendship that gave me so much more than that initial monetary investment. The same goes in your business. You need to genuinely want to help others. ACTION STEP Make a list of your customers, peers and connections and keep in on your desk or on a nearby wall. Everyday, look at that list and see if there is two – five people you can: • Connect with someone else in your network • Forward a helpful article to • Refer business to • Pay a compliment to • Congratulate for something they have done Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Like this article? Subscribe to Cidnee's FREE bi-weekly marketing tips at (www.strategiesforsuccess.ca/tips.htm) for small businesses and also receive a special report on the 7 Steps of Marketing Success. Feel free to use this article as long as you include the following: by Cidnee Stephen of Strategies for Success www.strategiesforsuccess.ca |
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