Want More Word Of Mouth?

Photo credit: Coffee + Hops  

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Word of mouth is some of the most powerful marketing your business can get. It’s trusted, it’s personal + in regional areas especially, it carries a LOT of weight. Most businesses will proudly say, “Most of our work comes from word of mouth”. Which is awesome – but then they treat it like something that just magically happens.

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The truth is – the businesses getting the most word of mouth are usually doing a few things really well.

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People need a reason to talk about your business in the first place. And no, “good service” on its own usually isn’t enough anymore – that’s the baseline expectation from people! The businesses people tend to recommend are the ones that are memorable in some way. Maybe theycommunicate really well, make life easier, solve a specific problem, have a strong personality, do something unexpectedly fast or simply make people feel looked after.

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Another big one? Visibility. People are far more likely to recommend businesses they remember (I know – what a shocker lol). If someone hasn’t seen or heard from you in two years, you’re probably not top of mind when a friend asks for a recommendation.

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This is where consistent marketing does a lot of heavy lifting. Social media, email marketing, networking, community involvement, even signage – all of it helps reinforce who you are, what you do + why someone should choose you.

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Clarity matters too. If people can’t easily explain what your business does, who you help or what makes you different, referrals get weaker. The easier you are to describe, the easier you are to recommend!!

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One of the simplest things businesses can do is also be more specific when talking about the work they want. Instead of “let us know if you hear of anyone”, try “we’re looking for more commercial fitout work” or “we’d love more bookkeeping clients in construction”. Specific prompts help people connect the dots faster.

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People can’t recommend a business they forgot existed. Word of mouth doesn’t just come from doing good work – it comes from being remembered when someone needs what you do.

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