Word of Mouth (WOM)
People talking about your business - the oldest and most powerful marketing.
The Tradie Take
Word of mouth is your dad telling his mate at the pub "my kid's a sparky, give him a call." No ad in the world beats that level of trust. The internet has just amplified it - now that recommendation happens in local Facebook groups, Google reviews, and community pages instead of just at the pub. Same concept, bigger audience.
Definition
Word of mouth (WOM) is the organic spread of recommendations about your business from person to person. It's the most trusted form of marketing - people trust their mates' recommendations far more than any ad. While you can't buy word of mouth, you can encourage it: do great work, ask for referrals, make it easy for customers to recommend you, and give them a reason to talk about you.
How It Works
- 1 A customer has a great experience with your business
- 2 They tell their friends, family, or neighbours about you
- 3 Those people trust the recommendation and call you
- 4 Digital WOM happens through Google reviews, Facebook recommendations, and social shares
Tips for Tradies
- Do great work - nothing generates word of mouth like exceeding expectations
- Ask every happy customer to leave a Google review
- Consider a referral program - "refer a friend and get $50 off your next service"