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Posted on: November 30, 2012

Perhaps this is why online reviews are so effective. After all, people frequently head to Amazon to check reviews for things they're planning on buying, even if they won't be purchasing it from Amazon. Similarly, reviewers who have their own blogs have been able to garner enough traffic to make revenue themselves because conscientious consumers are heading to those websites on a daily basis. Some small businesses and PR pros have even taken to providing reviewers with product in return for an honest review.

Word-of-mouth marketing often requires a bit more effort than simply putting up a billboard or, in the digital age, a banner ad, but it is often more effective, too. Reviews aren't the only way to generate word-of-mouth buzz, either. House parties are one of the more effective ways to reach out to a group of people face to face. Those Avon and Mary Kay ladies have always known this. It provides the perfect venue to demonstrate a product and squash any doubt that it really works.

Social networks also provide a place for people to talk about products and customer experience. Consumers head to Facebook or Twitter when they're unhappy with a company. Someone who has hundreds of Facebook friends can quickly inspire their peers to boycott a store. It simply makes sense for marketers to take advantage the power of spoken word.

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