Is Word-of-Mouth Advertising Still Relevant?

The other day I stopped by a local car wash to clean my car. It was one of those places where you vacuum for free and pay only for the wash. Unfortunately, I had already vacuumed my car at a gas station when I saw a billboard advertising the place and their $3 express wash. Good thing I saw that sign because I was about to spend $7 for the same service at another gas station.

When I arrived at the car wash, I remembered that this business had opened just a few months ago so I struck up a conversation with the attendant to see how business was for him. He said it was good but asked me to tell all my friends about them. His request reminded me how important word-of-mouth advertising still is.

In fact, word-of-mouth is the main way my husband advertises his landscaping business, except for the signs on his trucks and trailers. I should know. As his office manager, I am the primary contact for new customers and I always ask them how did they hear about us. Inevitably, it was through a friend's or neighbor's recommendation.

As a small business owner, you may struggle to get your name "out there." Treat your clients like friends and seek to build lasting relationships with them so that they can serve as your private team of "brand ambassadors." Even better, position yourself as the expert in your respective field. Why? People tend to gravitate toward leaders and will look to them for advice. Use that to your advantage and, over time, you will see growth.

Yes, word-of-mouth advertising still works. Of course, web 2.0 is here to stay so you do need to get on board and begin utilizing this important tool. More on that in a later post.