Word-of-Mouth vs. Digital Marketing – Which Is Better?

Many companies throughout the state of Indiana have been in business for decades, and have been serving customers long before the internet was even a thing. Back in those days, word-of-mouth marketing–which refers to simply having your business name passed onto others by customers as a result of providing quality service and products–was the primary way in which businesses attracted new customers.

Today, however, businesses use a variety of marketing techniques, most of them digital, to attract customers. Which raises the question, which is superior – word-of-mouth (WOM) or digital marketing?

Digital Marketing Is a Must

One of the most important things that business owners in today’s world need to understand is that having an online marketing strategy is absolutely necessary. While there is no doubt that internet-less WOM is beneficial, today, businesses are competing in the online realm. Without an online marketing strategy that encompasses social media marketing, content creation, and perhaps even pay-per-click campaigns, a business’ name can get lost online, and search engines will be loath to help a customer find a business without an online presence.

WOM and Digital Marketing – They’re Not Mutually Exclusive

That being said, it’s important to remember that word-of-mouth marketing and digital marketing are not mutually exclusive. In fact, word-of-mouth marketing can be, and often is, digital. Social media sites and review sites are two perfect examples of online WOM forums. Because statistics show that 92 percent of people trust recommendations from friends and family over any other types of advertising, social media WOM marketing can be especially important.

How to Improve Your WOM Digital Marketing Strategy

Incorporating a word-of-mouth marketing strategy into your digital marketing strategy is by and large one of the best ways to be most effective at making an impact on potential customers and drawing them to your business. Some tips to improve your WOM digital marketing strategy include:

• Use social media. The first step is to create social media profiles on platforms that are relevant to your customers. And don’t stop there – rather than just creating a profile, start posting content on a regular basis.
• Offer great products and services. The truth of the matter is that unless you’re offering a great product or/and service, the reviews posted about your company probably won’t be stellar. If your selling products online, don’t forget that a well-functioning e-commerce site is essential, too.
• Push for reviews and ratings. Most people aren’t going to be organically motivated to publish a review or rate your business, even if they loved your product/service. As such, you may have to give them a little push. Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews and ratings, and even offer promotions, freebies, or discounts to those customers who are willing to leave you a review.

NUVEW Can Help

As you think more about your business’ marketing efforts and things that you can do to improve your digital marketing strategy and word-of-mouth marketing efforts, remember that a professional can make a big difference. Call NUVEW today to learn how our digital marketing specialists can help your business take it to the next level.