Online word-of-mouth marketing via blogs grows your business
Denver Bizwomen.com asks “What’s one of the fastest and easiest ways to grow your business?” The answer – online word-of-mouth marketing. And word-of-mouth marketing via blogs can build your credibility much faster and to a far greater audience than traditional networking.
The Internet has become a powerful medium because it leaves a digital trail. It’s easy to track word-of-mouth behavior from one place to the next because once something is posted online, it becomes a permanent part of the Internet.
Word-of-mouth marketing programs work because they are initiated from a trusted source and shared through a network of friends, family and acquaintances. It works because we ultimately believe someone we know and consider them to be more credible than an advertiser.
A study performed in 2004 by Forrester/Intelliseek found ‘recommendations from others’ and ‘consumer opinions posted to online forums’ significantly carry a higher trust factor than virtually all other forms of advertising on TV, radio, in print and online.
In addition to Web sites and being seen on search engines, blogs play a big roll in word-of-mouth marketing.
A blog is created to provide the opinions of one person (or company).
A blog allows the writer to become an expert on one particular subject, and to gain recognition online. Blogs usually are designed to build a connection between the writer and their audience.
Like an opinion forum, a blog is a place for you to say exactly what you want to say. It isn’t like your Web site, which is put up to provide an overview of your company. A blog allows you to give your opinion, and provide as much information as necessary to get your story across.
Word-of-mouth marketing programs depend on recognition. When a person or a company has recognizable talent, they begin to see referrals from existing clients.
A blog allows you to build that recognizable talent online. And because blogs are easily linked to the search engines, they can build your credibility much faster and to a far greater audience than a traditional networking group.
Lawyers and those in professional service businesses are experts. You would have to be living under a rock at this point not to see the cost effective marketing opportunities of a blog.