WOM Power: Why Word of Mouth is Your Best Marketing Tool

WOM in the Age of Social Media

Fitness has always been known as a referral business, and for decades, gym owners have offered incentives to their members to spread the word to friends and family. As it turns out, they have not been far off the mark. Nielson reports that 84 percent of consumers take action based on personal recommendations, both on- and off-line. Social media provides a low-cost word of mouth, or WOM, marketing platform that can optimize your impact.

WOM vs Traditional Media

Traditional media marketing includes advertising in newspapers, magazines, television and radio. It seeks to get the message out en masse, in hopes that certain consumers will feel compelled to buy. The problem is that it does not engage consumers on a personal level. WOM, on the other hand, strikes a personal chord that resonates with potential customers. According to the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, or WOMMA, WOM can have more than five times the impact of traditional media marketing.

WOM’s Ripple Effect

In the age of social media, you can expand your WOM marketing exponentially if you take the right approach. According to “Mention,” 77 percent of brand conversations on social media revolve around seeking advice, information or help. Writing an informational blog, providing exercise videos, and engaging with your audience by answering their questions are all ways to connect. Once you establish yourself as an expert, your followers will share what you have to say, and WOM will bring you more customers.

Making WOM Work for You

The Keller Fay Group found that brands that are uniquely differentiated from their competitors evoke greater WOM results from consumers who want to assert their own uniqueness. When reaching our to consumers, emphasize what makes your product or service different from other similar businesses. Try to create a brand that your audience identifies with on an emotional level, and build customer loyalty by providing top notch customer service.

Resources

Marketing with limited funds can be a challenge, but W.I.T.S. has helpful resources that can take some of the guesswork out of your marketing decisions. To hit your target every time, check out our online sales and marketing courses from the W.I.T.S. Fitness Business Institute.

References and Credits

Ambassador: Over 40 Word of Mouth Marketing Statistics

https://www.getambassador.com/blog/word-of-mouth-marketing-statistics

Forbes: Why Word Of Mouth Marketing Is The Most Important Social Media
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/kimberlywhitler/2014/07/17/why-word-of-mouth-marketing-is-the-most-important-social-media/

WOMMA: Return on Word of Mouth Study

http://www.womma.org/ReturnOnWOM

*Images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net.