Why word of mouth matters
A recommendation arrives with borrowed trust. A friend’s endorsement, or a stranger’s detailed review, starts the buyer past the skepticism ads have to spend money overcoming.
It also compounds: each new customer a recommendation brings in becomes a potential recommender.
Channels word of mouth flows through
- Reviews and ratings, word of mouth made public and permanent
- Referral and ambassador programs
- Social shares and customer content
- Communities, forums, and group chats
Questions
Is word of mouth measurable?
Partly. Referral codes, review volume, branded search, and NPS are the usual proxies. The private conversations themselves can’t be tracked.
How do you start word of mouth?
Earn it first with product and service, then prompt it: ask for reviews, reward referrals, and make sharing take one tap instead of five.