When looking for a trustworthy and reliable expert, it can be pretty difficult. This is where word-of-mouth advertising comes in. According to Electrical Safety First, 36% of clients rely on recommendations from loved ones. This is how they choose an electrician to service their homes.

What is Word of Mouth?

Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways for consumers to find a service they trust. For service providers, it's getting organic conversations going about your brand.

Do you offer extra amenities? Are your prices better than your competitors? What about your service? Is it the best it can be?

The majority of consumers trust their loved ones' opinions over that of advertising. Recommendations from trustworthy people hold a lot of weight when making important decisions.

How to Take Advantage of Online Word-of-Mouth Advertising

Another place people get personal recommendations is online. Most customers will head to social media to give their reviews. It doesn't matter if they loved or hated the service. When you own a small business, you can't afford to waste your advertising budget. Unsuccessful ad campaigns are a waste of time and money. Word of mouth advertising is an effective marketing strategy that builds consumer trust. There are several ways for a service business to take advantage of this:

• Do something buzzworthy
• Empower customers
• Be a local thought leader
• Get on social media

Questions to Ask When Checking Out Online Reviews

The goal of word-of-mouth advertising is simple. You want to provide your customers with something positive to talk about. When reading reviews, customers want to know:

• How long have your experts served your area?
• Are your reviews mostly good or bad?
• How was the service?
• Are your employees insured, licensed, and bonded?
• What qualifications do your employees have?
• What are the specific services your company offers?

Word of mouth convinces existing customers to spread the word about your services. The goal is to give them some element (whether it's quality, service, and/or price) that's worth talking about.

Need help building customer loyalty and trust? Contact us today to get started on your digital word-of-mouth advertising campaign.