Want to see something fun? Head over to Google Maps and search walking directions from “The Shire” to “Mordor.” Google’s algorithm tries to figure out what you might have meant to search for, and it also offers this little bit of humor: “Use caution — One does not simply walk into Mordor.” The best part?…
WOM Tips
Word of Mouth Tip #42: When in doubt, do the opposite
Here’s a good rule of thumb: If you’re unsure of how to do something worth talking about, look for things that everyone else is doing and try to do the opposite. It works for your policies, your design, your pricing, your copy — everything. Here’s a great example: For her new book, instead of putting…
Word of Mouth Tip #137: Short-term negative feedback is worth the long-term trust
It’s tempting to hide the negative feedback, the lousy reviews, and the tough criticism. But instead of trying to hide it (which is impossible anyways), a better option is feature it, respond to it, or explain how you’re incorporating the feedback into future products. The negative stuff might cost you a few sales today, but…
Word of Mouth Tip #117: Show off how awesome your customers are
Things like client and bestseller lists are great examples of passive word of mouth. They convey recommendations without anyone actually doing any talking. Another great way to do it? Look for opportunities to show off the success of your customers. Done right, it’s a welcome hat tip to your clients and a testament to how…
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Word of Mouth Tip #148: Do something worth talking about in your store window
Real-life, in-person experiences are special word of mouth opportunities. They bring people together, they create excitement, and they get people talking. Retailers have a great opportunity with their physical location. It gives them a venue to create events — something the online guys just can’t do. Over in Sweden, for example, retailer NK teamed up…
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Word of Mouth Tip #131: Promote your fans, not yourself
[Inspired by our sister brand‘s upcoming BlogWell conference on July 18 in Chicago, we’re hosting big brand word of mouth week here at WordofMouth.org. All week we’re featuring how big brands are creating big conversations.] When you use your resources to promote your fans instead of yourself, you create a much more interesting conversation. The…
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Word of Mouth Tip #109: Putting a spin on it helps the regular become remarkable
Sometimes all it takes for the same old content to get a renewed sense of remarkability is to add a simple spin on it. You don’t know what’s going to work — so you have to keep trying until you find an angle. Zillow sends out a simple email newsletter showcasing properties around the world….
Word of Mouth Tip #112: Do something funny with your legalese
Look for the overlooked, the forgotten, the boring, and the routine parts of doing business. These are your best opportunities to surprise customers with some personality. That’s why legalese is so great. Every other marketer you’re competing with is ignoring it — which means you’ve got a chance to do something worth talking about. GameStation…
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