Get people talking about you throughout the sales cycle:
1> Before the sale
2> During the sale
3> After the sale
1> Before the sale
Word of mouth begins long before the sale, so make it easy for your potential customers to talk about you. Give them flyers to take home from the store, samples to play with, and put tell-a-friend forms on all of your web pages. Connect potential customers with existing, happy customers through online forums or panel discussions to generate conversations about you.
2> During the sale
Encourage word of mouth through displays and take-homes at the cash register. Give your new customers extras like hats, reusable bags, shirts, stickers, or web badges that they can wear and display. Put word of mouth in front of the buyer during the purchase decision through reviews, a community to answer questions, and a best-seller list.
3> After the sale
Get people talking shortly after the sale by adding a for-a-friend coupon in the receipt. About a month after the sale, continue the conversation with a follow-up email or a call. For the ultimate in word of mouth long after a sale, throw a party where customers can hang out, network, and renew their excitement about you.
