Why The Word of Mouth Business Model isn’t Cutting it Any More
Remember when the best type of business was the ‘word of mouth’ from your customers? Telling friends, families and coworkers about how great of a job your business completed for them. This was a traditional business method for many years until the internet came along. Word of mouth is still a very genuine method to gain more customers, but in this day and age, it is not going to be the most effective.
Traditional Word of Mouth Marketing
Understandably, some businesses can argue that certain manufacturers or industries can be so niche, that the only form of marketing they can rely on is word of mouth. But even for those businesses, traditional word of mouth marketing is out, and the modern day type of marketing is here to stay. Originally companies would build their brand identity through word of mouth from customer to customer. The best way to acquire leads was to build a solid reputation, and that still is true. But this is usually only effective in very small communities or towns and within older demographics. Eventually if this is the only form of marketing a business relies on, there will be a loss of a customer base from not taking advantage of the younger demographic.
So Why is it No Longer Working?
Simple – the internet. The internet has and continues to explode with popularity and is the number one place people turn to when they first search for any products or services. The internet is also where the younger homeowner is searching for services to be performed. There’s no longer any reason to pick up a phone, or talk to a real person for that matter. Everything you need is right at your fingertips with a simple search or click.
How to Market Today
There are SO many ways to market for your plumbing, heating or HVAC business today.
Here are a few examples of modern day marketing:
- Social Media
- Paid Ads
- Efficient & Effective Website with SEO
- Reviews
Conclusion
Times are changing and the way businesses decide to market will continue to grow and evolve. Attracting and retaining customers is the number one priority when it comes to making a profit for a business. Word of mouth marketing isn’t cutting it anymore, but it is still incredibly important to maintain a great reputation, especially online.
