What is word-of-mouth marketing?
Recently, Google launched a new service called #SmallThanks Hub for small businesses in the US. With this service, small businesses will get free, customized marcom (marketing & communication) materials to boost their online presence. Currently, this service is only available in the US. If you can avail, all you need to do is search your company name on the site and Google will automatically create awesome posters, social media posts, window clings, danglers, stickers and more - all based on the "REVIEWS" from your customers on Google Business Listing. The only prerequisite to avail this service is your business needs to be a verified listing on google.
The small businesses can reach new prospective customers with positive reviews from their existing customers. Your reviews are like digital thank you notes on the web, and they are one of the first things people will notice in the search results. A study at Google reveals that around 71% of consumers believe that positive reviews in search have an impact on their purchase and listing with positive reviews on google see around 360% higher clicks to the site.
Pro tip: If you have a store/outlet, show why your customers love you with posters and posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Since this service is only available in the US, you can't request the print but you can still use the idea for your local business.
Here are few tips on how to use customers reviews to gain new customers and turn existing customers into advocates: 1) Personalize your assets Based on your brand guidelines, you can add a color theme to the posters with funky and casual fonts. 2) Show what makes your product/service better than competitors Print the customized posters and hang them in the stores around the places like at the entrance, billing counter, reception, lounge, etc with clear visibility. 3) Use your own branded #tags (Hashtags) You can add your very own branded hashtags to take the conversation on social media. For example, PieDays (a young brand in Saudi Arabia that sells scrumptious pies) can use their own branded hashtag like #CravingForPieDays to take the conversation on social media to reach a larger audience. 4) Reward your customers for reviews You can incentivize your walk-in customers with discounts & reward points if they write a review for your company on the Google listing. For example, PieDays can have a dedicated place in the store that can be called as the "Selfie Wall" where the customers can take a selfie and upload it to their social channels with the same #CravingFoPieDays. 5) Remind people to search for you on Google
As an SEO strategy, you can post the "Find us on Google" stickers in the outlet. When your customers search your brand name on google, it will improve your rankings.
Implement these ideas and let your small business grow with Google. Do share your ideas in the comment.
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