As the world becomes inevitably more and more digital, it seems as though companies who ignore the Internet will be left behind. As claimed by Shebrand, “Consumers appear to have little patience with traditional advertising… now you have a tremendous opportunity to publish great content and connect with like-minded networks of people online to build your own buzz, establish yourself as an authority in your industry and attract more clients than ever before.”
This online buzz, or “word of mouse” as it is becoming known, is simply when people communicate about your brand online. Word of mouse can be incredibly effective because of it’s speed and scope are significantly greater than traditional word of mouth. This can be seen in small companies making a name for themselves every day through viral videos.
However not every company has the means to create viral content- here are some simple tips that any business can use to improve their word of mouse.
1. Start With a Strategy
Just as good marketing campaigns don’t just happen, improving your company’s word of mouse needs to be well planned out. This is where a digital strategy kicks in. There are several things you need to consider. Don’t assume that just because you use a desktop computer and Firefox that everyone who finds your Website will too. Optimise your content for different search engines, mobile devices and possibly operating systems.
2. Do Not Get Stuck in the Wrong Web
Here is where knowing some basics about SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation comes in handy. You may be wondering what SEO has to do with getting talked about online. It’s important to realise that if people can’t find you online, how can they hear your messages? With this in mind, pick some authentic and relevant keywords to associate with your site. If you own a stationary company, while picking keywords like “qwerty” might be well searched, they are completely irrelevant to your business!
3. Content is King
Similar to word of mouth, online content needs to be worth sharing. Time and time again, companies create viral videos which friends willingly share. The most recent case of this was IKEA releasing an Ad online originally just for Singapore and Malaysia. This advert now has over 19 million views. This shows that by creating memorable, entertaining or perhaps even controversial content people will be willing to share your brands messages even if they are just adverts!
4. Sign into Social Media
Learn to Tweet, follow, share, like, reblog and much more. Social media has become an incredibly prominent part of the Web and should be harnessed for it’s word of mouse capabilities. Make sure your content is able to be shared freely on multiple social media platforms. Also consider creating social media pages for your company.
5. Leave it to an Expert
Although there are basic things you can do to get known online, a DIY job can only take you so far. If you really want your business to be ranked high in search engines it can get quite technical. Setting up a no-obligation consultation with an online marketing company is best to find out how an expert can make sure you are findable.