Word-of-mouth Marketing: the importance of protecting your reputation
open mouth by piecemeal
Word-of-mouth Marketing: the importance of protecting your reputation
Today’s fast-paced business sphere demands that we aim for quick and efficient results.
It is easy to assume that spreading information via word-of-mouth is the most ideal solution, however there is a very important variable: your integrity.
This becomes especially volatile regarding referrals for other companies.
Who you recommend reflects on you.
Ivan Misner explains that your reputation becomes virtually transparent, “Any flaw in your integrity becomes instantly visible to everyone you’re dealing with.”
Thus the situation becomes complicated; a good referral boosts your name, while a bad one plants doubts in others’ eyes.
So, what to do?
- Take the time to really get to know your potential referrals, remember that YOUR reputation is at risk.
- Everything you do or communicate is part of the word-of-mouth message you give off; the way you project yourself is the way you will be perceived.
Furthermore, if you are not necessarily comfortable with doing all the marketing yourself, traditional advertising should be your ideal strategy instead.
The main factor is that word-of-mouth marketing is constant, even if you do not want to actively contribute.
“Remember, word-of-mouth is always working; it’s just not always working for you–especially if you’re a jerk,” states Misner.
If this is the case, taking that extra time to screen each potential referral more closely will protect a carefully built reputation.
You should guard your integrity. This form of marketing makes it as fragile as a glass house.
AND throwing stones is not advised.
