What are some effective strategies to boost positive word-of-mouth online?

1 Provide value and quality

The first and most important strategy is to deliver value and quality to your customers. Whether it's your product, service, content, or customer support, you need to exceed their expectations and solve their problems. This way, you can create happy and satisfied customers who are more likely to recommend you to others and share their positive experiences online. You can also ask for feedback and testimonials and use them to showcase your value proposition and social proof.

2 Engage with your audience

Another strategy is to engage with your audience online and build relationships with them. You can do this by creating and sharing useful, relevant, and engaging content on your website, blog, social media, email, and other channels. You can also respond to comments, questions, reviews, and mentions and show your appreciation and gratitude. By engaging with your audience, you can show your personality, authenticity, and human side and foster trust and loyalty.

3 Encourage user-generated content

User-generated content (UGC) is any content created by your customers or fans that features or mentions your brand. It can be anything from photos, videos, reviews, testimonials, stories, or social media posts. UGC is a great way to boost positive WOM online because it shows how your customers use and enjoy your products or services and how they benefit from them. You can encourage UGC by creating campaigns, contests, incentives, hashtags, or challenges and featuring the best UGC on your platforms.

4 Reward referrals and loyalty

Referrals and loyalty are two key drivers of positive WOM online. Referrals are when your customers recommend you to their friends, family, or network and bring you new leads or sales. Loyalty is when your customers repeat their purchases, subscribe to your offers, or join your community. You can reward referrals and loyalty by creating programs, discounts, coupons, points, freebies, or other benefits that motivate your customers to spread the word about your brand and stay loyal to you.

5 Monitor and manage your reputation

The final strategy is to monitor and manage your reputation online and address any negative WOM or issues that may arise. You can use tools, alerts, or platforms to track what people are saying about your brand online and respond promptly and professionally. You can also use surveys, polls, or reviews to measure your customer satisfaction and loyalty and identify any areas for improvement. By monitoring and managing your reputation, you can prevent or resolve any potential damage and enhance your brand image and trust.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?