Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

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I`m also curious about that. I launched a Pass-It-On email marketing campaign in which I asked real life friends and family of mine to refer someone to me. It`s still too early to know if it really helped; however, for its total cost (a few bucks and a couple hours), I`d say it`s worth it.

Think about it. Traditional (not new millennium, web-based tactics like tell-a-friend which cost money) word of mouth really doesn`t cost a thing, so it`s return on investment is sky-high.

But anyway - do I believe that word of mouth alone can make a website successful? No way. But, it helps drive traffic to the site. The rest is up to the website owner!

Tia Peterson
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Seems to me the two most important reasons why someone makes a recommendation are a) a really great experience in context with what their friend might be needing at the moment, or b) something truly unusual and interesting.

I don`t think the amount of websites out there really affects the success of the ones that benefit from word-of-mouth.  Word-of-mouth has always been powerful in competitive markets, even before it became a buzzword within internet marketing.  So the sites that get talked about will benefit as any business ever has.

The platforms for which word-of-mouth travels has changed because of the internet but otherwise, it`s the same old path to success (not that it`s the only path).

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There`s no doubt that word-of-mouth can benefit a site, even make or break a product (like a movie or restaurant). The problem I see in today`s culture is that "because word-of-mouth MAY benefit a site," Therfore, "you must cause word-of-mouth to happen for your business." That`s ridiculous.

It`s no different in my mind from saying that because everyone in history who`s ever eaten carrots has eventually died, therefore avoid carrots at all costs.

In defining words and forming concepts, we have the Unique Identifying Attribute---its *essential* attribute. That`s the one thing that is unique to the word/thing, and is not unique to any other word/thing. Wrong definitions elevate a "nonessential" attribute to the unique identifier.

So to say that the definition of an 8-gallon garbage bag is that it comes in a red box is wrong. The box and its color are non-essential. But the 8-gallons is essential.

Word-of-mouth is not a unique identifier to a successful business. It isn`t even essential to the definitino of "business." It`s a nice thing to have, helps with growing a business, and includes other useful benefits, but it`s not "the" unique identifier.

Hi!

I don`t believe that word of mouth is an effective way for promoting a site, It is a good offline marketing but it all really depends.. It may be popular to your family and friends but to the next extent friends of friends of friends of friends?? As what CraigL said, recommendations are present when there is really great experience from it. I still prefer linkages as to popularity of a site.

I agree. Word of mouth is not what will make a website 100% successful. It is a well rounded combination of word of mouth, PR and marketing that will send a website soaring.

I dunno...there are so many ways to promote a site for free, I really wonder if it`s worthwhile spending the money. On the other hand, we`re totally bootstrapping with a nothing budget, so maybe I`m not seeing the right picture. We`re looking at a boutique business, ourselves, and not at something that`ll bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Yet.

What`s your product, and what`s your financial goal?

I looked at WideCircles, and just don`t see the benefit to us in particular. We`re using Merchant Circle, and that doesn`t cost anything.