Comments on: The #1 Thing Killing Your Word-of-Mouth Marketing http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/ Marketing to Women Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:20:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Join Us! Our Women Entrepreneur Blog Carnival | Women Grow Business http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2186 Join Us! Our Women Entrepreneur Blog Carnival | Women Grow Business Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:02:52 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2186 [...] The #1 Thing Killing Your Word-of-Mouth Marketing (Wonder Branding). “This morning, she presented me with a handful of freshly inked business cards and asked that I recommend her service to my neighbors and friends. I told her that I couldn’t.” [...] [...] The #1 Thing Killing Your Word-of-Mouth Marketing (Wonder Branding). “This morning, she presented me with a handful of freshly inked business cards and asked that I recommend her service to my neighbors and friends. I told her that I couldn’t.” [...]

]]> By: Kelly Watson http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2140 Kelly Watson Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:51:23 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2140 Frankly I am (and have always been) a little surprised by how lackadaisical some business owners act about things like this. But then it's not like we're in a RECESSION or anything. ;-) Frankly I am (and have always been) a little surprised by how lackadaisical some business owners act about things like this.

But then it’s not like we’re in a RECESSION or anything. ;-)

]]> By: Michele Miller http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2134 Michele Miller Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:51:11 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2134 Pixie - excellent point. Most customers (especially women) don't say anything. They just go away and never come back. David - you're so right about businesses always looking to the "next big thing." That's a lot easier than focusing/tweaking what you already have. Most business owners are bored by that, which is the silliest thing I've ever encountered. Mary - I'm with you. I would take consistent, GOOD service over inconsistent superior attempts any day. Sean - welcome aboard! I think we've all had our own experiences with this, definitely. Pixie – excellent point. Most customers (especially women) don’t say anything. They just go away and never come back.

David – you’re so right about businesses always looking to the “next big thing.” That’s a lot easier than focusing/tweaking what you already have. Most business owners are bored by that, which is the silliest thing I’ve ever encountered.

Mary – I’m with you. I would take consistent, GOOD service over inconsistent superior attempts any day.

Sean – welcome aboard! I think we’ve all had our own experiences with this, definitely.

]]> By: Sean Claes http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2133 Sean Claes Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:30:41 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2133 A very well written post... and a lesson I learned the hard way... a couple of times. A very well written post… and a lesson I learned the hard way… a couple of times.

]]> By: Mary Schmidt http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2131 Mary Schmidt Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:06:56 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2131 One of the bedrock principles of services. Far better to be consistent in delivering "only good" service - than deliver superior SUPER STAR service inconsistently. Then there are the women who think we should make referrals to them just because they're fellow women...and pay them simply for trying to do something ("But, I had to buy the paper!" sniffle.). It's the "group hug, kumbaya" syndrome - which makes me crazy. One of the bedrock principles of services. Far better to be consistent in delivering “only good” service – than deliver superior SUPER STAR service inconsistently.

Then there are the women who think we should make referrals to them just because they’re fellow women…and pay them simply for trying to do something (“But, I had to buy the paper!” sniffle.). It’s the “group hug, kumbaya” syndrome – which makes me crazy.

]]> By: David Stanley http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2130 David Stanley Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:58:53 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2130 You nailed it Michele! Consistency is an absolute must for growing a business. The sad thing is that it's simple, doesn't take an algorithm. In your example here, the cleaning lady does great work, yet fails on the most simple of human courtesies---something most of us learn as children. Many businesses get too caught up in trying to find the next big thing, and fail to focus on the simple things that can cause more people to want to do business with them. You nailed it Michele! Consistency is an absolute must for growing a business. The sad thing is that it’s simple, doesn’t take an algorithm. In your example here, the cleaning lady does great work, yet fails on the most simple of human courtesies—something most of us learn as children. Many businesses get too caught up in trying to find the next big thing, and fail to focus on the simple things that can cause more people to want to do business with them.

]]> By: Pixie Stevenson http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2129 Pixie Stevenson Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:02:29 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2129 Michele, you're so right. Sometimes there are eccentricities we tolerate out of loyalty that we would not expect others to tolerate. The same thing happened in my village with a local restaurant. The food was mostly good. The service was horrible. I stopped recommending it to anyone. The sad thing is most of the time clients or customers don't say anything to the small business or entrepreneur, they just go somewhere else! Michele, you’re so right. Sometimes there are eccentricities we tolerate out of loyalty that we would not expect others to tolerate.

The same thing happened in my village with a local restaurant. The food was mostly good. The service was horrible. I stopped recommending it to anyone.

The sad thing is most of the time clients or customers don’t say anything to the small business or entrepreneur, they just go somewhere else!

]]> By: Peter Marcantel http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2127 Peter Marcantel Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:10:42 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2127 Michele, You do know I don't hold you personally responsible for someone else's lack of business sensibility, right? ;-) But I am still amazed at times when people fail to grasp how they are working against themselves by losing the trust of their clients. Michele,
You do know I don’t hold you personally responsible for someone else’s lack of business sensibility, right? ;-) But I am still amazed at times when people fail to grasp how they are working against themselves by losing the trust of their clients.

]]> By: Michele Miller http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2125 Michele Miller Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:46:06 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2125 Thanks, Mario. It's extremely difficult when trying to find people in your own line of work to recommend. I face it all the time, and most of the time feel that I'm walking a professional tightrope. It can go the other way as well - hesitating to recommend a potential client to a colleague because I'm not sure they have what it takes to be a success. Thanks, Mario. It’s extremely difficult when trying to find people in your own line of work to recommend. I face it all the time, and most of the time feel that I’m walking a professional tightrope.

It can go the other way as well – hesitating to recommend a potential client to a colleague because I’m not sure they have what it takes to be a success.

]]> By: Mario E. Archila http://www.wonderbranding.com/2009/10/the-1-thing-killing-your-word-of-mouth-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-2124 Mario E. Archila Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:42:24 +0000 http://www.wonderbranding.com/?p=1961#comment-2124 Michele, that is sooooooo true! Being a specialized lawyer (Taxes and Franchises) I face the times when I have to recommend a criminal lawyer or other speciality... There is a saying here: "There is no lawyer ever on time!" So it is hard to put out recommendation. Don't even to get in the ethics department. The lawyers are like bananas (none are straight -ethically speaking) joke has a well deserved basis. Me being a time coach and ethics expert, gets in the way of recommending someone that may be great in litigation, but lacking those 2 values, as my reputation would be on the line. Great post! Mario E. Michele,

that is sooooooo true!
Being a specialized lawyer (Taxes and Franchises) I face the times when I have to recommend a criminal lawyer or other speciality… There is a saying here: “There is no lawyer ever on time!”
So it is hard to put out recommendation. Don’t even to get in the ethics department. The lawyers are like bananas (none are straight -ethically speaking) joke has a well deserved basis. Me being a time coach and ethics expert, gets in the way of recommending someone that may be great in litigation, but lacking those 2 values, as my reputation would be on the line.
Great post!
Mario E.

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