Word of Mouth marketing has stuck around since ages. No one knows when and how it originated, but every time you hear your mom spread the word around about how delicious her new recipe has turned out to be, you get reminded of the marketing technique. The only difference between WOM then and WOM now is that the medium of spreading the word has changed.

A few years back your mom would talk about her new recipe during kitty parties. Now, she talks about them via Facebook, Twitter, and Google Hangouts. How very interesting, isn’t it? Does it mean that social media marketing is nothing but WOM with the V for virtual replacing the W for word? As far as the following similarities are concerned, yes; however, not entirely:

• What to Talk About : Every social media marketer, just like a WOM pro, will think of something about the  product/service to talk about. For example, if your mom is talking about her recent recipe, she won’t just talk about how well it turned out. She will also give little details like whether the recipe is a snack, a dessert, or a drink. An added advantage that social media gives her is to pin up the picture of her recipe and feel like a chef!

• Who To Talk With :Believe it or not, but your mom knows all the secrets to becoming the talk of the town. She knows the foodies amongst her friends. Yes, even at the times when WOM was hotter than SMM, she would know whom to target with her food delights. Now that she has the World Wide Web and Social Media platforms to her aid, she targets ‘groups’ and ‘likers’ like a boss!

• Who Will Talk About Us/The Product/The Service : Every marketer knows the originating point of gossips. They also know who nourishes and cherishes talking about ‘the latest’. WOM pros and Social Media Marketers are great with figuring out the target audience and early adopters too. You’ll never find yourself tensed about finding their way to the right audience.

• Why Would Anyone Talk About (Us/Me/Service/Product)

Well, this is something that both WOM and SMM professionals are always caught up thinking about. It’s their work after all. They have to understand the nature of the object that they are marketing. Only then will they be able to make the best out of WOM and social.

Last but not the least, the key to WOM and social is all about putting the communication across in the right manner, leaving no scope for misunderstandings.

Image Courtesy: edudemic.com