Did you know that a staggering 64% of consumers are more likely to purchase a product or service if it's recommended by a friend? This statistic is a testament to the power of word-of-mouth marketing. In comparison, banner ad campaigns typically yield a response rate of only 2 to 3%, while traditional advertising methods such as newsletters, magazines, or bulk mail generate a response of around 1 to 2%. The potential of word-of-mouth marketing is often overlooked, with many websites failing to capitalize on this opportunity. This article will guide you on how to leverage this powerful marketing tool effectively.
Most websites either ignore the potential of word-of-mouth marketing or simply add a "recommend this site to a friend" link, which is often insufficient. Internet users are typically busy and impatient, and they are unlikely to click on such a link unless it's easy and convenient. However, they are more than willing to recommend your site if you make the process simple and enjoyable.
The key is to subtly encourage your visitors to recommend your site, making the process as easy and pleasant as possible. This can be achieved by launching a new browser window when they decide to leave your site. This window should thank them for their visit, wish them a pleasant day, and invite them to return. More importantly, it should provide a simple and fun way for them to recommend your site to their friends.
There are two main methods to implement this:
Use a form that asks for their friends' email addresses and any personal note they wish to include. This information is then inserted into a pre-written invitation letter and sent to the provided email addresses. A recommended tool for this is the AlienForm CGI script, which is free and user-friendly.
Use a service like Recommend-It, which is also free and occasionally runs competitions that incentivize users to recommend their friends. This method is easier for the website owner but requires the user to fill out a form on Recommend-It's site.
To integrate this recommendation system into your website, follow these steps:
Create a fast-loading webpage that thanks your visitor for their visit, wishes them a pleasant day, and invites them to return. Below this message, include your recommendation form or button from Recommend-It.
Add a JavaScript script to the head of every page on your site. This script will open the new window that contains your thank-you page.
Add an onUnload event to the body tag of every page on your site. This event will execute the JavaScript in the head section if the user navigates away from the page or closes the browser.
Add an onclick event to every link on your site that leads to another page within your site. This event will prevent the JavaScript from being executed when the user clicks on the link.
An excellent application of this recommendation system is in your search engine positioning doorways. Doorway pages are designed to rank highly in search engine results, driving lots of free traffic to your site. By adding the JavaScript pieces discussed above, you can ensure that visitors will see your site as long as they land on your doorway page.
For more information on the topics discussed in this article, check out the following resources:
Harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing and watch your online marketing efforts thrive.
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