SmallBusinessNewz

Long before paid advertising and promotions were around, word-of-mouth communication existed. It was powerful from day one and is still the most powerful publicity method.

But how do you get it? Matt McGee says you can get it by "being remarkable." Ideally, your product or service will give people a reason to talk. Unfortunately most of the time, you're forced to give people an incentive first before they talk. To help you out with that, here are a few ways that could motivate people to spread your name.

1. If it fits into your business model, try to become an advisor or an authority in your community. This could allow people to talk about you and recommend you to others.
2. A contest or sponsorship is another idea that connects you to the community. Getting involved in any form of goodwill project such as athletics, children's reading programs, or recycling efforts will provide a tremendous amount of healthy exposure for your business.
3. Another incentive is offering a coupon or discount to those who fill out a survey. People always spread the word about discounts and coupons; so don't leave this method out. With a survey, you also receive feedback that could lead to a better understanding of your customers.
4. Using online resources is a huge area that could get people to talk. Blogs, newsletters, and social networks - they all greatly impact what people talk about. Maintaining a solid presence in each of these areas could promote conversations about you.

To learn more about what you can do to encourage word-of-mouth publicity, watch the video.