Have you ever been to a restaurant and had a meal so good, you couldn’t wait to tell all your friends about it? Or have you ever become so caught up in a TV show that you found yourself enthusing about it to all your co-workers and neighbors? If so, then you have an intuitive understanding of word-of-mouth marketing.
The question is, what can you do to get customers raving about your products? How do you turn buyers into brand advocates for your print on demand store? Consider a few strategies to harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing.
It Starts with Experience
First and foremost, people are going to recommend your print on demand store to their friends if they have a really positive experience. It’s really as simple as that. So, to turn buyers into brand advocates, your job is to go above and beyond their expectations.
Naturally, this means having a terrific product. It also means ensuring a smooth and seamless checkout process. You might even go the extra mile by sending a friendly, personal thank-you to first-time buyers. Wow them with your customer service, ensuring their first impressions of your business are positive ones.
Connect with Influencers
A surefire way to get people talking about your print on demand products? Send out some free samples. This is especially powerful if you can get your products in the hands of influencers, including bloggers, Instagram stars, of TikTok power users.
Now, you’re not going to get a shout-out from every single influencer, as many of them are inundated with freebies. But zeroing in on some mid-level influencers in your niche can be a great way to score some positive online buzz. Just make sure to keep your expectations in check.
Rally Behind a Cause
Studies show that more and more consumers prefer to do business with companies that share their values, or that champion popular social causes. This can have big implications for your print on demand brand and its word-of-mouth advertising efforts.
Consider a cause that you can champion, whether it’s an environmental effort, support for a local animal shelter, or advocacy for a marginalized population. If you’re donating any part of your proceeds to the cause, let people know about it. And use hashtags that help people connect your business with the cause in question. Basically, give social media users a reason to share your content, above and beyond your print on demand products themselves.
Use Visual Triggers
One of the merits of print on demand products, especially custom apparel, is that it tends to be highly Instagrammable. Of course, coaxing your buyers to share photos of your products to their individual social media accounts is a great way to build word of mouth buzz.
In each package you send out, include a notecard encouraging users to share a photo, complete with the appropriate hashtags. You might even consider doing some kind of themed contest or giveaway to encourage sharing.
Additional Ways to Create Word of Mouth Buzz
A few more options for print on demand businesses to generate word of mouth buzz include:
- Push ratings and reviews hard. Actively seek feedback from your customers and use your five-star reviews in your social media marketing efforts.
- Create a referral program, offering discounts or other perks to customers who recommend your print on demand business to a friend.
- Think in terms of customer lifetime value. Remember that customers who advocate for your brand are especially valuable, and worth a little extra time to nurture and connect with.
These are just a few options for boosting your business via positive associations and word of mouth marketing.
Partner with Gooten
At Gooten, we’re drawn to the power and the innate appeal of print on demand products. We think these products lend themselves to word-of-mouth marketing, so long as merchants have a few basic strategies in place. As your business begins to scale, make sure you have a trusted PoD partner, like Gooten, fulfilling your customer orders. Reach out to our sales team to learn more!
