A Popular Way To Market

..but is it effective? I know I have written several times about Cafe Evoke's attempts to create free marketing through word of mouth from our customers. But what can we really expect from these types of campaigns? Do they really work? Are we wasting time trying to create these networks of people that will talk about our coffee and espresso catering service? My professor and chair of entrepreneurship (wow, I have not typed that word in a long time) at Belmont University, Dr. Jeffrey Cornwall, has a nice post that talks about this very thing. He gives us a few things to remember when trying to create word of mouth for your business and something I will be taking into account as I begin to, again, rewrite our marketing plan. What I think is the most important point he makes is the part about creating a "thank you" program. He says.. Create incentives to spread the word through a referral “thank you” program. Offer customers a future discount or send them a small thank you gift, such as a gift card, for each new customer they send your way. I am actually in the process of creating an official referral program that Cafe Evoke Catering will use to say thank you to our customers who pass along information about our services to their friends and family. I will talk more about this in a few days but it is something we should have done a long time ago. I keep thinking back to the story I once heard about a contractor in Nashville who would send his past clients to one of the best eating nightspots in the city for passing his information to others. It sounds expensive but once people start talking more and more, it is worth every penny (or dollar in this case!). It is a great article. Cornwall also links to a study recently published by the NFIB Research Foundation - worth the read. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke, coffee catering, nfib, belmont, tea, bozeman, marketing The Global Exchange Fair Trade Store is your Online Source for Socially Conscious Gifts