This is Part 6 of our series: Building Buzz Through Word-of-Mouth Marketing
In this series, we’ll guide you through unlocking the power of word-of-mouth marketing for your local service business (inspired from the books Contagious by Jonah Berger and Talk Triggers by Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin).
In this post, we’ll explore Practical Value for better word of mouth marketing: How providing useful tips and insights can make your customers’ lives easier and inspire them to share your service with others.
- Practical Value: What helpful tips or insights can simplify customer’s lives?
Practical Value
One of the most powerful ways to get people talking about your business is by offering practical value—something that makes their lives easier, more efficient, or more enjoyable. People love to share helpful advice, insights, or solutions that simplify a challenge or improve a situation. When you share useful information, you not only establish yourself as an expert but also create content your customers will want to pass along.
Ideas for Providing Practical Value Your Customers Will Appreciate
Here are a few ways you can provide practical value:
Offer Easy-to-Implement Tips (practical value)
- Provide simple, everyday advice that helps customers avoid common issues. For example, a HVAC company could share tips on how to save energy in the winter.
- Create actionable resources like checklists, how-to guides, or maintenance schedules.
Develop Helpful Tools (practical value)
- Consider offering free tools like calculators or templates that customers can use, such as a budgeting spreadsheet or a home improvement project planner.
- These resources are both valuable and shareable, increasing the likelihood of referrals.
Create Content Around Common Pain Points (practical value)
- Address the challenges your target audience faces with step-by-step solutions. For instance, a roofing company could post a guide on how to recognize storm damage early to prevent costly repairs.
- This practical advice can be packaged into blogs, videos, or downloadable PDFs, making it easy for customers to share with others in need.
Simplify Complex Tasks (practical value)
- Break down complicated processes into easy steps. This could be a series of quick video tutorials or simple infographics that simplify common problems.
- For example, a plumbing company might create a video showing homeowners how to unclog a sink drain in a few easy steps.
Use Seasonal or Time-Sensitive Tips (practical value)
- Offer advice related to seasons, holidays, or annual tasks, like preparing your home for winter or cleaning gutters in the fall. Customers will value timely content that helps them stay on track.
- For example, a landscaper could provide a free downloadable guide on “How to Prepare Your Garden for Winter,” making it easier for customers to maintain their landscape year-round.
Practical Value – Why It Works
- It provides instant value: Offering useful tips is like giving away knowledge. It positions your business as a go-to resource for valuable insights, which is highly shareable.
- It’s relevant: People will naturally want to share something that could make their lives easier or solve a problem for someone they know.
- It builds trust: When you give away practical advice without expecting anything in return, it builds goodwill with your customers. It shows that you care about helping, not just selling, and that kind of trust leads to more referrals and positive word-of-mouth.
Practical Value – The Takeaway
Offering practical value isn’t just about showcasing your expertise—it’s about giving your customers something they can easily share with others. Whether it’s a helpful tip, a free tool, or expert advice, when people feel like they’ve learned something useful from your business, they’re more likely to pass it on, helping you grow your customer base and solidify your reputation as a trusted source.
Get Creative with Practical Value
Now that you see how providing useful insights can spark conversations, it’s time to brainstorm the ways your business can add value to your customers’ lives. Think about the tips, tricks, or resources you can share that solve common problems, save time, or simplify their day.
Take a moment to ask yourself: What expert advice or practical solutions can your business offer that customers will find so valuable they’ll feel compelled to share? Whether it’s a quick DIY tip, a seasonal checklist, or a time-saving hack, make sure it’s helpful and easy to pass along. The more useful your insights, the more likely they are to spread.
Take action now—gather your team and marketer, and start brainstorming the expert resources that will position your business as a go-to source for practical value!
See Part 7 of our series on Building Buzz Through Word-of-Mouth Marketing
In that post, Practical Value in Action, we’ll focus on how offering expert resources and helpful advice creates word-of-mouth and referral opportunities.
