Unlocking the True Power of Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Written on
Chapter 1: The Underestimated Influence of Word-of-Mouth
"Hey Tom, I’ve been hearing fantastic things about your LinkedIn sprint from Kevin. I’d love to join the next session!"
This week alone, I've received about 50 to 60 messages similar to this, all from individuals intrigued by a successful program I conducted.
Let me cut to the chase: I’m referencing word-of-mouth marketing—a concept I’ve undervalued for the past five years. In fact, I’ve probably missed out on hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2017 by not giving it the attention it deserves.
As bloggers, we often gravitate towards the more glamorous revenue-generating strategies like email lists and sales funnels. Each email subscriber is often equated to $1 in monthly income. Thus, with a list of 10,000 subscribers, one could potentially earn five figures monthly. The focus quickly shifts to acquiring more subscribers.
Last year, I overhauled my entire website and penned numerous SEO-optimized articles to attract a larger audience. My primary goal was to increase my email subscriber count.
However, the true solution to my dwindling reach on Medium and reduced income was to provide immense value to a select group of individuals.
Even if you aren’t selling courses or running a business, this principle can be beneficial for you as a writer or creator.
Section 1.1: Fostering Deep Connections
Consider this scenario: a reader leaves a thoughtful comment praising your work. They’ve taken the time to express their appreciation. You respond with a simple, "Thanks for reading!"
What a lost opportunity!
For many writers, merely acknowledging comments seems sufficient. But I want to share a more impactful approach:
- Visit their profile and follow them.
- Craft a detailed response that mirrors their level of engagement.
- Read one of their pieces and leave a meaningful comment.
What do you think will happen? You’ll cultivate a reader for life. Seriously, you won’t have to exert any additional effort for their loyalty.
Why is that?
Because amidst the sea of mediocre articles from countless writers touting empathy and kindness, you stood out by demonstrating genuine engagement. You proved that you are authentic, establishing a connection that they won’t find with other writers who have massive followings.
Trust is the real treasure trove for online writers.
When you build trust with an audience, they will stick with you through thick and thin. Imagine if you engaged deeply with readers consistently for a month; you'd have 30 dedicated followers. Now, consider doing this for an entire year—365 loyal readers.
With 365 devoted readers, the possibilities are endless.
While someone meticulously optimizing their sales funnel may seem powerful, you can challenge their position by implementing the strategy I just outlined.
Section 1.2: The Ripple Effect of Valuing Your Audience
Continuing with the blogging metaphor, how many of those 365 loyal readers will share your work with friends or post it on their social media platforms?
The answer is quite a few!
When you cast that initial stone into the water, it creates a small ripple that may not seem significant at first. But then it expands—until it engulfs the entire lake.
A small 200-gram rock can produce that effect.
The key takeaway is that exponential growth occurs when you treat people with genuine care and respect.
Everyone tends to complain about algorithms and platforms, yet few recognize that a loyal audience will navigate through obstacles to find your content.
Sometimes, the very tools meant to help us—like email lists, social media, and courses—pale in comparison to the impact of genuine networking and kindness.
And the most rewarding aspect of this approach? It feels far better to prioritize kindness over merely tweaking sales funnels.
This is my lesson for you today.
Get my free 5-Day Medium course, where I discuss strategies for gaining followers, becoming a top writer, and getting published in major outlets.
Chapter 2: Strategies for Growing Your Email List
Discover effective methods to expand your email list faster.
In this video, "How To Grow Your Email List Faster," you’ll learn actionable tips to enhance your email marketing strategy.
Chapter 3: Leveraging AI for Rapid Growth
Learn how to utilize AI to significantly increase your email leads with innovative strategies.
The video titled "How to GROW Your EMAIL LIST FAST Using AI - (5000 Leads Strategy)" provides insights into leveraging technology for effective email list growth.