I recently had need for a new laptop so I did what many people do, began to shop, read reviews and talk to my friends. I knew I wanted a Windows laptop because I didn’t feel like having to learn any new programs (like for an Apple) and I didn’t want to buy new software. As I went through the reviews, I became suspicious. It seems that most review sites are for profit nowadays (affiliate links). Going to the stores and looking didn’t give me much satisfaction either. The laptops all seem the same.
After three or four visits to various stores I realized that I was no closer to being sure of what I wanted than when I began. Then it hit me… My sons, both of them, have been hounding me for several years to buy an Apple. I’ve resisted because of the reasons stated above. But this was an epiphany. They love me. They don’t want me to waste my money. Why wasn’t I listening to them. I immediately went to the Apple section and ordered an Apple MacBook Pro. It was not a mistake.
After that experience, I ran across this article and it got me thinking about how valuable Word of Mouth (WOM) marketing really is.
Report: 70% of Consumers Trust Brand Recommendations From Friends
Seventy percent of consumers trust brand recommendations from friends, but only 10% trust advertising, according to a new report from Forrester Research.
The study, based on responses from 58,000 respondents, also found that 46% of consumers trust consumer reviews and 9% trust text messages from brands. The findings come after at least one Facebook partner has affirmed that the social network’s Sponsored Stories — which are based on friend recommendations on behalf of a brand — are more effective than standard banner ads…
Read more… | Source: CMO.com | Date Posted: 3/22/2013
