FIRST POST: ANDY'S FIRST FIVE CHAPTERS

Hello All!

Today I'll start with the topic from last week, the first five chapters of Andy's book. I can summarize my overall impression in one word: inspired. I never realized the power of WOM marketing until really diving deep into the topics that Andy presents, especially the 5 Ts. The effects of this reading and the video we watched the first day of class have really inspired me to work towards developing my WOM skills, especially since I may want to open my own business someday. There are three concepts that I found really interesting from the first half of the book that I feel I can definitely use in my future career.

Let's start with the RULES OF HONEST WORD OF MOUTH MARKETING. I think this topic was an important part of the book because I have seen companies before who use stealth marketing to get ahead, only to fail in the long run. I also thought the point that fake WOM doesn't work was interesting because it is amazing how the public will eventually expose the truth no matter what information your company tries to plant in the media. It is important to be honest and upfront about your product and what it has to offer, so you never are trying to cover your tracks of little white lies.

The second tip I thought helpful was to HIRE SOMEONE TO SEARCH THE WEB TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT YOU. When Andy pointed out that this was a way more efficient use of $8.00 an hour, I wondered why I never considered this before. It gives your company the chance to keep up with the WOM that is happening everyday. Then, as Andy points out, if their feedback is positive you can thank them, and if their feedback is negative you can fix it.

Finally, I loved the part about FEEDING YOUR TALKERS. It's only human nature to want to talk about the next big thing, and want to me in the know about it. If you are a successful company, you will continue to give your talkers something to talk about. The topics don't just come about on their own, they are commenting on and spreading the word about your company, what it stands for, and what it has to offer. I thought this was important to keep in mind when thinking about how your company can be successful at keeping WOM positive and beneficial to your company.

So that's all I have for you in this post. This is my first blogging experience, and so far I think it's pretty neat. I hope to improve my skills over the course of the quarter!

Until next class!

Rache