True. The chief problems that many organisations face is not so much lack of awareness than lack of a compelling reason for customers to talk about them. In Singapore, for example, we are guilty of churning out so many “me-too” products and services.

We lack Purple Cows. After Sim Wong Hoo, we are still looking out for that next big thing. Innovation is hard work, risky and resource intensive, but it can also lead to untold rewards. More of the same isn’t going to cut it in this day and age of consumer clutter.

Word of mouth is hard to influence, unless the product or service itself is very, very good.

Often it is harder to just work on improving the existing product or service to the point that customers get excited about it. That’s why I think people prefer to take the easier way out and just promote it more.

I am especially interested in the power of blog marketing… so instead of word of mouth, maybe it would be WORD OF BLOG in the not too distant future.

Thanks for your inputs. Certainly many less oft-used items are bought after much consultation through various sources. My idea is to create something that is largely WOM based which will be (relatively) buzz worthy, differentiated from competing offerings and easy enough to get others to talk about. Still brewing lah….

eastcoastlife,

I have a gazillion ideas for your optical shop and how blogging can help actually. You can also read Naked Conversations which highlights some examples. One of them is a bespoke Saville Row tailor English Cut at this link:

http://www.englishcut.com/

Blogging about the art and science of the optical business may help endear you to potential customers. And we do know practically everybody in Singapore is short-sighted!

Most of the customers who come to my Optical shop is through ‘word of mouth’.

And most of my students who come to me for lessons and professional advice is also through ‘word of mouth’.

And if I want to buy a big-ticket item, I would ask friends and relatives for recommendation too.

hmmm, word of mouth – that gives me an idea too.

Hmmm.. wat r u contemplating, insider?? (>_