Primary Focus:
        
        
            Word-of-Mouth Marketing
        
     
    
        
            Key Benefit:
        
        
            Exponential Sales Growth
        
     
    
    
        
            Credibility Source:
        
        
            Independent customer opinions
        
     
    
        
            Central Tenet:
        
        
            Word-of-mouth is the center of the marketing universe.
        
     
    
        
            Decision Speed Importance:
        
        
            Most important factor for sales increase.
        
     
    
    
        
            Scale:
        
        
            Ranges from -4 (public scandal) to +4 (talk of the town).
        
     
    
    
        
            Companies At Plus 4 Level:
        
        
            Lexus Automobiles, Saturn Car Company, Harley-Davidson, Netscape Navigator, Celestial seasonings herbal tea, The Internet, Apple Computer
        
     
    
    
        
            Leveraging Influencers:
        
        
            Get product into hands of key influencers.
        
     
    
        
            Creating Channels For Discussion:
        
        
            Provide channels for influencers to talk and get fired up.
        
     
    
        
            Gathering Endorsements:
        
        
            Collect testimonials and letters of praise.
        
     
    
        
            Community Building:
        
        
            Form ongoing groups (annual resorts, monthly teleconferences, daily list groups).
        
     
    
        
            Event Creation:
        
        
            Create fun events to bring users together and invite non-users.
        
     
    
        
            Content Creation:
        
        
            Produce cassettes, videotapes, website clips featuring enthusiastic customers.
        
     
    
        
            Incentive Programs:
        
        
            Referral selling programs, special incentives for friends telling friends.
        
     
    
        
            Employee Empowerment:
        
        
            Empower employees to go the extra mile and spread positive stories.
        
     
    
        
            Storytelling:
        
        
            Circulate true, positive stories (e.g., FedEx employee story).
        
     
    
        
            Internet Utilization:
        
        
            Use of the Internet, e-mail, websites, chat rooms.
        
     
    
        
            Outrageous Actions:
        
        
            Do at least one outrageous thing to generate word of mouth.
        
     
    
        
            Scripting Communication:
        
        
            Script what people should say in their word of mouth communication.