Word of Mouth The Most Influential Source When Buying Services;

Keefer Public Relations Gets Buzz Going

 

06/10/2009

 

If you build it, will they come? Not necessarily. Simply opening your doors isn’t good enough in today’s economy where “word of mouth” is king. Over 90% of consumers site word of mouth as the most influential source of information when buying products or services. People must hear about you, read about you, listen to you, see you, and blog about you. Then they will come.

 

To cost-effectively get the buzz going, which marketing tool should an entrepreneurial or small to mid-size business utilize?  With the advent of social media, now more than ever, a public relations campaign that incorporates both traditional and online platforms can get the best results at a fraction of the cost of advertising, said the owner of Keefer Public Relations, a boutique PR firm specializing in business-to-business and business-to consumer PR and event planning for companies in real estate, technology, finance and other industries.   

 

For example, a recent campaign conducted by Keefer PR for a start-up commercial real estate lending company demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of public relations. In just six months, for a $3,500.00 monthly retainer, Keefer Public Relations garnered feature articles in seven trade publications including Real Estate Finance and Investment, Crittenden Research, and Scotsmen Guide; six radio interviews; coverage in print and online business media such as BusinessWeek and the Los Angeles Business Journal; and extensive mentions on Google and Yahoo.  

 

In the technology sector, KeeferPR was credited for stimulating 90% of new sales and positioning a manufacturer of multiprocessor systems for eventual acquisition. In addition, a technology public relations program conducted by KeeferPR laid the groundwork for a successful IPO.  

 

These results clearly demonstrate the ROI that companies can realize from an effective public relations program. Further, media coverage carries with it an implied third party endorsement. Otherwise known as word of mouth, media coverage, when displayed on a website is an invaluable sales tool.

Christine Keefer Soderbergh

Keefer Public Relations

Christine@keeferpr.com 

www.keeferpr.com