By: Nora-Grayce Orosz
We are living in an increasingly connected world.​ We follow, share, pin, like, and retweet so much information on a daily basis, that it's practically second nature to us now. Whether you feel that the age of social media is a blessing or a curse, statistics don't lie—word-of-mouth marketing is one of the most significant determinants for consumer buying habits in 2019.

83% of Americans say that word of mouth recommendations from friends or family members make them more likely to purchase that product or service, according to Talk Triggers. And even more staggering, millennials are 115% more influenced by word of mouth than traditional advertising. Knowing this, its important to consider the impact that word-of-mouth has on your business or brand.

Authors and publishing professionals can certainly take advantage of this marketing technique as well as those in other industries. Here's a few ways to generate goodwill and encourage word-of-mouth:

Hashtags are your friend. 
Consider creating a hashtag that readers can use to share their thoughts about your book. When creating your hashtag, remember to pick something unique to your personal brand or book title. Then, promote your hashtags on your own social media, official website, or promotional materials. (You may even consider including your hashtags somewhere on the inner jacket of your book.)

This way, you can easily track, share, and engage with those who are taking the time to promote your book. Engaging with your readers, even through social media, is a simple, yet effective way to build loyalty.

By utilizing one, or all of these simple tips, you'll be on your way to generating more word-of-mouth marketing and, in turn, increasing exposure to expand your customer-base.