Word-of-mouth marketing has been impacting businesses for as long as commerce has been around. Especially today, with the prevalence of social media and mobile technology, a brand’s products and services - and value - are a reflection of what customers have to say about them. This is why, now more than ever, it is crucial for marketers to understand and harness the power of authentic relationships through word-of-mouth marketing strategies.

Before starting Ambassador in 2009, I founded a company in the affiliate marketing space. I quickly discovered companies were generating millions and millions of dollars through their affiliate channels. It was eye-opening, and since then, I've known that affiliate marketing is a must-have for every business.

Imagine for a second that you’re planning a dinner party. You want to expand your social circle, so you send your invitations far and wide - friends of friends, past colleagues, former neighbors, etc. The RSVPs are just the brink of your event planning process. Since you want to create a foundation for future friendships, you have to show everyone a good time once they walk through your door. 

My first taste of an affiliate marketing program came with law school and online poker. While not the most common cocktail when it comes to word-of-mouth marketing strategies, I saw the network effect firsthand. I was referring friends to play poker online and making a small amount in affiliate fees. As I continued to share my affiliate links, that small amount doubled, tripled, and eventually grew to be enough to pay off my law school loans, shift my career path, and kick off my journey as an ...

When most people think of a social media influencer platform, they assume it involves finding bloggers with massive followings and buying social endorsements from big celebrities. Research shows, however, that it’s more effective to build relationships with the right micro-influencers and invest in an influencer marketing platform that allows for end-to-end campaign management - not just parts and pieces.

Did you know 98.6% of people that visit your website leave without taking action? You can’t expect every single visitor to buy what you’re selling every single time they hop onto your site, but with a few tweaks, you can encourage visitors to stay a little longer, click through a bit more, and put some extra items in their shopping cart.