The proliferation of influencers in the recent years has marketers across industries wondering, "what is influencer marketing in 2020?" With most marketers adding an influencer marketing platform to the top of their wish lists this year, you would think this marketing strategy is a well-known one. But many marketers are still figuring out this marketing strategy for their own brand.

If your brand is already bringing in happy customers, you may wonder why you need referral software to grow your business. The truth is referral marketing programs drive revenue. And, as a marketing manager or executive, it’s your job to prove that you're helping drive revenue. But how can you make the argument for software to scale your referral program when it’s still considered a nascent category?

What are the secrets of word of mouth marketing that you need to know as we kickoff 2020? Lean in, we're about to reveal the three key reasons why it’s important for your brand to invest in the power of word-of-mouth marketing this year!

If you brand is taking on aggressive growth strategies, expanding into new markets, while still trying to remain lean, planning your partner program strategy is a top priority. In fact, a study1 revealed that 1 out of 3 high-growth companies rated partnership marketing as the most impactful marketing technique. ROI on partner marketing initiatives outperformed marketing channels like paid advertising, email marketing, and trade-shows, to name a few. 

Influencer marketing is gaining momentum. A growing number of B2B and eCommerce brands are leveraging an influencer marketing platform to reach and engage with their target audience. Ambassador defines influencer marketing as "a modern take on traditional affiliate marketing. Instead of a network of smaller affiliates driving traffic, influencer marketing targets specific people - influencers - who have large, captive audiences."

Email marketing can play a huge role in a successful referral program. As a sender and receiver of many (too many) emails, I think we can all agree that a simple referral from a friend can land a lot softer, and convince a lot faster, than a traditional marketing message from a brand.