We don’t need research or analytics to know W.O.M. (word-of-mouth) counts. Not if your are alive and in business. Certainly in our wired and highly connected world, it’s more important than ever.

Here’s an example: So Angela (Boland), a mom at my daughter’s school, approaches me at an event, and asks if I’d be interested in ‘joining’ Rocket Fuel a company for whom she works.

I told her I wasn’t. So she jumps up and down a little and squeals, “OMG, are you kidding me? This place is awesome to work for!” I’m polite, but still not interested. So she whips out her iPad, and next thing I know, she’s showing me Rocket Fuel’s website. Her enthusiasm and insistence are contagious, and scrolling through the various roles they require, I mention I’d only be interested in ‘Sales Training’. She beams and trots off, promising me over her shoulder she’ll ‘look into it’.

Here’s the thing though, this exchange tales place in front of a Managing Partner of a hot-shot Bay Area based Tech business, and a leading Silicon Valley Software Designer (both clients of mine) who, intrigued by Angela’s fervor, hit their smart-phones to check-out the company.

So, just like that, three people are now not only aware of this organization, they have a positive impression of it, and all a bit curious. (Enough so to have both guys ask me to ‘look into’ whether they should consider its services.)

My long-winded point is this: It’s not just your customers who spread the word (positive or negative) but your employees – and organizations who take the time to get past the jargon and clichés to ensure their folks are happy and motivated, will have people who can’t help but talk – or present – positively about it, and these cheerful souls will work hard to keep it that way.

Best of all, with this type of presentation there’s no need for a slide-deck.

Go Angela. Go Rocket Fuel!