In today's Internet age, the buzz is all about on-line advertising.  Look at Google and Yahoo and .....  We have forgotten the age old success recipe of "Word of mouth" advertising.  There is really nothing more powerful than someone you know selling you a product or service that they have enjoyed.  And.... my point?

OK.  It's about WOW.  I when to the Rogers Cup with a friend who has a couple of teenage boys.  Knowing I am a gamer, I talked about what is great (word of mouth advertising).  I told her that her kids should try it.  She said that her boys are aware of it because all their friends play it and they are asking her kids to join them.  Well, I must have impressed her kids as the game they really want to play has now been endorsed by their mother's friend (me).  Last night, they got the game and started the wonderful experience of WOW   This is the best example of "Word of mouth advertising."  WOW is now the world most successful MMOG.

I met with a CEO of a very interesting tech company today.  He knows I am a gamer and strangely enough the conversation drifted to WOW   He has heard of it and his kids play it!  No doubt, they are also actively recruiting their friends to join them just as I am recruiting all my gaming friends to join me.  Money cannot buy advertising like this. 

And finally, another example of Word of mouth advertising is "Go Daddy."  Go Daddy is a private company providing Domain Name Service (DNS).  If you want an Internet name you have to register it with someone like Go Daddy or your local friendly ISP or the thousands of cheap DNS out there.  Go Daddy is considered the World Number 1 DNS provider with about a 16% market share.  As I asked someone who got a website a few weeks ago who they used, they said "Go Daddy."  "Why? Go Daddy?" I asked.  Because someone they know recommended them - the service is good and the cost is low (hard combination to beat).  While Go Daddy had a very controversial ad in the Superbowl and their second ad was pulled in the Superbowl after the first showing, it is the word of mouth that is driving their business.  In a world where there is very little differentiation, Go Daddy has stood up head and shoulders above their competitors.  Rumour is that there is an IPO in the works