New study links social media word of mouth to store traffic

We’ve told you before – social media is word of mouth.

Quite a few times, in fact… like here, here, and here. And as recently as yesterday.

Well, a new study (from NYU Stern School of Business’s Center for Measurable Marketing) has found a direct correlation between social media word of mouth and increased store traffic.

This is the first empirical evidence linking social media through specific consumer conversations to in-market behavior, in this case, store traffic…

We discovered the direct effects of word-of-mouth communication via social media were higher than direct effects of the brand’s paid media.

Another interesting finding (emphasis ours)…

Visits to the store have a feedback effect on social media by driving more conversations about the brand

You do realize what this means…?

That’s right.

We were right.

Again.

And we’re doin’ the happy dance.

Again.