Great point from one of my favorite sites, gaspedal.com. They wrote:

3 great moments to create word of mouth

Some moments are just naturally better opportunities to create conversations than others. If you can improve your timing, you’ll get a lot more word of mouth for the same effort. Moments to focus on:

1.         After the sale
2.         After the support
3.         After the check-in

1. After the sale
The moment of purchase can be an exciting experience — and it can make for a great opportunity to get people talking. You can help them do it …A new, happy customer has great talking potential, but only if you put the tools in their hands to do it. (Kate adds: It’s a heck of a lot easier to get your satisfied customers or suppliers to write a review, “like” your FB fan page, or visit your blog is you email them with live links when they’re fresh from a wonderful experience in your consignment or resale shop.)

2. After the support
Thrilling a customer with great support can be a fantastic word of mouth moment. After you’ve saved the day, ask for feedback, a referral, or try pointing them to review sites. (Kate adds: We do “favors” and solve problems all day long, from returns to finding a last-minute necessity for them to calling a resale peer so that the customer gets what she needs. Email to thank them for giving you the opportunity to be a “home town merchant.” Include some places she can share the high of your having solved a problem for her.)

3. After the check-in
Do you do regular check-ins with clients? Not only can it be a great customer service program, but it can also be a great way to reconnect and restart conversations. (Kate adds: Thank the supplier who furnished you with some great merchandise. Follow up on how the recipe you gave Pat worked out, or whether Lee’s kids enjoyed the puppet show you recommended. Again with the live links to places she can share the joy of making a real, personal connection with your shop.)

Read the article on their blog.