The success of the New Vanderlyn was gratifying no matter how Martin looked at it: revenues were up, vacancies were practically unheard of, guests paid their compliments to the manager and then repeated their praises to cousins and neighbors in Philadelphia and Boston. - Martin Dressler: The Tale of An American Dreamer

That's a Pulitzer Prize winning description of WOM, word-of-mouth, and its benefits for customers, the cousins and neighbors of those customers, and the businesses who make it their goal to generate an inspiring experience for their customers.

And here's a list of possible translations of this passage and these WOM-phrases that can be used in presentations to business leaders considering a word-of-mouth strategy.

* Revenues were up...

• positive cash-flows are generated
• consistent revenue growth
• expansion can be financed from these growing internal cash-flows
• Debt-free balance sheet 
• Additional cash generated from reduced or eliminated interest expense.

* Vacancies were practically unheard of...

• production's at full capacity
• optimized asset utilization
• increasing return on assets
• demand exceeds supply
• premium prices are justified
• customers are willing to pay premium prices
• premium experiences, services, can be delivered and done so profitably

* Guests paid their compliments to the manager and then repeated their praises to cousins and neighbors in Philadelphia and Boston

• reduced marketing and advertising expenses resulting in higher, positive, cash-flows for the company
• employees inspired and motivated from the positive feedback
• lower employee turnover
• lower employee recruiting costs
• constantly improving talent pool
• improved ability to recruit A-Players
• new geographic markets penetrated at no additional costs
• accelerating demand
• premium prices sustainable
• sustainable business model

My sense is that the power of word-of-mouth, as a sustainable, cash-flow, positive business model is not being translated into a language the owners and executives of businesses speak. I hope this list helps.