What is the strongest form of advertising? Discover what really sells

Word of mouth: the oldest and still the boldest

Why people trust people more than brands

Let’s be real—when your best friend tells you “OMG, you HAVE to try this coffee shop,” you listen. Why? Because word of mouth is personal, emotional, and often brutally honest.
According to Nielsen, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know more than any other form of advertising. That’s huge. Like, mind-blowingly huge.

Now, don’t get me wrong, digital ads can be powerful (more on that below), but no banner or influencer deal beats a passionate real-life recommendation. Ever been so obsessed with a product that you brought it up in five convos that week? Yep. That’s the kind of unpaid marketing brands dream of.

The virality of trust

What starts as one person telling their cousin or co-worker can become a mini movement. Brands like Glossier or Airbnb built momentum off this. No joke—I heard about Airbnb at a dinner party before I ever saw an ad.

Content marketing: educate, entertain, convert

Giving value before selling

Another massive force in advertising is content. Blog posts, YouTube videos, TikToks—when done right—don’t feel like ads at all, which is kind of the point.
You’re reading this, right? And technically, it’s marketing. But hopefully, it doesn’t feel like a pitch.

That’s the power: content builds authority, trust, and visibility. A detailed tutorial or honest review often does more to sell than a flashy ad with a coupon code.

SEO + authenticity = long-term wins

Brands that dominate search engines aren’t always the ones with the most budget, but the ones with smart, consistent content. And yeah, sometimes you stumble through a bad blog full of keywords... but the good stuff? The kind that actually answers your question and keeps you scrolling? That sells.

Influencer marketing: the modern evolution of word of mouth

Micro > mega (most of the time)

Everyone talks about the Kardashians, sure. But data shows micro-influencers (under 100K followers) often have higher engagement and more trust with their audience.
People feel like they “know” them. So when they say, “This face cream changed my skin,” followers pay attention.

But caution: too much #ad or too many sponsors can turn people off. Authenticity is the name of the game. I once unfollowed someone who promoted, like, 3 protein bars in one week. Nope.

Paid advertising: fast, powerful, but risky

Great reach, but at a cost

There’s no denying it—Facebook Ads, Google Ads, YouTube pre-rolls, etc., can put your brand in front of thousands or even millions. Fast. But it comes at a price. And I don’t just mean financially.

People scroll past, block, ignore. Banner blindness is real. Unless your ad is eye-catching, targeted, and emotionally engaging, it might not do much. That said, retargeting (showing ads to people who already interacted with your brand)? Absolute gold. Seriously.

So, is paid dead? Nah. But don’t rely on it alone.

A well-structured funnel using ads to drive people to great content or an irresistible offer? That’s still solid. Just don’t expect a cold ad to do all the heavy lifting.

So… what really is the strongest form of advertising?

Honestly? It's a combo.
But if I had to pick one—word of mouth still wins. Every time. Whether it’s traditional chit-chat, online reviews, or TikTok duets, the human voice carries weight that billboards just can’t replicate.

But pair that with content, influencers, and smart ads? Boom. You’ve got a brand people talk about, not just click on.

Because at the end of the day, the strongest advertising is the one people remember—and better yet, the one they repeat.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.