Unexpected touch points are unanticipated references to a brand that are beyond the control of the company. They are either positive of negative. Personal communication between customers or other stake-holders about a brand, particularly when it is from a dissatisfied customer.
Other stakeholders – investors and analysts, employees, suppliers, distributors, and government officials- can also be sources of unexpected messages. Unexpected positive word-of-mouth messages from any of these sources can be powerful testimony on behalf of the brand.
The media also produce unexpected touch points by writing about a brand or company. Customers and prospects can be the source of brand messages in the same way as a company and its MC agencies. The Major difference is that the source is now the customer or stakeholder, rather than the brand, which becomes the receiver.. Likewise, the messages and the channels of communication are different.