Summer’s here. Time to start talking about… broadband?

Broadband isn’t usually the first thing people talk about at a barbecue.

You can be pretty sure that the occasion is less than riveting when someone leans over the garden table and asks, “So, who provides your internet?”

That is unless something’s gone wrong of course. Because the moment a film starts buffering, a video call freezes, or someone mentions they’re moving house, the subject suddenly becomes very interesting indeed.

It doesn’t take long for the air to fill with horror stories. A lost connection here. A poor experience there. And that’s the thing with broadband. It’s one of those things that quietly gets on with its job, until something goes wrong.

And when that happens, a recommendation from someone you trust can go a long way.

Why recommendations still matter

There’s no shortage of broadband advice out there.

Comparison sites. Speed claims. Reviews. Deals. Packages. When you’re overloaded with information, it’s hard to know what to trust, what to take with a pinch of salt, and what to throw away altogether.

Which is exactly why recommendations still matter. Not because people want to listen to a sales pitch from a friend, but because they want a real answer from someone who’s actually lived with the service, whose judgement they trust.

A trusted recommendation can quickly answer the questions people care about:

• Is the connection reliable?
• Is the WiFi good around the house?
• Are they easy to deal with if something goes wrong?
• Will the price suddenly jump halfway through the contract?
• Would you choose them again?

Word of mouth works because it’s based on real experience. As Which? puts it, it’s a recommendation from someone a potential customer actually trusts. And with something as important as broadband, that trust matters.

Is summer a broadband conversation starter?

Summer tends to bring these broadband questions to the surface for many people.

Summer breaks, friends popping round, children off school and longer days all lead to one thing. More streaming. More gaming. More working from home. More everything…

That’s backed by research that says our broadband feels slower during the summer.

And these are the moments when those words start to cross our friends’ lips: “Who are you with?”

If Zen’s already working well for you, that’s a pretty easy question to answer.

Good service is easier to recommend

Recommending broadband is a little different from recommending a film or a restaurant.

With many recommendations, you’re saying “I like this”. That’s a matter of opinion, and if someone feels differently, well, that’s just fine.

But recommending broadband is a commitment. You’re saying: “I trust this service enough to suggest it to someone else.” If that recommendation doesn’t work out, it reflects on you.

When you recommend Zen, you’re recommending a provider that topped the Which? table for speed, reliability and value for money.

You’re recommending our Contract Price Promise – a guarantee that your broadband price won’t rise during your contract.

And because we’re the only Which? Recommended Broadband provider for six years running, it’s a recommendation you can make with real confidence.

When you recommend Zen, you both benefit

If you’re still wondering whether it’s worth recommending Zen to a friend, family member, neighbour or colleague, how about this.

Our Refer a Friend scheme means you can both get something back.

It’s simple:

1. Sign up to Refer a Friend and get your personalised referral link.

2. Share it with someone who might want to join Zen.

3. When their service goes live, you’ll both receive a £40 voucher.

You can choose from vouchers from more than 100 retailers, so whether it goes towards a summer shop, a meal out or something useful for the house, it’s a nice thank you for spreading the word.

And it isn’t just for home broadband anymore. You can now refer a business too – from your workplace to a local independent that could use a better connection.

If Zen’s worked well for you, pointing a friend in the right direction could make their next broadband choice a little easier. And if they decide to join us, you’ll both get rewarded.