My working life was before social media.
However, putting myself into client shoes is easy to do, and wearing such shoes, I would listen to word-of-mouth reports, but with caution: people can be bitchy about individual photographers out of all sorts of reasons, even bad interpersonal vibes that have more to do with the client than the photographer. Also, they can praise poor photographers because they, the client, know no better.
So yeah, I'd use my ears but most of all my eyes, and look at hard-copy portfolios after websites. I think a good website is a fine initial contact encouragement.
Rob