Editor’s note: This post was originally published on 6/20/16 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehension.
Transforming customers into brand ambassadors isn’t as hard as it seems.
With social media, even small brands stand a chance of forging meaningful connections with their customers and turning their most dedicated followers into real brand advocates willing to spread the word about their product.
Here are seven simple steps to help you turn your customers into brand evangelists.
Brand advocacy can only begin with customers who love your product and want to share their passion with others. Take a good look at your fan base to determine which followers could be potential advocates.
Some customers might like you, but if they aren’t talking about you or recommending you to others, they might be just hanging around in hopes of getting a discount or freebie.
In short, they aren't material for brand advocates.
Instead, search for customers who are actually engaging others in the content they share about your brand.
If you treat your customers like they matter, your brand will also matter to them.
Make sure to have your team fully prepared with smart CRM solutions that help to manage all customer-facing functions and deal with customer-related problems.
Work on your customer service and you'll encourage brand advocacy among your target audience and motivate people to share what they love about your brand with others.
It's not hard these days to monitor what people are saying about your brand online.
If you notice that some customers are particularly engaged with your product, you might be looking at your potential brand ambassadors.
Who is talking about a need that your product or service meets? Is your brand included in these conversations?
Use social media monitoring tools with smart functionalities to trace specific keywords and phrases.
People like to feel special. And when they feel that way, they'll talk about it.
Attract customers to your business and make your most dedicated clients feel like they're part of your brand.
Here are a few things you can do:
By doing so, they’ll feel engaged with your company.
And they will be more than happy to say a few nice things about it whenever an opportunity arises.
People expect you to take their problems or needs seriously – and that includes responding to their messages.
If you let a comment dangle for too long without a response, you risk having other customers perceive you as a brand that has no interest in what its customers have to say.
Research shows that users count on fast responses, so use this insight to further engage people with your brand.
Use strategies like automated emails to surprise your customers and provide a great brand experience.
Want to get people talking about you?
Test different tactics to see which ones generate positive conversations about your brand and you might even increase repeat purchases.
What brand ambassadors do is basically share information about your product or service to their followers.
That's why it's in your best interest to make sharing easy for them.
Why not ask them to provide testimonials, start a conversation on social media or run special contests to further engage customers?
Provide them with sample products – anything that makes it easier for them to share their passion for your product.
Follow these 7 steps and you'll be on your way to creating a truly engaged group of brand ambassadors ready to spread the word about your brand to others.
Simone Smith is a blogger and plays a role in Online Courses Australia – education specialists from Australia. Simone enjoys sharing her expertise and often writes articles pertaining to establishing and growing a successful business. She's also a fan of self-improvement books.
