Social media has become increasingly mainstream with more and more Internet users now turning to it for everything including staying in touch with friends, sharing favorite products and services, disseminating information etc. Consequently, social media marketing has practically exploded overnight. When social media marketing first emerged on the scene, it was largely viewed as a way to build brand exposure. Social media is actually far more powerful and can be used in a variety of ways, including building customer loyalty.
The value of a satisfied customer who returns to your business again and again is certainly not a new concept. Traditional marketing has always focused on building touch points through various interactions as a strategy for building customer loyalty. Considering the fact that a loyal customer will not only return to buy more from your business, but also prove to be a strong brand advocate, it certainly makes sense to invest in building customer loyalty. In the past, customer loyalty programs were often focused on direct marketing. Today, you can leverage the power of social media to take advantage of touch points while converting new customers into loyal customers.
One of the great benefits of social media is that it provides you with the opportunity to interact more frequently and in a more meaningful way with your customers. Launch your customer loyalty campaign by thinking of ways in which you can show your customers how much you appreciate their business. Many brands make the mistake of falling back on the tried-and-true strategy of running contests. While it is true that running contests can be an effective method for adding fans and followers, this method does not do much for actually rewarding your current customers.
Acknowledging Your Customers
Among the best ways that you can show your customers that you truly appreciate them is to recognize them. Everyone enjoys seeing their name acknowledged and having their moment of fame. While this strategy does take an investment of time, it is important to take the time to respond to your fans’ comments and even like their photos. From time to time, give your followers a shout out to let them know that you appreciate them.
Give Them Reason To Be Loyal
Always remember that your relationships with your customers should be mutually beneficial. This means that you should always provide your customers with a reason to continue to follow you on social media and buy your products and services. A great way to do this is to provide your fans and followers with an insider’s look or a sneak peek at upcoming services and products. By giving your customers the opportunity to access exclusive deals and content, you give them a reason to stay true to your brand.
Ask For Reviews
Customers like to know that their opinions are valued. Let your customers know that you respect what they have to say by encouraging them to review your services and products on your social media accounts. Many brands are sometimes afraid to deploy this tactic because they fear it will invite negative feedback. Although this is always a possibility, criticism should always be viewed as an opportunity to grow and improve your brand. Furthermore, if one of your customers has a problem, it is important that you know about it so that you can take steps to correct it and ensure that you do not lose your customer.
Customer Loyalty Programs
You may also find that implementing a customer loyalty program works just as well on social media as the old stamp cards did. A third-party app such as Stampt can provide you with the opportunity to incorporate a digital stamp card that your customers can use each time they make a purchase in order to redeem points and rewards. This not only gives your customers a reason to continue shopping with your brand but also helps to encourage even more social media interaction for your brand.
Convert Customers into Brand Advocates
Social media can also be used to convert your customer into powerful brand advocates. This can be accomplished by offering your customers additional rewards for referring their friends to your brand.
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