How to Build a Community Around Your Personal Brand
All entrepreneurs will agree that building a community around your brand is not only the best but also the easiest way to convert your marketing efforts into sales. Yes, creating the best products and delivering the best services are the keys to repeat transactions.
It’s never just about sales - but it’s also about the experience of the community that truly keeps customers from coming back. Because what good is a store that sells the best goods if every patron feels awkward when making a purchase?
With that said, here are the tips you must follow to unite your customers into taking your business to the next level.
1. Start with your team
To build a community for your business, you must start a harmonious community within your brand first. Talk to your employees or team about the issues that need to be sorted. Usually, employees have problems with their coworkers, some customers, or you.
It’s imperative that you must listen to these concerns. This is the only way to find peaceful resolutions to keep your subordinates happy. When your workers are happy, they’ll serve your customers happily. And this makes your customers also happy with your services.
2. Respect your customers
Most of your customers don’t want you to be their friend. They just want you to treat them as if they were one. The point is, make your patrons comfortable when they do business with you. This is one of the factors that make them come back for a return purchase and even invite others to buy from your store.
3. Embrace a social cause that goes beyond just customer impact
Most of us are charitable and philanthropists. We just have different hierarchies of who or what should receive our help. By making your brand strive to have a social impact, you’re actively inviting others to support your goals by doing business with your store.
When people have a common goal, communities are created even if that community’s mission is to support other communities. You often see this practice done at charity drives where sponsoring brands are mentioned. People would then get curious about what that brand does. And when they know the background, they’ll mostly say, “Next time, let’s buy from them.”
4. Choose or create a community platform
Now that you have followers, you can expect that these people will foster friendships and interact with each other. This is the time that you must create or choose a medium where they can do so. The most common business type that does this is a vape shop.
When shop owners notice that a customer comes regularly to hang around and have their coil cotton changed, they engage in a conversation about the shop’s group chat and page on Facebook. Usually, the owner says that customers can get updates about the new juice flavors. But it’s really a strategy to gain traction, encourage referrals, and boost community solidarity.
5. Reward loyalty
Speaking of community solidarity, nothing drives loyalty more than a reward system. This is where discounts come in. Offer the best deals to your most frequent customers. Emphasize the use of the word “you” in your sentences.
For example, say, “Let me show my gratitude for your continuous support by giving you a 25% discount for buying this bundle. No pressure, you can claim this deal anytime.” This is the best way to encourage your customers not to think of going to other shops when buying niche products.
As your community grows, you’re likely to be busy to the point that you’ll find it hard to interact with all of your customers. I suggest that you schedule an event at least once a year to gather everyone. This way, you’re able to remind your patrons that you’re still here thinking about them and you’re thankful for their continued loyalty.
More marketing tips here!