You already know that having brand advocates is beneficial for your organization. But, how do you secure longterm advocacy? It starts by putting forth tactics and strategies that support and reward your champions. Whether you establish a formal advocacy program or mention your advocates on social and send them swag, it’s vital to pay attention to and recognize the supporters who promote you.
This week at #SproutChat, we discussed ways to ensure advocates feel appreciated and valued so they continue to champion and bring more awareness to your organization.
Find Your Brand Advocates
Do your due diligence in searching in order to find people who love your products and brand. Initially, this might be a large undertaking but it will pay off in the longterm. Not every brand champion will reveal themselves so easily. Some people might solely advocate in person, while others will be most active on their social channels. That’s why it’s crucial to spur conversations both online and offline to find a good mix of happy, enthusiastic supporters.
A1: Step 1 is to pay attention. Who’s mentioning your brand, liking or commenting on your posts, or re-sharing content? #sproutchat
— Ronnie Charrier (@ronniecharrier) June 8, 2016
A1. Unincentivized advertising of your services and recommendations through all channels. These are you go-to people #sproutchat
— Chris Desadoy (@EliteYouTubePro) June 8, 2016
A1: The people who shout your praises to anyone who'll listen. Also helps if they've got street cred 😉 #sproutchat https://t.co/OA4UlZuvEG
— ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) June 8, 2016
A1: First, we ask them to "raise their hands" to be brand advocates and opt in to your special email campaign #SproutChat
— Caitlin P. (@itsCaitlinP) June 8, 2016
A1: I use software to help determine which fans are interacting the most, @AudienseCo & @iconosquare for instagram are good #sproutchat
— Adam Bianco (@Adam_Bianco) June 8, 2016
A1. Who's liking and sharing your posts? Conversing with your brand? Retweeting your content? Those are your people. #SproutChat
— Olivia Dello Buono (@oliviadello) June 8, 2016
Reward Without Motive & in Meaningful Ways
Figure out what your advocates would appreciate the most and focus on that incentive. The stronger your relationship, the more likely you’ll know what’s important to them and how you can meet or exceed their expectations. If feasible, reward big and frequently.
A2) Also: Don't just recognize others for what they do for you. Maybe they're a great resource. Share THEIR stuff. @JSimmsSocial #SproutChat
— Jeremy Bond (@JeremyDBond) June 8, 2016
A2.2: consistently so that other people who follow you recognize you engage and acknwldge ur champions #SproutChat
— Andrew Wasyluk (@socialeyze) June 8, 2016
A2: Reward them as much as possible; it might just be a simple thank you, or a freebie – the more personal the better I think #SproutChat
— POP Content (@popcontentuk) June 8, 2016
A2: All the time. Can be through little things like meaningful comments or bigger incentives & features #sproutchat https://t.co/kpHzg011g9
— Guru Media Solutions (@weareguru) June 8, 2016
Sprout recognizes their advocates in a way that makes them feel appreciated, & also markets their brand #SproutChat http://pic.twitter.com/paShr3CjCL
— Andrew Wasyluk (@socialeyze) June 8, 2016
Build a Community Among Your Advocates
One way to encourage ongoing advocacy is to encourage connections among your advocates. Foster a community by connecting individuals with similar interests. Don’t force these interactions but do cheer them on.
@SproutSocial A4 Creating an advocate community through a tool like @influitive, hosting chats and IRL events to connect. #SproutChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) June 8, 2016
A4: In person events! Take social media offline. #SproutChat
— Searcy Sledge (@SearcySledge) June 8, 2016
A4) Start by setting up a good #twitterchat! 😉😀 #SproutChat https://t.co/ftyvz4tFPO
— Jim Carter (@MSLJim) June 8, 2016
A4: I'll refer back to the email campaign approach. Keep advocates segmented for special, inclusive content. #SproutChat
— Caitlin P. (@itsCaitlinP) June 8, 2016
A4: Hosting Twitter chats and inviting them. I've connected with so many people via #SproutChat
— Jessie Simms (@JSimmsSocial) June 8, 2016
Check-in Frequently & Encourage Open Communication
Open and frequent communication can go a long way. Create a loop of dialogue by soliciting feedback, internalizing valuable suggestions and thanking advocates who are invested enough to provide suggestions and constructive criticism. Encourage social media engagement and other forms of interaction by providing your advocates with multiple methods of contact with your brand.
@SproutSocial A6. Be an active listener. Make sure you recognize their efforts on a regular basis, via shout-out or swag. #SproutChat [AR]
— ModSquad (@modsquad) June 8, 2016
A6 Don't take your vocal advocates for granted. Respond to them. Engage with them. RT them. Just that simple. #SproutChat
— Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) June 8, 2016
A6. This also goes for your detractors. Do not dismiss those that are attacking you, they may be right #sproutchat
— Chris Desadoy (@EliteYouTubePro) June 8, 2016
A6 Continue to give them something to be excited about. Brand advocates are hard to get if your products aren't awesome first #SproutChat
— Lydia Nicoll (@LydiaNicoll) June 8, 2016
A6: Check in with your advocates! Create a drip campaign to stay in touch, whether it's social or email. #SproutChat
— Caitlin P. (@itsCaitlinP) June 8, 2016
A6: Give them valuable content, answer their questions in a concrete way #SproutChat
— Immineo (@immineoagency) June 8, 2016
A6: Continue communicating with your advocates and growing your business with your customers in mind. #SproutChat
— Kelli Sheatsley (@altitudek2) June 8, 2016
At #SproutChat next week, we’ll be discussing personal branding and career growth with special guest Jeremy Goldman and Ali B. Zagat. Join our Facebook community to stay up-to-date on weekly topics and discussion questions.
This post #SproutChat Recap: Supporting & Rewarding Your Brand Advocates originally appeared on Sprout Social.
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