You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a marketing campaign when the tool you need to get the word out there about your business is right at your disposal: your customers. They’re your greatest assets when it comes to promoting your business and diversifying your influence and reach. The following are some practical ways to get them to do willingly market your business for you.
Offer them free T-shirts
T-shirts are a great way to get your customers to promote your brand since it doesn’t require much effort on their part to do so. All they have to do is put on the shirt and go about their daily business. This will increase your business’ visibility since your brand would cross paths with many people, which you might not normally reach through traditional marketing. You can use an insta-graphic system to print your logo on some T-shirts and give them to your customers for free in gift bags. You could also mail it to a limited number of people on your mailing list, or offer it as a freebie for a minimum purchase.
Call for testimonials and reviews
Ask your customers for testimonials and reviews and display these on your website or social media profiles. This will make future customers trust you more and encourage them to do business with you, while also making the customer who shared the feedback feel significant and valued.
Share user-generated content
Encourage your customers to share their experience of using your product or service by sharing user-generated content that features your brand on your website or social media accounts. Like testimonials and reviews, these pieces of content make your customers feel important and act as social proof that encourages people to patronize your products and services.
Plan a media event
Hosting a media event is a great way to earn exposure from both your customers and from the media. Your guest list can include your most dedicated customers, as well as influencers and the press — they’ll most likely do all the marketing for you, especially since these types of opportunities are also important for their own brands. Make sure the event leaves your guests with a good memory of your brand.
Set-up a referral program
A word-of-mouth referral is a free yet powerful marketing tool that you should take advantage of. A referral program leverages your customers positive referrals to other people and rewards them for their free promotion. These rewards include anything from exclusive access to sales, discounts or freebies. This is the best way to directly involve your most dedicated customers in your marketing efforts.
Provide excellent customer service
The simplest way to get customers to be your brand advocates is to provide them with excellent customer service. It isn’t just about meeting your customers expectations, it’s about exceeding them. Go out of your way to treat your customers right and ensure that they have consistently positive experiences with your brand that they feel would be worthy to share with other people.
Make your customers a part of your community, and leverage their power as one of the most effective marketing tools you have at your disposal with these practical tips.