There Is a Better Way: Turn Customers Into Brand Ambassadors
Building a loyal customer base is more critical than ever in today’s business world. But with so many companies competing for attention, how do you set your brand apart from the crowd? One strategy that many businesses are using is to turn their customers into brand ambassadors—enthusiastic advocates who spread the word about your brand to others.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of turning customers into brand ambassadors, strategies for doing so, and real-life examples of companies that have successfully created brand ambassador programs.
Benefits of turning customers into brand ambassadors
Looking to your customers for word of mouth marketing offers tons of benefits beyond just increased brand recognition. Below are a few of the big advantages of turning customers into brand enthusiasts.
Increased brand loyalty
When customers become ambassadors, they become more emotionally invested in your brand. They are more likely to remain loyal to your brand and make repeat purchases.
Greater reach
Brand ambassadors can help extend your brand’s reach to new audiences, including their own followers and friends.
Social proof
Having customers share positive experiences with your brand on social media or other platforms, provides social proof to potential customers who may be on the fence about purchasing your product or service.
More authentic marketing
Traditional marketing methods can be seen as impersonal or fake. Brand ambassadors, on the other hand, offer a more authentic voice that resonates with consumers.
Cost-effective marketing
Turning customers into ambassadors can be a cost-effective marketing strategy, as it doesn’t require a significant investment in advertising or other marketing campaigns. Instead, it relies on building strong relationships with existing customers and leveraging their enthusiasm and support to generate new business.
Predictable growth
By inspiring loyal customers to become advocates for a brand, businesses can increase their visibility, build social proof, and benefit from cost-effective marketing. With the help of brand ambassadors, businesses can generate sustainable growth by tapping into the power of word-of-mouth marketing, fostering loyalty, and building strong relationships with their customers.
Strategies for turning customers into ambassadors
So how do you turn customers into brand ambassadors? At this stage, some brands conjure images of combing through influencer databases. Sending emails. Seeding product and begging for a connection.
Turning customers into ambassadors is a much different process. First, you know who your customers are. So an expensive influencer database tool is not necessary or needed at all. Look at your customer base and find those individuals we have made multiple purchases. They have already shown you that there is some affinity between your brand and themselves.
Then, just ask!
Some options for asking customers to be your ambassador include the following:
- Announce the ambassador program via email.
- Post-purchase email invites to become an ambassador.
- Include a banner or module in every email.
- Announce the ambassador program on social media.
- Feature ambassadors in IG story highlights.
- Use package inserts.
If you need specifics on the process, an excellent guide is our blog: How To Find Brand Ambassadors: 7 Tips
Also, here’s a pdf you may follow.
Examples of customer ambassador programs
Many companies have successfully created brand ambassador programs that have helped them grow and thrive. Here are a few real-life examples:
Glossier
Beauty brand Glossier has a popular brand ambassador program that offers discounts and exclusive access to events to its most loyal customers.
Airbnb
The home-sharing platform Airbnb has a program that offers credits to customers who refer others to the service.
Hootsuite
Social media management platform Hootsuite has a program that rewards customers with free service for referring new customers to the platform. What makes this program unique is Hootsuite is a software for businesses. So it has figured out how to turn B2B customers into ambassadors. Impressive!
Final thoughts
In conclusion, turning customers into brand ambassadors is a strategy that offers many benefits for businesses in today’s competitive environment. It can lead to increased brand loyalty, greater reach, social proof, authentic marketing, cost-effective marketing, and predictable growth.
By identifying loyal customers and asking them to become ambassadors, businesses can leverage their enthusiasm and support to generate new business. Additionally, real-life examples from companies like Glossier, Airbnb, and Hootsuite show how successful brand ambassador programs can be implemented across various industries. By following the strategies outlined in this blog post, businesses can create successful brand ambassador programs and set themselves apart from the competition.