6 Ways to Turn Consumers into Brand Advocates

Seeing people walk in your shop and buy one or a couple of items is always a treat. You see the fruits of your labor is appreciated.

But you know what’s more satisfying than seeing first-time buyers at your store? Repeat customers who love busting through your doors to purchase more stuff. That’s when you see and feel real business growth.

Research shows that consumers who come back to your store are 33% more likely to spend than new shoppers. The more satisfied they are, the more they promote your brand to their friends and family. And this is an excellent thing because 92% of customers trust personal recommendations over traditional advertising.

With that said, if you’re serious about growing your small business, you need to look into how to turn loyal consumers into brand advocates. 

But before we dive into the how, let’s first define what a brand advocate is and why it is important.

What are brand advocates, and why are they essential?

Brand advocates are your regular consumers who authentically love to use your products or services. They 100% believe in your business and want you to succeed. They are what some would call loyal customers.

Brand advocates help raise awareness about their favorite brands without the added cost of paying marketers and advertisers. That’s right! It’s practically free marketing for you. Your loyal customers are more willing to leave positive, impactful reviews on your brand and the products or services you provide. 

It’s also a plus that your brand advocates are trusted by their friends and family, who will be more willing to try your brand because of the recommendation.

So, how do you flip regular customers into brand advocates?

6 ways to turn consumers into brand advocates

Learn what drives advocacy

You can have loyal customers, but what separates your brand advocates is that they’ll engage with your brand on several media outlets. They’ll talk about you on their platforms.

To understand what encourages your base to promote your company, conduct on-site or email surveys and be on the lookout for any mentions of your small business on social media. But don’t just read the reviews or comments. Take time to reply and engage them to get critical insights.

Provide high-quality customer service

There’s only one way but up when you provide top-notch service to your consumers. It also flips them into advocates. There’s a reason why some businesses say, “the customers are always right.”

Reward them for their referrals 

Nothing says “thank you very much” to your regular customers other than rewarding their loyalty and referring you to their network.

A simple incentive is giving them a special discount on their next purchase. 

But if you want to analytical and thorough, you can start a referral program where you give your consumers a unique code they can share with their friends. This way, you’ll be able to quickly know who referred a new customer and to how many people they shared their code with.

Customized interactions

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to engaging with your patrons. People are different. Tailor your engagement! Whether you’re connecting with them in person or through email marketing, personalize your interactions.

Leverage user-generated content (UGC)

User-generated content is anything from photos, short-form videos, reviews, or comments created by your consumers.

Encourage your clients to post content about your business. It’s a fantastic way to kickstart a vintage marketing strategy called word-of-mouth marketing. Only this time, it’s on social media!

Many younger generation believe UGC is a good barometer to measure a brand and its products or services’ quality.

Stay honest

Sounds too simple, but honesty goes a long way. 

Don’t promise on something you can’t deliver on. If something went wrong, acknowledge and fix the situation. When you show honesty and vulnerability, you’re building your consumers’ trust, and that will turn them into your advocates.

Ready to take the great leap forward? USA Link System can help flip your customers into brand advocates without overinvesting your hard-earned money. Connect with us, and let’s talk!