When it comes to marketing, strategies that come to mind are billboards, search-engine marketing, sales promotions, growing subscriber lists, etc.
But—
There's a strategy that’s 10 times more effective yet totally underused by others—a brand advocacy program.
This strategy can motivate your customers to market your products, give you leads, tell your brand story, and create credible content—that they will share with their social network.
So how do you create a brand advocacy program for your business?
Don't worry—we've got you covered.
In this blog, we will discuss what brand advocacy is, its benefits, and how you can create one for your business.
Brand advocacy happens when someone is so delighted by their experience with your brand, product, or services that—they encourage others to buy from you.
They usually share their experiences through word of mouth, social media posts, in blog entries, or by leaving positive reviews.
Advocates can come from various groups, each bringing unique value and perspective to your brand’s image and growth. Here's a closer look at the four main types of brand advocates:
Your customers are perhaps the most authentic advocates for your brand. They’ve experienced your products or services firsthand and can vouch for their quality and value.
These individuals often share their positive experiences through reviews, social media posts, and word-of-mouth recommendations.
Your employees are your brand’s front-line ambassadors. They understand your mission, values, and offerings better than anyone else. So when they actively promote your brand it can be viewed as authentic and credible source by customer
Additionally employees advocating for your brand can attract top talent and enhance your employer branding.
Influencers are individuals with a dedicated following on social media, blogs, or other platforms. They may not always be direct customers, but their voice carries significant weight in niche communities.
KOLs are often established professionals, academics, or industry leaders whose opinions carry substantial weight due to their knowledge and experience.
KOLs are not confined to social media influencing. They can influence through conferences, publications, webinars, or traditional media, providing brands with diverse avenues for engagement.
Successful advocacy programs often combine efforts across these three groups. By supporting customer advocates, empowering employee advocates, and strategically partnering with influencers and KOLs, your brand can build a network of authentic voices that champions your business.
Did you know that 90% of customers trust recommendations from people who used the brand more than any other form of advertising? That’s the power of brand advocacy. Here are five strategies that can help you turn your customers into your biggest promoters.
Creating brand advocacy starts with providing exceptional customer experience. The best way to do this is by knowing your customers’ needs and preferences
A CRM system like Mevrik can help you track customer needs and preferences, so you can offer effective solutions. This approach makes your customers feel valued and taken care of, which builds trust and loyalty.
Next, offer an omnichannel experience. Whether it’s via phone, email, live chat, or social media, customers should be able to reach you through the medium that suits them best.
You can use Mevrik’s unified inbox here, which brings messages from various platforms into one place. This not only makes managing customer enquiries more efficient but also ensures that no message is missed.
Lastly, train your team to provide empathetic and problem-solving service. When your staff is genuinely helpful and goes the extra mile, it strengthens customer relationships and fosters long-term loyalty.
A great way to build support for your brand is by sharing your customers' success stories.
Sharing testimonials, and case studies, on your website and social media makes your customer feel proud and happy to be part of your brand.
It's also a good idea to encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your platforms. Positive reviews really help boost your brand’s reputation. These authentic stories provides real-world examples of how your products or services have made a difference
Referral programs are an excellent way to expand your customer base and promote brand advocacy.
By offering incentives for referrals, such as discounts, free products, or exclusive access, you can motivate your existing customers to continue doing business with your brand as well as introduce new ones.
When creating referral programs the key is to make the referral process as easy as possible and rewards appealing. Create personalised referral links to make it easy for customers to share your brand with their network. Additionally, you create a sense of excitement by offering limited-time rewards or exclusive perks for top referrers.
Email marketing might not sound like the most exciting thing at first, but it can be a great way to directly reach your customers and boost advocacy.
So, how can you implement this effectively? Step one: segment your email list. This involves categorizing customers into specific groups based on factors like past purchases, browsing history, or stated interests.
Next, focus on personalization. Make your emails feel like they’re just for the reader. For example, suggest products they’ve bought before or share content that matches their interests. This small touch makes your emails stand out and shows you really get them.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is more important than ever, and it’s a great way to build a positive reputation for your business.
Supporting causes that match your employees values as well as resonate with your customers helps build a stronger emotional connection. Whether it’s environmental sustainability, education, or social justice, showing that you care about making a difference goes a long way in building advocacy.
Let’s explore some key benefits that make brand advocacy an essential strategy for growth and success:
Brand advocacy provides a natural way to expand your reach without the heavy reliance on paid campaigns. When advocates share their experiences with your brand—whether through word-of-mouth, social media posts, or testimonials—they help your message travel far beyond your immediate audience.
Advocates provide authentic recommendations that inspire confidence in potential buyers. Their endorsements act as social proof, speeding up purchase decisions and increasing conversion rates.
Brand advocacy reduces marketing expenses by replacing paid promotions with authentic word-of-mouth recommendations. User-generated content and natural endorsements provide long-term value without ongoing investment. This approach increases ROI while achieving greater trust and engagement than traditional advertising.
Regardless of how interesting your story might be, your customers will not be aware of it if it's not marketed well. This is where a brand advocacy approach comes in handy.
It allows you to connect with customers who know your product inside and out and are excited to share their experiences — making the promotion authentic and relatable.
Ready to thrive on the customer experience and increase sales & support?