Customers have a wide range of options to choose from today when it comes to purchasing different products and services from brands. With the power of technology, accessibility, and social proof, customers are more informed than ever prior to making a purchase decision.
However, the good news is that reports have shown that 90 percent of consumers are brand loyal.
With all the competition out there, how can brands ensure brand loyalty, turn customers into champions, and retain them long term? The key is to create a truly unique and awesome customer experience that keeps them coming back for more.
In this article, we will dive deeper into what brand loyalty means, why it’s important, and some strategies for creating brand loyalty using SMS marketing.
Before we dive into different strategies for creating and building brand loyalty, it’s important to note that brand loyalty is different from customer loyalty.
Brand loyalty is the positive attitude or association consumers have with a particular brand. Consumers are often dedicated to a brand’s product or service by repeat purchases and sharing positive reviews..
The primary difference between customer loyalty and brand loyalty is customer loyalty centers on spending. For example, you can build customer loyalty by offering competitive prices, better discounts, or unique rewards programs.
On the other hand, brand loyalty is all about a customer’s perception of a brand and establishing long-term relationships.
It can be overwhelming to create a level of brand loyalty that truly measures up. Before you can adopt a brand loyalty strategy, it’s important to understand the three different stages. Continue reading below or check out our video about the three stages of brand loyalty!
Marketing collateral and a logo only go so far. The true successful path to brand loyalty only begins to take shape when the business or brand becomes widely known for something, such as a product, service, or personalized customer experience. This is what sticks out in customers’ minds.
This stage is more difficult to achieve. At this stage, customers begin to feel a connection with a brand. There is a level of emotional attachment and personal reflection in a brand. To reach this stage, brands must approach product and service placement and positioning carefully and intelligently. One example of this is building a social media presence that reflects the brand in a way that sparks this attitude.
At this stage, customers identify with a brand on a level in which they defend it, even in the face of adversity, and go out of their way to promote the brand to other consumers.
Achieving a successful level of brand loyalty doesn’t happen overnight. Depending on the brand’s products, services, and offerings, it can take a minimum of three purchases, or even up to several years to reach a level of long-standing loyalty.
So, how do you ensure your brand gets on the right path to achieving loyalty? Here are some ways to increase brand loyalty:
It all starts from within. Customers heavily weigh a brand’s level of customer service. The way in which your brand chooses to handle customer service can either make or break the business. If your brand provides stellar customer service, the more likely customers are to return in the future.
Building a model that fosters stellar customer service requires strategic planning and strong communication.
For example, offering multiple ways for customers to contact you with questions, issues, or complaints is a must.
You can offer web chat, social media messaging, and a phone number. This allows customers to contact your customer service team through their preferred methods. It’s also important to respond to customers’ inquiries in a timely manner.
Building a community of customers, champions, prospects, and more can also take time, however, it’s well worth its weight in gold.
Over time, as you build your community, your loyal following will do the work of promoting your brand for you. Brand champions will share information related to your brand, positive experiences, and write honest reviews.
This not only builds community but also user-generated content.
The best place to start is social media. For example, build a group on Facebook, select a hashtag associated with your brand and mission, and then interact with your followers on an individual level. The first step is to understand your audience and common interests and pain points.
Another great way to build brand loyalty is with a rewards program. A rewards program can offer a multitude of incentives to customers to keep them coming back and make repeat purchases.
The best way to get customers to join your rewards program is by creating an SMS marketing campaign. How do you do that? Here are some text message templates to help you get started.
For example, you can get customers to opt into your SMS marketing campaign by sending them a text message that says, “Thank you for your purchase! We’d love to see you again soon. Text 123456 to join our Rewards program.”
The good news is that an SMS marketing campaign emphasizes simplicity.
It is a simple, easy, convenient, and automated way to stay in touch with your customers through a communication method that they already use.
All in all, brand loyalty can take some time to create and build, but it has a long-term impact. Furthermore, brand loyalty has the power to not only grow your business but sustain that growth over a long period of time.
The more you prioritize brand loyalty, the more it will work for you.
By staying engaged and communicating with your audience, you can ensure that you are meeting their needs and providing them with a top-notch experience they won’t get from your competitors. SMS marketing is the best way to do this.
By following the tips listed above, and by paying attention to your own audience’s needs, responses, and interests, you will be able to build the right brand loyalty strategy that turns customers into champions, while also providing them with an experience that keeps them coming back.
If you are considering getting started with an SMS marketing campaign, but aren’t sure of where to start, VoxDirect can help.
Here is some more information on how to build an effective SMS marketing campaign that builds brand loyalty.
With technology improving every day, SMS marketing isn’t going away anytime soon.
If you’re ready to build brand loyalty in a creative and innovative way, connect with VoxDirect today.