Step by step, how to put your customers to work for you to increase the power of your brand.

1. Pump Up Your Brand: How to Teach Your Customers to Rep for You
Branding your company encompasses
so many things. It involves your products,
your culture, your message, your image, and
most of all, WHY a consumer should get
excited about your services. It’s a tall order
for something that needs to be concise,
crystal clear, and evoke emotion – over and
over again.
Automatically, businesses begin to think in
terms of extensive marketing campaigns,
videos, multimedia advertisements - all large
expenditures of dollars that can cause a lot of
stress over your actual return on investment.
Photo by love4soccer
There are other ways to multiply the power of your brand message
without a big expense.
Turn to your existing clients. Yes, it’s that easy. Savvy small businesses are learning to utilize the good
natures of loyal customers who are willing to serve as “ambassadors” of their brand, serving to spread
the word about that business’s products, services, or spectacular company culture.
To win over a brand ambassador, you must step outside the box and
add a personalized wow factor to your service.
It doesn’t have to be expensive. I’m not suggesting a $500 gift card or a fantasy getaway. It’s all about
paying attention to minute detail, and making an effort, no matter how small. Social networking is an
excellent place to begin your endeavors, although face-to-face interaction should never be discounted
as the ultimate connection.
For example, Crayola recently received a Facebook post complaining about an unsharpened crayon
received in a new box. Guess who immediately got a replacement? A small expenditure, and yet that
customer was quite pleased with pocketing a new set, and with the immediate visual attention they
received from a large company. Will they tell others? You bet. And the exchange is also posted online,
for all who engage in social media to see.
Word of mouth referrals still remain one of the least expensive ways
to generate repeat fans and new customers.

2. If someone refers you, reward them highly. It’s still going to be less expensive than a large marketing
campaign. Make them feel special – and the new referral as well – so that the referrals continue to
trickle down the line. According to Jennifer Lawler of Entrepreneur.com, “VoicePulse, a Voice over
Internet protocol service provider, offers existing customers the opportunity to send an e-mail to their
contacts with a referral code. If the referred person signs up for service, both customers get a credit to
their accounts. Other small-business owners offer gift certificates for items clients would enjoy--think,
chocolates, flowers, discounts, theater tickets and the like.”
Don’t forget to stay connected and always add value to your
products and services.
It’s extremely important to have a systemized plan in place to continue frequent “touch points” with
your existing clients. Work hard to develop a personalized relationship with your customers, especially
if your “touches” include useful information and are designed to add value to their experience with your
business, rather than simply pushing additional products or services.
All these factors will play into building the ideal client who will work hard for your
company – at little or no marketing cost – all because they love who you are.