Facebook – How You Can Use it to Build Customer Loyalty

Facebook is a great way to build customer loyalty – if you use it properly. After all, Facebook is the busiest website in the world. Chances are, your target audience is made up of tons of Facebook users. That means you can use the power of Facebook to make people loyal to your business – instead of your competitors.

After all, when you have Facebook fans, your products and services are right at the forefront. Everything you publish will be right in their news feed, so you’ll never be far from their focus. That way, when they’re ready to spend money, you are right there.

But does Facebook really make a difference when it comes to customer loyalty?

Absolutely!

A recent study a Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business found that people visit stores 36% more if they’re a fan of the business on Facebook. They also spend 33% more money with companies that they’re Facebook fans of, and they have 41% more psychological loyalty to companies they are fans of.

So, how do you translate that success to your business?

1. When you first create your fan page, start by sending fan invites to people you know, and encourage them to invite people that they know. Those invites can quickly go viral, and, best of all, it’s completely free! If you are planning ecommerce site, products like Ecommerce Templates can make it very easy to integrate Facebook Like and sharing buttons.

2. Make your Facebook page personal. Your status updates and pictures are much more “human” than the sales copy, articles, and blogs on your website. A picture of the company Christmas party, or a mention of an employee’s birthday makes you seem like “regular people” – just like your fans. And, if people can relate to you, they’re much more likely to be loyal to you.

3. Encourage fans to chime in. When fans comment on your status updates, posted links, and pictures, they feel like they’re talking directly to you. You wind up becoming more friendly to them, instead of being seen as a giant company.

4. Have a conversation. Forget the fancy words and sales copy; keep your Facebook fans updated just like you would your friends – with a concise, conversational tone.

5. Acknowledge people who say good things about you. Whether it’s an email, an article, or a casual mention on their own Facebook page, let them know that their kind words are appreciated. That way, it encourages more people to say good things about you!

(image source)

This is a guest post by Kirsty LaVier

Kirsty LaVier is editor for Shopping Cart Reviews, the leading shopping cart information website.

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