Money-paying customers are the lifeblood of your business. And earning more customers is almost always the end goal of social media marketing efforts. The process moves from a digital introduction to building a relationship to converting a customer. That’s the basis of 90% of all social media marketing in today’s world.

But sometimes you want to work that process in reverse. You have loyal, paying customers and you want to turn them into digital fans and eventually brand ambassadors. Customers are great (and essential to your success) but a brand ambassador is even better. They continue to be customers but also work to spread the word about your brand.

But turning your physical customers into digital social media fans isn’t always an easy task. And while there are a million resources for reaching new customers, there is a glaring lack of information about converting existing customers into digital ambassadors.

Today, we’ll look at five of our favorite ways to transition your existing customers into social media fans – with an eye toward creating lasting brand ambassadors.

Ask Them

I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes the best way to get what you want is to ask for it. This technique works especially well if you already have a good relationship with your more loyal customers. Next time you’re in conversation with your favorite customer, just ask them to navigate over to social media and give your page a like.

I know it is not the most exciting way to gain fans, but it works too well to ignore. Make a list of your valuable customers (the ones you think would be the best brand ambassadors) and start asking them to become a fan of your social media presence.

Advertise

Sometimes asking just isn’t enough – or isn’t practical for your business. If that’s the case, then advertising might be the best way to convert customers into social media fans. Most social media channels will allow you to target advertising based on your customer database. This allows you can get your social ads in front of the right people.

Advertising will cost you a few dollars, but it is a great way to get followers who are already familiar with your business. And there’s a bonus with advertising: you can use the data from your initial campaign to refine future look-a-like campaigns.

Remove Barriers

When trying to turn your customers into digital fans, you should make the process as easy as possible. This means getting your social media account information in as many places as possible.

• Feature social media icons prominently on your site.
• Include social media calls-to-action in your existing email marketing efforts.
• Display social media information at your physical location.

A lot of customers don’t like your social media page because they just haven’t thought about it. By keeping your social media accounts featured, you will keep your brand at the top of their mind.

Giveaways & Contests

Maybe it’s just human nature, but nothing gets people’s attention faster than free stuff. That is why social media contests and giveaways continue to be one of the best ways to build your follower base. And your existing loyal customers are not immune to the appeal of being a winner.

Combined with the above tips, a social media contest can explode your following – including among your ideal customers. Running a social media contest will require some careful planning and execution – but the work is worth it when you see the reach it can generate.

Stay Active

If you want people to take your social media presence seriously, then you need to treat it like a valuable part of your business. Taking the above steps to increase your social media base won’t work if your accounts are inactive or poorly run.

Beyond just staying active, make sure that your social media presents an attractive image to your audience. Nobody wants to be an ambassador for an unprofessional looking brand – no matter how loyal of a customer they are.

Social Media Growth

Building your social media presence around existing customers is a great way to get an active following. And potentially some rock star brand ambassadors in the process. Just like any social media strategy, building around existing customers will take an investment of time and money – but the ROI is there when done right.

Whether you’re looking to build from scratch or tap into an existing customer base, Fusion Group USA can build social media campaigns that drive your unique business goals. If you’re looking for social media management services, you can view our plans here or contact us today to get started.