How to Build Brand Loyalty Through Social Media

As social media becomes a go-to communication platform for consumers across all demographics, it’s important for companies to increase their brand awareness on the platforms their audiences use. Leveraging these social media platforms effectively can help create strong connections with customers, draw them to your business, and build brand loyalty.

To help businesses boost brand loyalty, 14 Young Entrepreneur Council members offer their best advice.

What's one way companies can use social media to build brand loyalty? Why is this effective?

1. Make your clients the hero

Leveraging the power of social media increases brand loyalty and shouldn’t be dismissed when building an effective marketing strategy. The secret includes making your clients the hero. Showing their journey and transformation from using your product or service needs to be baked into your business process. —Libby Rothschild, Libby Rothschild

2. Give back to your audience

The easiest way companies can use social media to increase brand loyalty is to give back. Find time to give back to your audience by creating real conversations and content that is behind-the-scenes. Your audience wants to know you and see who's behind the brand. —Ryan O'Connell, Boomn

3. Provide truly valuable content

Nothing builds brand loyalty like providing truly valuable content, and social media is a great place to do this. Whether you're sharing visualizations of key industry data, offering up links to interactive quizzes or calculators, or sharing educational mini-infographics, you have an opportunity to offer true value that will keep them coming back for more. —Amy Balliett, Killer Visual Strategies

4. Thank your customers

Be your customers' biggest fan! Recognize your customers on social media by first thanking them for using your services or buying your product. Follow them on social media, interact with them, lift them up for the good work they're doing. Showing your customers that you care about them, are an authentic brand, and celebrate them will build loyalty for life. They will reciprocate and do the same. —Kyle Clayton, Team Clayton of RE/MAX Professionals

5. Create exciting challenges

Create some form of challenge with your product or service that people are excited to take part in. Brands can encourage consumers to rate their products or create unique content with their products in return for prizes or perks. This engagement widens your brand reach without spiking the marketing budget, and, if done well, will build you a larger consumer base excited to engage with your brand. —Matthew Podolsky, Florida Law Advisers, P.A.

6. Shout out your team

I like doing little shout-outs of my team members. It creates such a positive, supportive culture. I believe one of the best things you can do in business and on social media, in particular, is become someone people love to work with. —Tyler Bray, TK Trailer Parts

7. Share clear calls-to-action

Try using calls-to-action in your posts, asking your followers to tag your page if they use your product or service. Then, comment on those posts, or even repost them on your page. This is great exposure for your brand and shows your customers that you’re excited to see them representing your brand and that you want to represent them, too! —Codie Sanchez, Contrarian Thinking

8. Support a relevant cause

One way companies can use social media to increase brand loyalty is by supporting a cause that relates to their business. For example, if I were a toothbrush company, I would offer and promote on social media toothbrushes that are eco-friendly, such as bamboo toothbrushes. I would post this on social media at least once a week and campaign about the importance of taking care of the environment. —Alfredo Atanacio, Uassist.ME

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9. Create interactive content

Interactive content such as short videos, livestreams and stories on Facebook and Instagram are great for building community and engaging with your customers. While it's important to promote yourself and share information about your business, don't neglect to create a less formal and more fun type of content. Of course, you should do this in a way that's appropriate for your business. —Kalin Kassabov, ProTexting

10. To build brand loyalty, build social proof

You can boost customer loyalty by building social proof on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Look for clever ways to encourage existing customers to create and share user-generated content. When new visitors see that other people have had success with your product or service, they are more likely to become customers. —John Brackett, Smash Balloon LLC

11. Be authentic

Being authentic is one of the best ways to increase social media brand loyalty. Use your brand's personality and real voice to connect with your followers. Finally, be sure to respond to comments to build a relationship with your followers. —Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC

12. Gather and share user-generated content

Creating and sharing user-generated content is a great way to get your audience involved and make them feel connected to your brand. When they see you regularly posting this type of content, they will feel heard and appreciated. Especially today, customers like to feel involved and get to know the faces behind a brand. This provides a great opportunity to build a deeper connection and trust. —Blair Thomas, eMerchantBroker

13. Add a social feed to your website

Companies like those in the cosmetics industry use social media images on their websites in the form of a social feed. A social feed can showcase real customers and how they use the brand's product. When you do this on your own website, you show your audience that you're paying attention and also celebrating their work. —Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner

14. Get to know your customers

The social media landscape is often about allowing users to express themselves and feel heard. There are plenty of ways to find out what your customers' hopes and dreams are for your industry and what their frustrations are by asking. The key is to sincerely provide an opportunity for them to answer questions and voice their opinions. —Reuben Yonatan, GetVoIP