How can you build loyalty given how saturated markets have become? Build an online community in digital marketing Philippines!
Experts say that retaining a customer costs less than acquiring a new one, and many businesses can surely attest to this fact. But how can you build loyalty around your brand, given how saturated markets have become? Here’s our suggestion: Build an online community in digital marketing Philippines!
Instead of implementing the usual marketing strategies solely about pushing out messages, brands today are encouraged to create, manage, and nourish spaces where customers can connect and grow alongside the brand.
In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of building a strong online community for B2B businesses and how to get you started.
Understanding Online Communities in the Context of Digital Marketing
Having an online community can be a valuable asset for any business, big or small. When you give customers a place to engage with your brand and content, ask questions surrounding your niche, and share their experiences, it does more than just increase engagement — it fosters a sense of belongingness that translates to brand loyalty.
Let’s first define the concept to give you a better sense of the importance of this digital marketing tactic in business. An online community is a dedicated space, typically on social media platforms, where people with shared interests come together. They engage in meaningful conversations based on prompts that your team provides. This can be a Facebook group where your customers, prospects, and partners are all gathered.
Unlike traditional marketing, which can be very one-way (think newsletters or social media advertising), online communities create two-way conversations that position your brand as more agreeable, human, and relevant.
Sephora, for example, maintains an online community that brings together beauty enthusiasts who share tips and product recommendations, giving the brand a platform to promote its products while providing space for its fans to converse.
In the B2B world, platforms like the Salesforce Trailblazer Community offer users a space to share insights, ask for advice on platform concerns, and even build friendly connections with fellow businesses using Salesforce — a great way to transform the user experience.
Indeed, these communities are potent engines for organic growth. After all, when customers feel they belong to something bigger, they’re more likely to advocate for your brand and even help generate new leads through referrals or word-of-mouth marketing.
Marketing Tips for Business Owners for Building an Online Community
Online communities can be an innovative digital marketing solution for your business, but it takes some work to establish and maintain. To drive better brand engagement and create genuine connections with your audience, you must make it a point to keep your community well-managed. This means aiming to keep followers returning — not just for your products but for the community.
Here are some considerations to remember to help you build your online space from the ground up.
1. Have a Clear Sense Of Purpose
Before starting your community-building efforts, it’s important to have certainty about your goals for your brand. Are you aiming to support your customers better? Create brand advocates? Or offer a platform where peers can connect and share ideas.
Defining goals will guide your strategy, so take advantage of this step. For example, if your goal is customer support, your community should focus on providing helpful resources, FAQs, or expert advice. Have a designated community engagement specialist who can regularly respond to queries or comments, providing expertise in the subject.
If you aim to create brand advocates, you’ll want to incentivize members to share content, participate in discussions, and organically promote your brand. This way, they can champion your brand and even help you land new leads.
Your community should directly support your overall business objectives. Whether it’s driving leads, increasing customer satisfaction, or positioning your brand as an industry leader, your community’s strategy should align with these goals.
2. Use The Right Platform
Believe it or not, selecting the right platform is vital to building your online community. The platform you choose should align with your audience’s preferences and the type of interaction you aim for.
Social platforms like Facebook or Reddit are ideal for broader reach, in terms of age, demographic, and social class. These sites are also perfect for gathering honest insights and opinions as they provide options for anonymity or limited profile sharing.
On the other hand, you have LinkedIn, which is optimal for B2B community building. The platform can also allow you to target specific industries, seniority levels (ex: CEOs or senior executives), or locations.
If you prefer more control over managing the community, you can also host it directly on your website as an open chatroom. This also gives you access to valuable data about your audience.
3. Engage Using Content That Provides Value
To build a thriving online community in the Philippines as part of your digital marketing strategy, you must give your members a reason to keep coming back. The secret to this? Consistent, valuable content and meaningful conversations.
Your community wants content that speaks to their interests and solves their problems. So, ensure you share tips and exclusive resources that can’t be found elsewhere. You’re a subject matter expert on your product, after all!
Consider releasing short interviews, Q&As, or how-to guides. If you’re in B2B, your audience may appreciate white papers, industry reports, or product case studies (Another marketing tip for business owners: You can even turn these into lead magnets that allow you to retrieve their contact information for supplementary campaigns!). This not only keeps your audience engaged but also positions your brand as a go-to resource.
Once you’ve got valuable content, it’s time to get your members talking. On your platform of choice, regularly post engagement prompts asking open-ended questions or starting discussions on trending industry topics. To make it more interactive, you can host virtual events like exclusive webinars, quick Ask Me Anything sessions or live demos to turn passive members into active participants.
4. Create a Welcoming Space For Your Members
A thriving community has to make everyone involved comfortable enough to engage. It all starts with setting clear community guidelines. Let your members know what’s expected when interacting, whether about politeness, inclusivity, or staying on topic. When everyone feels valued and respected, your community thrives.
Also, make sure to give your members a voice! People love to feel heard, and that’s no different in online communities. Encourage your members to share their experiences, ideas, and challenges. The more they contribute, the more invested they become.
For B2B-driven communities, consider featuring your most active members in your content by highlighting their own business or even sharing their achievements. It’s a simple way to build loyalty and keep engagement high.
5. Answer This: Are You In It For The Long Haul?
Building a community isn’t a project you can set up and immediately forget. Doing this may make some customers think you’re not genuinely interested in engaging with them!
Once launched, an online community becomes its living ecosystem — one that needs regular care and maintenance. Stay on top of what’s happening in your community by regularly checking and actively moderating discussions. Remember: Keeping the environment positive keeps the conversation going!
Keep in mind that communities, like your business, must also evolve. Pay attention to feedback, follow industry trends, and adjust your strategy. Maybe blog posts aren’t hitting like they used to — why not try video content or podcasts instead? Staying flexible ensures that your community grows alongside your brand.
Lastly, always measure your success. Track your progress based on key metrics like engagement rate, member growth, customer satisfaction, and community referrals. By doing this, you’ll better grasp what’s working and where you need to tweak things.
Let Eight Media Help You Create a Community that Lasts
Creating a solid online community in the Philippines for your digital marketing strategy is a fantastic way to spark loyalty, deepen engagement, and achieve long-term growth for your business. Whatever your company’s goals, an online community offers the human touch your brand needs to establish connections in today’s digital-first world.
Count on Eight Media to produce social media and digital marketing solutions for your business to make your engagements more authentic, quality, and practical. Our expertise covers helping brands build and manage their social media presence, from top-notch graphics and compelling ads to vibrant online communities.
Contact our team today for your first consultation, and let’s explore how we can bring tried-and-tested community-building strategies and other digital techniques into your business!
