Have you ever observed that only a small part of your followers sees the posts that your brand publishes on Facebook or Instagram? You devote many hours to producing the most suitable content, only to realize that it is the algorithms, not your audience, that decide who gets to see it.
For this reason, a growing number of companies are opting for social network software, which is the online place where you can have direct interactions with your customers to lead continuous loyalty without being dependent on the changing algorithms.
So in this blog, we will list out the top five reasons you might want to consider a branded community for your company to build engagement.
What Is a Branded Community?
When talking about a branded community, it is a group of customers who share a common interest, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a specific brand. These social networking platforms connect with the brand and other members, often through shared values, experiences, or activities.
They are built on more than just a customer-product relationship, resulting in stronger brand loyalty and engagement. It fosters a sense of belonging, exclusivity, and emotional investment in the brand.
Explore Top 5 Reasons To Have a Branded Community
1. Limited reach of social media
It used to be that you hoped a social networking platform of users would develop on your Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages. But since social media has increasingly moved to a “pay to play” system, it’s hard to focus your messaging directly on your desired audience.
2. Identification of brand influencers
These are everyday people who have the power to affect the purchases of their peers. They give trustworthiness to your brand, with authentic word-of-mouth marketing. With the exclusive nature of a branded community, you are no longer fishing around for your influencers on your Facebook page.
3. Growth of first-time visitors
If your branded community is linked to your website, first-time visitors have a reason to stick around longer than they might otherwise. With their purchase, they also receive advice from real people. Reviews or suggestions left by influencers could lead them deeper into your website, with their shopping cart just a click away.
4. Social customer service strategy
Your branded community gives another place to provide your customers with a great experience to share with their friends. A two-way conversation emerges where influencers can gain status and find support from like-minded people.
5. Built-in test group
The development of a branded community affects your other marketing tactics as well. Now you have a sounding board on which you can bounce ideas for future marketing campaigns. This saves you time and makes your campaigns much more effective.
How to Get Started with a Branded Community With SocialEngine?
SocialEngine is here to offer you everything you need to build your own fully functional, engaging, and scalable online community for your brand. So, let’s see how you can begin with it:
1. Choose Your Ideal Setup: Cloud or Self-Hosted
- SocialEngine offers two deployment options: Cloud, i.e, hosted for you, and Self-Hosted, i.e, where you manage the site on your own server.
- The Cloud version is excellent if you want a quick start with a small technical setup.
- The Self-Hosted option gives you complete ownership of the Social networking PHP script, letting your team customize every detail.
2. Pick the Right Theme and Design
- A great community starts with a welcoming look. SocialEngine’s social networking platform presents smart and modern themes that you can personalize to turn your brand’s exceptional identity.
3. Improve Your Branded Community with Powerful SocialEngine Plugins and Add-ons
- Utilize the imposing SocialEngine plugins and add-ons to make the site’s flexibility and ease of use more appealing.
- Implement options like groups, polls, live chat, photo sharing, and event management just by using the visual interface, not the hard code.
4. Customize with the PHP Social Networking Script
- Through the PHP social networking script, the developers have a powerful tool that allows easy modification, integration of external tools, and also the addition of functionality that is specific to the brand.
- The possibilities are endless! From connecting your CRM to making the membership levels of your choice or introducing gamification, this platform can be customized to meet your exact needs.
5. Create Member Roles and Community Rules
- Community guidelines should be set up that not only promote safety and respect but also reflect the values of your brand.
- Moreover, you can reward your active members as a way of encouraging participation and thus building loyalty.
6. Launch and Promote Your Community
- Use exclusive benefits like early product access, special forums, or Q&A sessions to attract and retain members.
- Keep conversations energized by posting regular updates, starting discussions, and highlighting top contributors.
7. Track Growth and Keep Improving
- SocialEngine has built-in analytics and insights to support you in tracking member engagement and site activity.
- As your community grows, continue upgrading it with new SocialEngine add-ons to deliver more value to your brand community.
Conclusion
Establishing a branded community is not merely a matter of involvement but rather of coming together in an authentic way that results in loyalty and expansion. This Social Network Software allows you to very quickly build, operate, and grow your Social Networking Platform through the powerful SocialEngine plugins and a personalize PHP social networking script.
Ready to get started? Build your branded community with SocialEngine, the ultimate platform for growth and engagement.
Visit SocialEngine Today!
