Community is what makes social media so unique and valuable. The platforms aren’t just an opportunity to push; they are an opportunity to connect, engage and build relationships.
If you want to build a community online, it’s important to take the time for your audience. You have to be willing to listen, exchange dialogue– and most importantly– thank your fans. It does not take much, but simple gestures towards those who engage in your community can go a long way in building brand ambassadors. It’s important to do. When you have an army of brand ambassadors your content gets shared, reach increases and your community grows stronger.
The good news is that saying “thanks” to your fans doesn’t have to be complicated. When you work in social media it’s easy to get jaded to the industry, but remember, people get excited about the smallest gesture from their beloved team accounts. Don’t underestimate the power you hold at your fingers tips to make someone’s day.
Take the time to put together a strategy for rewarding and thanking your biggest fans. Gesture by gesture you’ll build a robust community. Here are some ideas on how to thank your fans to get you started:
A Follow
A follow can go a long way in leaving a lasting impression with a fan. In fact, it can make their day. Take note of the fans that engage with your content and reward them with a follow. It’s free to do and takes no time, so what are you waiting for?
You can also get creative and hosts “follow back” initiatives where you prompt fans to take action in exchange for a follow. Here’s a good example from the Sacramento Kings:
Fans love the #FollowFriday from the Kings. Check out the reply string here.
User-Generated Content
I can’t stress enough how valuable user-generated content is. It’s cost effective and helps your fans feel more connected to the online community. People are also more likely to share content they are a part of. The bottom line is that it makes your community stronger and is an easy thank you. User-generated content should have its place in your strategy.
Here a few good examples from teams who have leveraged UGC:
Personalized Content
Personalized content is a huge opportunity for teams, leagues and brands to develop one-on-one relationships with fans. Content will stand out more if a team goes the extra to show their fans they are listening and care. And, making it personal is a great tactic.
@OU_Football recently gave us a great example of what it means to “make it personal” for you fans. They celebrated 100 days out from football by tweeting out a few OU Football phone screen savers. Fans asked for their own screen savers with personal photos, and, @OU_Football delivered (a lot of them too). View the whole tweet chain here.
The Sooners aren’t the only ones to deliver personal content though. Here are a few other recent examples to spark your creativity:
.@G_Eazy #ChargedByBelief… We mean it. pic.twitter.com/8msFN8sdTO
— Under Armour Basketball (@UAbasketball) June 12, 2015
.@ThatGuyTipp_ Many asked the future and you called it. These are a reward to ball in. #createyourluck #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/YDWqLO7OWF
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) June 15, 2015
Celebrate Community Milestones
It’s important to let fans know that you appreciate the community around your accounts. Celebrate the big milestones reached. Positivity and thankfulness can go a long way.
Thanks to the greatest fans in college baseball for getting us to over 100,000 followers! pic.twitter.com/RY7XUgoSlv
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 31, 2015
THANK YOU #AuburnFamily for making our Facebook page the most-liked in the @NCAA! #WarEagle http://t.co/e3H7dBVrs9 pic.twitter.com/0lzT62hFOw
— Auburn Swim & Dive (@AuburnSwimDive) May 27, 2015
Make It Exclusive
If there are fans that consistently share your content, why not make them feel special? Exclusive offers/experiences are a great way to reward your most loyal and engaged fans. Here are just a few ways you can do it:
- Host a private stadium/facilities tour on Periscope for 20 of your most engaged fans. You can do an exclusive stream by using the private broadcast feature.
- Do you have a fan that is a huge fan of a certain athlete? Send them a private digi autograph through Twitter or Instagram’s direct message feature. While the content isn’t public, I guarantee the fan will tweet it out with a big “thank you”.
- Bring the relationships offline and invite some of your biggest brand ambassadors to a social media suite during a game.
Bring Them Into Your Story
Bringing fans into your story, like turning their tweets into content, is a great way to build community and recognize your fans. It’s also an easy way to tell a broader story and makes your fans feel like they are a part of something bigger. Take the time to bring fans’ voices into your strategy, whether you curate a Storify or turn tweets into content.
These examples above are just a few of the many ways you can show fans that you care. Take the time to implement a strategy for engaging with and rewarding you fans. Even the smallest gesture can go a long way.
How else can teams thank and reward their fans? Share your ideas below!
Thanks for reading!
