31 January 2018 | Sas Soubhi
Start by mobilising your tribe…
In this third and final exploration of marketing tribes, we aim to show you how to harness the power within networks and communities by connecting people with ideas. The aim is to create a group of tribe builders through a diversity of different channels to extend your “word of mouth reach”
What can your tribe do for you?
By building strong and sustainable relationships with your tribe, endeavour to create ‘nuclear fission’. This is the critical mass needed to reach and make extended connections beyond your network. The objectives are to help you to become a national or international thought leaders in your field.. giving rise to a stellar increase in your reputation and inevitably increase revenue.
This is the missing machinery for a lot of businesses getting tribe members to promote your business, achieve this and you are really motoring.
What can you do for your tribe?
To facilitate this, think about what your business catalysts are, how you can stimulate your tribe to actively start promoting you. Looking from our own purely marketing perspective we would aim to provide source material, low cost extras such as events or published articles promoting our thought leadership in our field.
We are even looking at extending our services to include digital marketing… the latest shiny thing that is on everyone’s lips watch this space!
What are the vehicles to achieve this?
Your website is the fulcrum and it goes without saying that it is critical to keep it fresh and updated. The simplest example is what you are (hopefully) doing now and reading our latest blog! If you find it sufficiently illuminating it would be appreciated and enlightening to share with your fellow tribe members, helping to promote us as thought leaders in the field of strategic marketing.
Social media back up is also important with ongoing LinkedIn communications, regular business tweets, engaging in online forums and Facebook or Instagram updates, always test and then use the right type of media for your product or service within your industry. As your stock rises, consider advanced formats such as case studies and white papers, and collaborations with complementary businesses.
Once a demonstrable track is in view, consider employing PR agencies to help you facilitate contributions to trade magazines, reaffirm your presence at exhibitions and gain nominations for award ceremonies.
Never Underestimate the power of testimonials
Assertions, speculation, and testimonials do not substitute for evidence, but are a damned good start! Always strive to encourage clients to say positive things about you, ideally once a key project reaches a satisfactory conclusion.
Kick start the route to tribal success
Be flexible in your approach and create a budget for your activities. Regularly monitor the progress/success of each initiative. Make sure your timings are realistic in turning good intentions into action and adopt a patient approach to manage your expectations.
The key is finding a good strategic route through the maze and an excellent starting point may be to start with your database and think about what you can do with your existing database. Use the graphic below as a ready reckoner to categorise your contacts and develop as strategy to move them up and down the table.
In summary …” use different strokes for different folks!”
