Sometimes a business needs to change brand perception because of a bad review, or worse, a bad reputation that’s spreading like wildfire over social media. Whatever the reason, getting consumers to change their perceptions about a brand is not easy—especially if one of your competitors is their favorite brand. In fact, once consumers feel connected to a brand they want to stay with it, according to a PwC survey.
According to the Harris Poll, top brands make powerful connections with consumers because of familiarity and quality. To sway consumers in your brand’s direction, try these marketing tactics:
- Offer a discount for first-time shoppers.
- Offer a money-back guarantee.
- Offer free shipping for a limited time.
- Offer a referral discount so loyal customers influence their friends to buy from you.
- Connect a well-respected cause with your business and donate a portion of the sale.
- Start a conversation on social media so consumers get to know you and your business.
- Get involved and show up in your community.
- Start attending networking events and offer to help other business owners.
- Start snooping on social media by searching for keywords about your industry to see what consumers are looking for.
- Offer to speak to consumer groups in order to be seen as an expert in your industry.
- Follow up after a purchase has been made to make sure the consumer is satisfied.
- If you’re changing direction in the market, make sure consumers know why, such as high demand.
- Market your business as one that stays current with hot trends.
- Don’t lose old customers. Keep track of past orders and offer suggestions for future purchases.
- Stay on top of online ratings and review sites to manage your brand reputation.