Goodbye, 2016!
We've reached the end of another year, and it was a doozy. From the good (the return of The X-Files to television and the Denver Broncos winning Super Bowl 50) to the less-good (a roller-coaster presidential election and the Zika virus), we had it all and are about to move on.
For brands, you're planning mode for a new year. While you muscle through your future, your customers face their own challenges for 2017. How can you reach out your hand, take theirs, and step into the next year together?
Feelings. You can't stop them!
Your year may have sucked. It might have gone rough for your customers, too. Here are 5 feelings, for you and your audience, going into the next year:
Hope
"A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen."
Your social media approach can help them get there! By offering seasonal specials or posting positive ideas, you give your audience feelings which can support them through the growth they wish to accomplish. Make sure to incorporate a tone of hope in your digital marketing messages and offerings.
Peace
"Freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility."
You can help your customers approach 2017 with peace of mind by alerting them to new trends, best practices, and hacks they can use for their own success. As the personal expert of your industry for your customers, provide them with helpful insights and insider strategies (just enough to remind them of your overall value) which they'll use and share with their own circles. Don't forget to present complex ideas through infographics or how-to videos!
Joy
"A feeling of great pleasure and happiness."
Bringing joy to your fans, whether through excellent products or stellar service, happens when you start with that tried-and-true mantra, "Do unto others as you would have done unto you." How would your customer service rep like to be treated? What sales methods work best for your top sales personnel? Which messages resonate the most with your own marketing staff?
Once your team remembers how joy feels when they receive it from a brand, they can in turn give it to your customers. Post uplifting videos, inspiring stories, and help your audience find the funny through caption contests and festive memes.
Love
"An intense feeling of deep affection."
Share the love with your fans by listening to their opinions, solving the pain points they share with you, and being selfless at key moments in their experience. A small gesture by you can make a huge difference to a customer, and you won't know until you give it a try.
Promise
"A declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen."
 - Be the Luke Cage of your industry.
You can make and keep promises to your customers by offering stellar start-to-finish customer service (from that first complaint to the final solution), providing protections and long-term warranties or support, and keeping impeccable customer notes so each contact with your brand isn't the same old scramble we all hate when customer service can't remember who we are. Do what it takes to keep the promises you make to your customers from that first touchpoint.
How do you feel about 2017?
Just days remain until we have to start writing a 7 instead of a 6... are you all set? Really Social is getting ready for the new year by offering a slew of training/consultation packages to help you and your customers have a fabulous 12 months ahead.
The full blog article will publish on Really.Social later this month.
Aren't you glad you got to see it first?
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