Are you a Brand Advocate?

“Every growing brand thrives on brand influencers and advocates” ― Bernard Kelvin Clive

I've always enjoyed "being associated" since elementary school, through college, and now professional life. Whether it was representing my drama/elocution/dance class or the Computer Science Department when we were given a "A" rating by the National Accreditation and Academic Council (NAAC) in 2015, or when I was honoured by Dr. Anand Deshpande – Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director – Persistent in 2019 or named as Persistent Campus Brand Ambassador in 2020.

I am a firm believer in the Brand and Me concept. Along with professional development, an individual's responsibility must be to contribute to the expansion of the brand. The sense of fulfillment, being proud, and being heard is equally important. Build with advocacy, follow with influence. Your employees are your biggest brand advocates. This statement is even more accurate now, following the pandemic. Employees must be nurtured in whatever way that is possible.

Brands grow faster and stronger with the help of Brand Advocates, Influencers & Tribes ― Bernard Kelvin Clive

What is a Brand Advocate, and Why are Advocates Important?

A common form of current company marketing is brand advocacy. Word-of-mouth advertising is used by brand advocates to promote the company. Their positive feedback on the company's products or services aids in attracting new clients. Brand advocates also create new content for the business by posting items on their social media accounts. Brand advocacy excites people both inside and outside the organization about your product or service. Brand advocates can be employees, clients, or influencers. They spread the word about a brand much faster than paid advertising would.

Brand Advocate Vs. Brand Ambassador

The terms "brand ambassador" and "brand advocate" are sometimes used interchangeably. Although brand ambassadors are technically a type of "brand advocate" (since they love your brand and talk about it without being asked), they are long-term spokespeople who your company hires to represent you. Brand advocates, on the other hand, are more informal spokespeople than ambassadors. They aren't constrained by the same set of rules and restrictions as ambassadors when it comes to promotion, and they don't publicly represent your company at events. As a result, compared to ambassador marketing, brand advocate marketing is less regimented. Many brands, on the other hand, employ unofficial brand ambassadors who later become formal ambassadors!

Why am I here?

According to Marketing Charts, a Florida-based “hub of marketing data,” found that brand advocates are 50% more likely to influence a purchase. This could be through sharing by word of mouth or using digital media.

Why Digital?

Brands can no longer rely on paper advertising in the digital world we live and work in. The most successful method of communication that most people use on a regular basis is social media. When was the last time you went through your messages, notifications, or newsfeed? Was it just an hour or two ago? People nowadays are constantly monitoring their smartphones to ensure that they do not miss anything that may damage them.

Benefits of Brand Advocate Marketing?

• Firstly, advocacy is free or nearly free marketing that helps you grow your brand organically. Brand advocates love you so much that they’ll share you whenever they can, whether it’s on social media, through emails, on their blogs, or in person.
• Secondly, brand advocates need no extrinsic incentive to share your brand. Most advocates will share you just because they genuinely love your brand or products—they’re motivated intrinsically.
• Thirdly, brand advocates leave powerful positive reviews of you, usually without asking.
• Most importantly, brand advocates are trusted by their friends and followers!

My role:

As?a?social?media?manager,?I'm?pleased?to?lead?by?example?by?discussing?Brand,?values, corporate?culture,?and?participating?in?various?activities.?

This?method?is?effective?for?both?recruiting?an selling.

To?be?a?good?"Brand?Advocate,"?all?it?takes?is?a?positive?word?from?an?employee?about?the?benefits?they?receive,?their?flexible?hours,?and?more.

Final Thoughts

Putting your company's brand in the spotlight isn't a new concept, but the idea and concept of brand advocacy is. While many businesses are already significantly invested in brand advocacy, the great majority do not consider it a high priority. Focusing on your company's brand, on the other hand, should be a top priority when building plans and will perfectly complement your marketing efforts. Employees and customers who advocate for your brand are more likely to bring attention to it, and they have a better connection to their networks, which is beneficial to your business.

Fortunately, most businesses have employees and clients who are already advocating for them, as well as those who might be interested in doing so on their behalf. However, in order for brand advocacy to work, you must ensure that your company maintains a positive work environment, a high-quality product/service, and a commitment to employee and client satisfaction. Additionally, a platform that makes it easier and assures that your advocate's success may be amplified with your marketing activities.