Tom Lear

Building a tribe

Why Brands Need a Tribe

In today's fast-paced and highly competitive world, brands are constantly looking for ways to stand out and connect with their customers. One way to achieve this is by building a tribe of loyal customers who are passionate about the brand and its products or services.

A tribe is a community of customers who share common interests, beliefs, or values and come together to support the brand. This type of community is incredibly valuable to brands, as it can lead to increased brand awareness, improved customer loyalty, higher engagement, better customer insights, and even increased sales and revenue.

So why exactly do brands need a tribe? Let's dive in.

  1. Boosts Brand Awareness: A strong tribe can help spread the word about your brand and increase brand awareness. Word-of-mouth marketing is highly trusted and credible, so when members of your tribe share your brand with their network, it can go a long way in getting your message out there.
  2. Improves Customer Loyalty: Building a tribe helps establish an emotional connection between your customers and your brand, leading to higher levels of customer loyalty. People are more likely to stick around and continue to support a brand they feel connected to.
  3. Increases Engagement: When you have a tribe, you have a group of people who are eager to engage with your brand. They are more likely to participate in brand-related activities, share their thoughts and opinions on social media, and provide valuable feedback.
  4. Provides Valuable Insights: Your tribe can provide valuable insights into the needs, wants, and preferences of your target customers. This information can be incredibly valuable in improving your products, services, and overall customer experience.
  5. Drives Sales and Revenue: When you have a loyal and engaged tribe, it leads to increased sales and revenue. Tribe members are more likely to make repeat purchases and recommend your brand to others, which can result in significant growth for your business.

So how can you build a tribe for your brand? Here are a few tips to get you started:

  1. Know Your Target Customer: Understanding who your target customer is and what they want is key to building a tribe that resonates with them. Do your research, gather feedback, and use social media to get a better understanding of your target customer.
  2. Establish a Clear Mission and Message: A strong tribe is built around a clear mission and message. Make sure your brand has a mission that aligns with the values and needs of your target customer.
  3. Foster Community: Encourage interaction and collaboration among your tribe members by creating forums, groups, and events where they can connect and engage with one another.
  4. Provide Valuable Content: Keep your tribe engaged and informed by providing valuable, relevant content tailored to their interests. This could include blog posts, videos, podcasts, and more.
  5. Recognise and Reward Members: Recognise and reward the members of your tribe who are the most active and engaged. This not only shows your appreciation but also encourages others to participate and become more involved with your brand.

Building a tribe of loyal customers can be incredibly beneficial for your brand. By increasing brand awareness, improving customer loyalty, driving engagement, providing valuable insights, and driving sales and revenue, a tribe can help take your brand to the next level.

If you want to get started on building your tribe, our brand strategy services are perfect for establishing a clear message and direction for your brand which will help you connect with the right people and grow your loyal tribe.

Tom Lear is the Creative Director and founder of Society, a brand and marketing agency in Mount Maunganui. His ideas, thoughts and opinions come from over 12 years of design and art direction experience working with some of the world’s leading agencies including Allison Mitchell London, CHE Proximity, JWT and Saatchi & Saatchi Melbourne.

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