3 Ways to Create Raving Fans for Your Brand
It’s a wintry Wednesday evening tonight at the Barn where the Minnesota Gophers are playing against the Wisconsin Badgers. With eight minutes left, Wisconsin is leading by three. It’s a close game, and the energy is electric. Watching it from the comfort of my living room, I am struck by the crowd. Williams Arena is overflowing with raving Gopher fans.
As the camera pans the court, the bleachers are filled with maroon and gold. Jackets to shirts to hats, Gopher fans are showing the love they have for their team. Faces are painted, and the student section is electric. I’m just guessing, but somewhere in the stands someone probably has a Gopher tattoo. With every bucket and defensive effort, the crowd roars. Chants echo in the background, and you can tell by watching that if the Gophers win tonight, the student section will undoubtedly storm the court.
What if you could create raving fans like these for your brand? Here are three ways to do it…
- Give 100%. All night long, the Gophers have hustled up and down the court and never let up. That’s one of the main reasons the fans are so excited – they know that the players are all in. If your customers and clients know without question that you’re all in for them and delivering 100% in the work you’re doing for them, you’re well on your way to creating raving fans.
- Be tenacious. The Gophers have not led the game since I turned it on. That said, they’ve stepped up to the challenge and risen to the occasion. In your business or organization, you will likely face adversity or encounter ups and downs with clients or on projects. How you react in those moments, and how you carry yourself when things are not easy, has the power to create raving fans.
- Make them part of the action. Gopher fans will never take a shot or step foot on the court, but they play a role in the outcome. Including customers and clients throughout your process, and getting them invested in the outcomes, plays a crucial role in creating your fan base. When they’re part of the team, they’ll be as dedicated to winning as you are.
The Gophers lost tonight to the Badgers. It was a close game, well played, and fun to watch. Even though Minnesota lost, their fans cheered for them until the very end, honored their effort with a standing ovation, and will keep showing up. They’ll fill the Barn again at the next home game, and they’ll cheer more. Why? Because this is THEIR team, the home team. Their blood runs maroon and gold.
Today’s your day to work on creating your brand’s raving fans. And then tomorrow, you’ll work on it again. Everything you do, every interaction and effort, has the power to build your fan base. Now, get to work!
