Ever wondered how businesses can make their customers happy while saving money?
The answer is simple. Through community forums.
These online spaces give users the opportunity to freely communicate, share tips, and help each other out.
In other words, imagine a huge support group for customers to get answers to their questions without having to contact the company.
But, how are these forums benefiting the company itself?
Let’s find it out.
What Are Brand Communities
It’s important to understand that brand communities are not just a gathering of consumers.
They’re instead, a space made of people who share their interests, problems, solutions, aspirations, and passions in one place. Not only does this improve their user experiences, but at the same time, it helps brands build deeper connections and in this way, inspire brand loyalty.
The role of online communities (like Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups) is to provide a space for meaningful interaction and mutual support.
4 Main Benefits of Having an Online Forum
The benefits of community forums extend far beyond just customer engagement, they hold the potential to significantly improve brand presence and drive growth. Here’s how.
Minimize Support Costs
Imagine if every time you had a problem with your phone, instead of calling customer service, you could just ask other phone users for help.
That’s exactly what happens in community forums.
When people share solutions to problems, it saves the company money because they don’t need as many people working in customer service.
Making Customers Happy
Have you ever Googled a question and found someone else had asked the same thing before?
That’s because forums keep a record of all the questions and answers.
So, even if you’re not the first person to ask, you can still find the answer online. It’s like having a library of solutions available 24/7!
Giving Specialized Help
Sometimes, the best help comes from someone who’s been in your shoes.
In forums, regular users just like you share their experiences and give advice. This is super helpful because they might have faced the same problem you’re having and found a solution you might use as well.
Building Loyalty
Imagine you’re a big fan of a band, and you find a whole group of people online who love the same band. You’d feel pretty excited, right?
In forums, people who use the same products or share the same interests come together and feel like they’re part of a club. This makes them more likely to stick with the brand and tell their friends about it.
Great Examples of Brands Who Have Online Forums
Apple
Despite its success and popularity, when it comes to online forums, Apple makes no difference.
Apple fans gather to discuss the latest iPhone, MacBook, or IOS updates, as well as to talk about opportunities that exist through using the brands’ products.
Along with a community for people to gather, Apple has also created an online support community, where users get to engage with each other, as well as address troubleshoots and look out for solutions.
Airbnb
The Airbnb community is the ideal space for travelers and hosts to come together. Through its online platform and forums, Airbnb connects people from diverse backgrounds, sharing a common love for exploration and hospitality.
What’s so cool about this community is that they host events and meetups where members can connect in a more personal way.
Sephora
With 21814 members, the Sephora community is the dream place for makeup, skincare, and fragrance enthusiasts, who come together to share their passion for all things beauty.
Through its online forums and social media groups, Sephora creates a space where beauty lovers can connect, learn, and express themselves.
They even have mini-groups dedicated to specific preferences like skincare, hair care, lips, and more.
Starbucks
With its “Starbucks Partners” program, and other cool strategies, Starbucks has built a culture of inclusivity among all people.
Through its online forums, social media groups, discounts and rewards, partner recognition and more, Starbucks creates a space where coffee lovers can gather and even benefit from the power of community.
Notion
With 341K members on Reddit, Notion has built a great community-led strategy to gather all users into one place.
The Notion community is made up of people who use the app and who come together to help each other out. They share cool ideas, templates, and tricks to make the most of the app.
It’s a friendly place where everyone, from students to professionals, can join in and learn from each other.
Spotify
The Spotify online community is a place where people who use Spotify can chat and share their favorite songs, playlists, and music discoveries.
By interacting with fellow Spotify users, people not only learn about new music but also feel connected to a larger community of music enthusiasts.
This sense of belonging makes users want to keep coming back to the community, knowing they can always find like-minded people to share their passion for music with.
Conclusion
If you’re a business looking to make your customers interested in your product or service, save money, and build a loyal fan base, community forums might just be the secret ingredient you’ve been missing. Such communities like Reddit, Quora, online groups and others, are great platforms that can serve as “free marketing” for your brand presence.
