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Three Ways to Harness the Power of Referral Marketing

Michael Hemsworth
October 29th, 2013
When a customer is encouraged to tell a friend about a product, it can yield fantastic results, which is why effectively utilizing referral marketing is an innovative approach to help increase exposure. There are several ways to manoeuvre the complex field of referral marketing and here we’ll dive into three main avenues that a brand can explore:

1. Offer great benefits – Most consumers enjoy sharing products they love with friends and family, so offering a reward for it can positively reinforce a happy sharer. Mulu is an online shopping platform that encourages users to interact with products on the site and share them with people in their social media circles. When they do, Mulu rewards them with cash that can be used to purchase items or donate to a charity of their choosing. As such, there is a clear win-win ideology at work because a company will gain views and a customer is rewarded with tangible benefits.

2. Ask for input – Traditional advertising works well in certain respects, but going straight to the individual and asking them what they like or don’t like about a product provides direct feedback that’s fresh and relevant. Boutine encourages users to logon, create and style what they like before they purchase, which provides the site with information on the kinds of options shoppers put together. Other users on the site can then shop these looks and a small percentage will go back to the original stylist who curated the outfit. It’s a simple, fresh and effective means to connect shoppers to one another for positive results all around.

3. Create an experience – The online shopping environment can sometimes be an overwhelming market to navigate, which is why making the experience more streamlined and fun is an effective way to help combat frustration for buyers. The Stylmee online simulation site creates a virtual shopping paradise that allows customers to go into user-run boutiques that are packed with clothing from designers of all sorts. Boutique creators get points when their shops are liked, which can be redeemed for discounts and other special promotions. The game-like environment injects a little fun into the experience and the results have been nothing short of successful.

Drafting an effective means to harness the power in referral marketing is simply a matter of identifying key points for expansion and Trend Hunter’s Retail Trend Report curates some of the prime ways that brands are utilizing sophisticated tactics to connect with their customers.
References: trendreports