SUCCESS

There are lots of very good examples of turning clients into fans. Apple's Mac computer, game software manufacturers, and entertainers. All  have learned that if you turn a client into a fan of your product or service, the loyalty will out way the price.

Computer gamers create hype for new games by establishing pre-order sales. They will open their stores at odd times of the day or night to create that buzz or anticipation and at $80 or more per unit, its worth the extra effort. Apple has recently turned its newest products into release frenzies with increasing customer numbers raving the new products as if they were a favourite sports team. The interesting aspect here is that pricing seems an inferior topic to the product itself. Customers of the iPhone are the best example of becoming a 'loyal fan' partly as there are tens of  thousands of applications from cooking programmes to financial apps which can be downloaded and discussed,  creating a culture like no other, for one of the most incredible mobile phones to date. 

Celebrities are the yardstick for less popular entertainers in developing a fan base. They create Fan Clubs to help drive popularity and therefore business. The product of entertainment is a key factor for  entertainers as they turn customers into fans with high quality performances and staging, at reasonable ticket costs. Haven't you told your sphere of influences about how 'awesome' Avatar 3D is already? It works and works well ensuring that next time Mr Cameron puts his seal of creativity behind the next movie (and yes there is talk of 2 more Avatar movies) you will probably be in the ticket queue.

So how did these businesses convert clients to fans?

They had a excellent product or service
They understood their customer
They listened to feedback
They told people about their accomplishments

An old marketing formula still works well today...tell people what you are going to do / tell them you're doing it / tell them you've done it. But there are still pre-requisites to converting fans such as providing outstanding service, being flexible to modify the product and importantly, having the right people to bring it all together. To summarise the 'conversion' process...

1. Ask questions of your clients - likes, dislikes, ideas to improve
2. Be willing to change - this takes time, energy and resources but
well worth the level of 'you' investment
3. Fix existing mistakes immediately.
4. Have a support system for required services and make it simple.

Become available and adaptable with an intense focus on your customers needs and the high quality of your product. Remember to create anticipation for you and your product (social networking does this extremely well). Get fired up to follow up and take 
criticism with the good natured meaning it was given.

You'll find in no time that your customers become your biggest fans.

How To Creatively Promote Your Product

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