As a business owner, you want people to follow you on Instagram and through other social media platforms. The main reason that you want this is for them to make purchases from you, and to potentially give your company referral business by telling their family and friends about the great products that you offer for sale.
What exactly are you giving your customers in return when they follow you? Since you want something from them, it is important that you show your gratitude as a business owner when they do follow you through social media sites, tell people about your great business and make purchases from your company.
There are a number of ways you can reward your customers and followers, not only for following you, but for referral business and for their loyalty. With so many competitors that they could turn to in nearly any market or industry that your business is in, they decided to follow your company.
One company that is most well-known for these special promos is American Express. They have been known to give away first class tickets, backstage concert tickets or even tickets to sporting events which are impossible to find (such as the US Open).
American Express Instagram Profile, @americanexpress, September, 2014, by American Express
More often than not, the company gets these deals for free or a very low cost as the promos they offer are through their partners. Simply offering these promotions or special items to their online followers is a great way to thank them for their loyalty and to ask them to continue using their products, as opposed to turning to the competition.
These are a few ways to keep your customers coming back, keep them following you on social media and to keep them from turning to competitors in the same industry.