Why People Follow Brands (And How to Get Them to Follow Yours!)

Learn why people follow their favorite brands and how you can get more followers for your small business on social media.
how to get people follow your business on social media
Table of Contents

Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to promote your small business. Social media can help you increase brand awareness, connect with potential and current customers, and boost sales. In addition, social media provides an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services in a way that is informal and engaging.

According to BuzzStream and Fractl , 50% of people follow 1 to 4 brands on social media. In addition, 26% follow 5 to 9 brands, 22% follow ten or more brands, and 3% follow zero brands. On top of that, here are the main reasons people follow brands on social media:

Why People Follow Brands on Social Media

Consumers follow their favorite brands on social media for all sorts of reasons. Here are some of the most common:

They like the brand

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If someone likes your brand, they’re likely to follow you on social media to stay up-to-date on what you’re doing. Promoting your brand on social media can turn customers into lifelong fans.

@katstickler My favorite way to drink water 💦 Check out my link in bio for a special offer! @airup #airuppartner ♬ original sound – Kat

To be notified about special offers/promotions.

Social media provides an easy way for businesses to announce sales and promotions. Customers who follow you on social media will be the first to know about any special offers or promotions you’re running. This is a great way to boost sales and bring in new customers.

To learn about new products and services.

Customers who follow your business on social media will be able to learn about any new products or services that you offer. This great way to generate interest in new products or services and increase sales.

For freebies

Everybody loves freebies! Offering freebies is a great way to entice potential customers to follow your business on social media. And once they follow you, they’ll be more likely to take advantage of any special offers or promotions you might be running.

For updated brand news

Social media is a great way to keep your customers up-to-date on what’s going on with your company. You can use social media to announce new products or services, share company news, or even give customers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making your product or service.

Because they are a current customer

Keeping current customers informed about your business is just as important as attracting new ones. Social media provides easy ways for businesses to stay in touch with their existing customers and keep them up-to-date on what’s happening.

Because of the exciting content

For people to follow your business on social media, you need to provide them with exciting content they’ll want to read or watch. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, images, etc. People will likely follow your business on social media if you provide interesting and engaging content.

For access to exclusive content

People love feeling like they’re part of an exclusive club. By providing access to exclusive content (e.g., coupons, discounts, behind-the-scenes information), you can entice people to follow your business on social media.

goskippy facebook brand competition
goskippy facebook brand competition

To participate in competitions.

Running competitions via social media is a great way to increase engagement and get people talking about your business. It’s also a great way to attract new followers who might not have heard of your business.

wix brand social media facebook
wix brand social media facebook

To give brand feedback.

Social media provides an accessible platform for customers to voice their opinion about your brand (good or bad). By monitoring what people say about your brand on social media, you can quickly address any negative feedback and turn unhappy customers into lifelong fans.

As you can see from the survey results above, there are many reasons why people follow brands on social media. And as a small business owner, many benefits come from having an active presence on social media (e.g., increased brand awareness, boosted sales, etc.). 

So if you haven’t already done so, create accounts for your small business on the major social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and start reaping the rewards!

How Do You Get More Followers for Your Brand?

You can use several strategies to get more followers for your brand on social media. Here are a few ideas:

top 10 hashtage tiktok 2021
top 10 hashtage tiktok 2021

1. Use hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to reach new people who might be interested in your brand. When using hashtags, be sure to use ones relevant to your business and that aren’t too popular (otherwise, your post will get lost in the sea of other posts).

2. Run competitions

People love participating in competitions, especially if there’s a chance to win something. By running a contest on social media, you can attract new followers and get people talking about your brand.

3. Provide exclusive content

As mentioned above, people love feeling like they’re part of an exclusive club. By providing access to exclusive content (e.g., coupons, discounts, behind-the-scenes information), you can entice people to follow your business on social media.

4. Collaborate with other brands

Collaborating with other brands is a great way to reach new people. For example, you could guest blog on another brand’s website or run a joint social media campaign.

5. Use influencers

Influencers have a large following who can help promote your brand to their audience. If you can get an influencer to mention your brand on social media, you’ll reach a whole new group of people.

6. Advertise

You can also use paid advertising to reach new people. For example, you could create a Facebook ad targeting people who live in your city and who are interested in your type of product or service.

7. Get creative!

There are endless possibilities when marketing your brand on social media. So get creative and experiment with different strategies until you find what works best for your business.

8. Monitor For Mentions of Your Brand

Monitoring for mentions of your brand on social media and other digital platforms is an essential aspect of maintaining a positive online presence and engaging effectively with your audience. Here are some strategies and tips for effectively monitoring brand mentions:

  1. Set Up Google Alerts: Use Google Alerts to receive notifications whenever your brand is mentioned online. You can customize these alerts based on keywords, frequency, and the types of websites you want to monitor.
  2. Utilize Social Media Monitoring Tools: There are various tools like Hootsuite, Brand24, or Mention that allow you to track mentions of your brand across different social media platforms. These tools can provide real-time updates and detailed analytics.
  3. Check Hashtags and Social Handles: Regularly search for your brand’s name, related hashtags, and social media handles on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. This can help you find mentions that might not be tagged directly.
  4. Engage with Online Communities: Be active in online communities and forums related to your industry. This not only helps in monitoring mentions but also allows you to engage directly with your audience.
  5. Monitor Reviews and Feedback Sites: Keep an eye on review sites like Yelp, Google Reviews, and industry-specific forums. Responding to both positive and negative reviews can significantly impact your brand’s reputation.
  6. Analyze Sentiment: When monitoring mentions, assess the sentiment behind them. Are people speaking positively or negatively about your brand? Understanding this can guide your marketing and customer service strategies.
  7. Set Up a Social Media Dashboard: Use a dashboard to have a centralized view of all mentions and conversations about your brand. This can save time and help you stay organized.
  8. Monitor Competitors: Keep an eye on mentions of your competitors as well. This can provide valuable insights into market trends and potential areas for improvement in your own strategy.
  9. Encourage User-Generated Content: Engage with users who mention your brand and encourage user-generated content. This can increase your brand’s visibility and provide authentic material for marketing.
  10. Regular Reporting: Create regular reports on the mentions of your brand. Analyze trends, spikes in mentions, and the overall public perception to adjust your strategies accordingly.
  11. Train Your Team: Ensure your marketing and customer service teams are trained to respond appropriately to mentions and feedback, maintaining a consistent and positive brand voice.

By actively monitoring and engaging with mentions of your brand, you can manage your reputation more effectively, identify opportunities for engagement, and gain valuable insights into customer perceptions and needs.

The Bottom Line

Social media is a powerful marketing tool that can be used to increase brand awareness, boost sales, and much more. And while it may seem daunting at first, building a social media following for your brand doesn’t have to be complicated. Using the abovementioned strategies, you can attract new followers and grow your business.

Still need help getting started? BlakSheep Creative can help! We’re a results-driven digital marketing agency with over two decades in helping small businesses grow. Contact us today to learn more!

What are some other benefits of having an active social media presence?

Some other benefits of having an active social media presence include:

  • Increased brand awareness: Social media is a great way to get your brand in front of new people. And the more people are aware of your brand, the more likely they will buy from you.
  • Boosted sales: An active social media presence can increase your business’s sales. Studies have shown that 76% of internet users access social media to research products before buying. So if you can get your product in front of people on social media, you’re more likely to make a sale.
  • Improved customer service: Social media provides a quick and easy way for customers to get in touch with your business. And by responding quickly to customer inquiries, you can improve customer service and build brand loyalty.
  • Increased website traffic: Social media can drive traffic to your website. For example, if you include a link to your website in your social media posts, you’re likely to see an increase in website visitors.

These are just a few benefits of having an active social media presence. So if you’re not already using social media to market your business, now is the time to start!

Need help with your social media marketing?

BlakSheep Creative can help! We’ve helped countless other businesses grow their social media following and boost sales. Contact us today or visit our social media marketing services page to learn about our services.

Tonya Sanchez

Tonya Sanchez

Tonya has always been a creative soul. Her passion for creativity and an endless supply of patience (she’s married to Clint) make her an incredible art director. Prior to co-launching BlakSheep Creative, Tonya co-established a parent’s day out program at a local church, which through her marketing direction, is now one of the leading programs in Livingston Parish.
Scroll to Top