Tips to be a good influencer. Educate to create a loyalty program with the consumer.

Influence: the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others:

Convince: to move by argument or evidence to belief, agreement, consent, or a course of action. Persuade.

You, as a provider will use either one depending on the course of action when trying to sell a product to the consumer. Influence will normally dictate a more long-term commitment, rather than being persuasive and be more of a one-time shot. One of the benefits of influencing a consumer is that you develop a “loyalty program” with them. The objective of a brand is not only to be well known, but to also have repetitive sales with the same consumer. A very good strategy that will develop into another strategy is good costumer service. You supply good customer service and the consumers will relate their satisfaction to their friends and colleagues. (According to FORRESTER RESEARCH about 

70% of consumers base their purchases on hear say or word of mouth from friends rather than buying as a result of an advertisement  done directly by the brand itself. (retaildetail.com). These are two examples of the brand being an influencer, rather than convincing. Customer service and word of mouth.

At times Brands go thru extreme measures to convince the consumer by way of persuasive advertisement, which is a method, used when you want to immediately affect brand awareness and try to increase sales. (Billboards, advertisement with images etc.)  However, it might have a counter effect of a one time buy if any.  As a provider to you client, you want the product to have the best reputation and image with longevity. Your will push for an experience and visual effect combined rather than only a visual one.

In order to achieve a positive influence over the consumer, the client needs to combine the product, it services and effect (indirectly or directly- service and product) and offer it to the consumer. Now a day there are so many venues for the consumer to purchase a product, a client needs to capitalize in all the tools available to him. Experience and visual effects will help create a good influencer as motivator to buy a product.

Tell us what is your working method; influence or convincing?