Online communities grow sales

Social media marketing and online communities grow sales. Sounds simple, but it's true - 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations, while only 14% trust advertising. And according to recent research, products that add customer ratings and reviews can almost double e-commerce conversion rates.

Over the last 10 years, companies trying to grow sales via the internet have focused on banner advertising, search engine optimisation and pay-per-click. But we believe there is a new and more effective way to drive sales online; it comes from the web's unique ability to harness the power of customer conversations through online communities and social networks.

Your customers can increase sales

Whether you like it or not, your customers are already voicing their opinions online. Around 1 in 3 UK consumers review products and services on the web. And with the vast majority of customers already choosing companies and brands based on opinions they read online, social media marketing is quickly becoming a key weapon for marketers.

Some companies have already recognised the power of social media, and are reaping the rewards in higher sales. Dell, for example, has made sales of more than $3m directly through Twitter, while Argos saw a 10% increase in conversion rates when it added ratings and reviews to its website.

Our social media software and online communities will increase sales by encouraging advocacy among your customers and amplifying word-of-mouth. We’ll create an online community that gets your customers talking and helps you build positive, user-generated content for your brand. Reviews give people confidence when assessing new products. Customer comments and blogs that evangelise about brands encourage new customers and grow sales across all sectors.

Still not convinced? Have a look at our Jimmy Choo case study to find out how the luxury brand used an online community to grow sales and raise awareness about their charity campaign.