There are many means of seeking and providing empowerment, and often, using any platform you have to positive effect is the best place to start. We tend to think of platforms in terms of celebrities and influencers, but it’s also true that businesses have platforms and outreach too.

For this reason, cultivating a measure of celebrating your audience, however niche, and aiming to support, empower, and develop their interests not only ensures brand loyalty, but it helps you have a positive impact on the communities you care for.

Of course, this doesn’t always have be limited to demographics. Any firm that sells fishing equipment can benefit from centering those who love to fish, no matter where they hail from, how new to the hobby they are, or what kind of spending power they may hold. Becoming an ambassador for a given focus can position your brand as an authority, or at least welcome new people. That might lead you to integrate new services, like a learning centre, further capabilities like being able to accept credit cards for online gambling, or perhaps targeting your messaging more sharply. Let’s consider how to achieve that:

Offer Educational Resources

We tend to think businesses only sell to their audience, but that’s not true. They might service them also, or even support them. For this reason, educating those you engage with and are part of your market can be a great idea. This not only empowers them, but it provides the chance for them to become brand loyalists, or at least look fondly upon your effort. Think about how brands like Yamaha (who do many things, but also sell guitars), will educate guitar learners with course referrals, notebooks, starter kits, and more. A customer might purchase their own child a Yamaha guitar in the future. Education is a resource that you invest in, but you get back in real stages.

Host Community Schemes

Community schemes can be a great promotional opportunity, sure, but they can also be so much more than that. For example, if you run a local business, you might sponsor the local sports team and help them throw a fundraiser for the upcoming year, positioning yourself in the community culture and promoting a good cause. You might attend job markets to hire students, or even enroll in schemes to hire ex-cons so they can find their feet and prove their reintegration into daily life. This is a great way to show your priorities not just through the written word, but through actions.

Celebrate User Engagement & Content

You might reach out to your community, especially in leveraging the competence, confidence and capability they have. For example, if you have a sports apparel line, you might donate some to the local team or community youth group as they play certain sports, and then record their matches (with permission and consent) to celebrate as part of your marketing material. Not everything has to be transactional to this level, but it can’t hurt to share that kind of value. You may be surprised just how well it works.

With this advice, you’ll be certain to empower your audience and use your platform for the better. Who knows how much good you could do?