SOP: Building a Community of Raving Fans and Running a Gated Launch on Shopify

Part 1: Building a Community of Raving Fans

Overview

Creating a vibrant community around your brand can significantly boost engagement and sales. This SOP will guide you through building a community that drives loyalty and amplifies your marketing efforts.

Steps to Build a Community

1. Choose Your Platform
   • Facebook Group: Ideal for niche communities with interactive discussions.
   • Slack Channel: Great for professional or tech-savvy audiences.
   • Discord Server: Excellent for younger, tech-oriented communities.
   • Other Platforms: Consider using platforms where your target audience already spends time.
2. Invite Initial Members
   • After a customer makes their first purchase, send a personalized thank-you video and invite them to join your community.
   • Follow up with an SMS link to the community a few days later.
3. Engage and Grow
   • Welcome new members publicly and encourage them to invite friends.
   • Post regular content to keep the group active, such as sneak peeks of new products, polls, and discussions.
4. Foster Interaction
   • Create posts that encourage members to share their experiences and advice.
   • Respond promptly to comments and questions to maintain an active and supportive environment.
5. Provide Value
   • Offer exclusive content, early access to new products, and special promotions to community members.
   • Use the group to gather feedback on new designs and ideas.

Example Posts and Content Ideas

• Welcome Posts: “Welcome [Name] to our community! Tell us what you love most about our brand.”
• Feedback Requests: “We’re designing our new collection. What colors and patterns do you want to see?”
• Exclusive Previews: “Here’s a sneak peek of our upcoming collection, just for our VIP members!”

Part 2: Running a Gated Launch on Shopify

Overview

A gated launch can create exclusivity and drive significant sales in a short period. This SOP will outline how to execute a gated launch effectively.

Steps to Run a Gated Launch

1. Preparation
   • Lock Down the Site: Disable access to your site 12 hours before the launch.
   • Password Protection: Set up password protection for the launch period.
2. Tease the Launch
   • Email Campaigns: Send teasers to your email list about the upcoming launch.
   • SMS Campaigns: Send reminders and build anticipation via SMS.
   • Community Engagement: Share sneak peeks and build excitement in your VIP group.