When times get tough, it's comforting to know that your best friend always has your back. That kind of loyalty isn’t bought — it's earned. The same goes for business.

Every salesperson knows that their customer community is one of their strongest assets within a business, but the stakes in this customer-driven global economy have never been higher. Loyalty is no longer freely given — like attention, your customer’s respect has to be earned. When done right, your customers will have your back when times get tough. They’ll stick with you instead of moving to competitors, endorse your products or services, and even refer new business to you. But how do you get to earning their respect and loyalty?

To help you out, we’ve recently put together a quick  Slideshare on how to build customer loyalty with a customer community. It’s got great tips for customer loyalty like:

Did you know that ...

• Customers expect to find answers online. More than 70% of customers prefer to get answers to their questions from the company’s website. If they have to pick up a phone to get their question answered, you’ve already taken a step back in their minds.

• Communities need to move at the speed of their customers. Launching a next-generation customer community is a great way to ensure that your loyalty base grows with your business.

By following tips like these and much more, your business can be on its way to creating a strong, trusted customer network that’s built to last. Interested in finding out more? Check out our free e-book and start cultivating a loyal customer following.