Flevy Management Insights Q&A
What role does social media play in influencing NPS scores, and how can companies leverage social media feedback to improve their NPS?
     David Tang    |    Net Promoter Score


This article provides a detailed response to: What role does social media play in influencing NPS scores, and how can companies leverage social media feedback to improve their NPS? For a comprehensive understanding of Net Promoter Score, we also include relevant case studies for further reading and links to Net Promoter Score best practice resources.

TLDR Social media significantly influences NPS by amplifying customer feedback and providing real-time insights, requiring companies to adopt Strategic Planning and proactive engagement to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Reading time: 5 minutes

Before we begin, let's review some important management concepts, as they related to this question.

What does Social Media Monitoring mean?
What does Strategic Planning mean?
What does Cross-Functional Collaboration mean?
What does Customer Engagement mean?


Social media has become a pivotal platform for consumers to share their experiences, opinions, and feedback about brands and their products or services. This digital word-of-mouth can significantly influence a company's Net Promoter Score (NPS), which measures customer experience and predicts business growth. Understanding and leveraging social media feedback can provide companies with actionable insights to improve their NPS and, consequently, their overall business performance.

The Influence of Social Media on NPS

Social media impacts NPS scores in several ways. First, it amplifies customer voices, allowing positive and negative experiences to reach a wider audience than traditional feedback channels. A study by McKinsey highlighted that social media significantly influences consumer behavior, with users more likely to trust recommendations from peers over direct advertising. This peer influence can sway potential customers' perceptions and decisions, affecting a company's NPS. Secondly, social media serves as a real-time feedback loop, providing companies with immediate insights into customer satisfaction and areas for improvement. By monitoring social media, companies can identify trends in customer sentiment that may not be captured through traditional NPS surveys. Finally, the public nature of social media feedback means that a company's responsiveness and handling of customer issues are visible to a broad audience, which can influence perceptions of the brand and its commitment to customer satisfaction.

To effectively use social media feedback to influence NPS, companies need to adopt a Strategic Planning approach to social media management. This involves not only monitoring social media channels for direct mentions and feedback but also engaging in social listening to understand broader market sentiments and trends. By analyzing social media feedback, companies can gain insights into the customer experience at various touchpoints and identify specific areas that require improvement. Furthermore, companies can use social media to proactively engage with customers, addressing concerns and demonstrating a commitment to customer satisfaction. This proactive engagement can improve customer perceptions and loyalty, positively impacting NPS.

However, leveraging social media feedback to improve NPS requires a structured approach to data collection, analysis, and action. Companies must ensure that social media feedback is systematically captured and integrated with other customer feedback channels to provide a comprehensive view of the customer experience. Advanced analytics can then be applied to this integrated data set to identify actionable insights and prioritize areas for improvement. Additionally, companies should establish cross-functional teams to act on these insights, ensuring that improvements are implemented effectively and efficiently.

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Leveraging Social Media Feedback to Improve NPS

To leverage social media feedback effectively, companies should first establish a robust social media monitoring and engagement strategy. This involves using social media listening tools to track mentions of the brand, products, or services across various platforms. By analyzing this feedback, companies can identify common themes and issues that affect customer satisfaction and loyalty. For example, if a significant number of customers complain about a particular product feature on social media, this issue should be addressed promptly to prevent it from negatively impacting NPS.

Next, companies should integrate social media feedback with other customer feedback channels, such as surveys, customer service interactions, and online reviews. This integrated approach allows companies to have a 360-degree view of the customer experience, making it easier to identify areas that require improvement. For instance, if both social media feedback and customer service data indicate long wait times as a common complaint, this issue can be prioritized for improvement. By addressing the issues that have the most significant impact on customer satisfaction, companies can effectively improve their NPS.

Finally, companies should use social media to actively engage with customers and demonstrate their commitment to resolving issues and improving the customer experience. This includes responding promptly to customer complaints and feedback on social media, as well as sharing updates on improvements and changes made in response to customer feedback. Such engagement not only improves the individual customer's experience but also enhances the brand's image among the wider social media audience. For example, a company that actively addresses customer complaints on social media and shares updates on how feedback is being used to make improvements can foster a positive brand perception, encouraging loyalty and advocacy among customers.

Real-World Examples

One notable example of a company leveraging social media feedback to improve its NPS is JetBlue Airways. The airline has a dedicated team monitoring social media channels to promptly address customer complaints and feedback. By actively engaging with customers on social media and addressing their concerns, JetBlue has been able to improve its NPS and strengthen its reputation for customer service excellence.

Another example is Starbucks, which used social media feedback to identify and address a common customer complaint about the wait time for orders. By implementing mobile ordering and payment through its app, Starbucks not only improved customer satisfaction but also enhanced operational efficiency, leading to an increase in its NPS.

These examples illustrate the power of social media feedback in identifying areas for improvement and engaging with customers to enhance their experience. By adopting a strategic approach to social media management and leveraging the insights gained from social media feedback, companies can significantly improve their NPS and drive business growth.

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Net Promoter Score Case Studies

For a practical understanding of Net Promoter Score, take a look at these case studies.

NPS Strategy Development for Telecom in Competitive Landscape

Scenario: A telecom company, operating in a highly competitive market, is grappling with stagnating Net Promoter Scores (NPS) despite increased investment in customer service and experience.

Read Full Case Study

NPS Strategy Reinvention for a Forestry Products Leader

Scenario: A top-tier firm in the forestry and paper products sector is grappling with stagnating Net Promoter Scores (NPS) despite consistent product quality and customer service investments.

Read Full Case Study

Net Promoter Score Advancement for Food & Beverage Sector

Scenario: A firm in the food & beverage industry is facing challenges with stagnant or declining Net Promoter Scores (NPS) despite increased investment in customer experience initiatives.

Read Full Case Study

Net Promoter Score Analysis for Aerospace Defense Firm

Scenario: An aerospace defense company is facing challenges with a stagnant Net Promoter Score (NPS) despite recent investments in customer experience improvements.

Read Full Case Study

Net Promoter Score Enhancement for Telecom Provider

Scenario: The organization is a mid-size telecom provider experiencing a plateau in customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Read Full Case Study

Net Promoter Score Advancement for Telecom in Competitive Landscape

Scenario: A leading telecommunications firm in a highly competitive market is observing stagnation in its customer loyalty and retention metrics, as indicated by its Net Promoter Score (NPS).

Read Full Case Study

Explore all Flevy Management Case Studies

Related Questions

Here are our additional questions you may be interested in.

How does NPS correlate with actual business growth and profitability in various industries?
NPS is a key predictor of business growth and profitability, with its impact varying across industries, necessitating industry-specific strategies and integration with broader Strategic Planning and Performance Management efforts. [Read full explanation]
How is the increasing importance of sustainability and corporate social responsibility affecting NPS scores across industries?
The growing consumer demand for sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is significantly enhancing Net Promoter Scores (NPS) across industries by influencing purchasing decisions and brand loyalty. [Read full explanation]
What is the role of NPS in evaluating the effectiveness of customer service chatbots and virtual assistants?
NPS is a vital metric for assessing customer satisfaction and loyalty with chatbots and virtual assistants, guiding improvements and strategic decisions for business growth. [Read full explanation]
What strategies can companies employ to improve their NPS among millennials and Gen Z consumers?
Improving NPS among millennials and Gen Z involves focusing on Authenticity, leveraging Digital Transformation, and prioritizing Sustainability and Social Responsibility to align with their values and expectations. [Read full explanation]
How can integrating NPS feedback into product development cycles enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty?
Leverage NPS Feedback in Product Development cycles to drive Innovation, enhance Customer Satisfaction, and increase Loyalty, fostering a culture of Continuous Improvement. [Read full explanation]
In what ways can integrating AI and machine learning enhance the analysis and application of NPS data?
Integrating AI and ML with NPS data enhances Customer Experience Management through advanced insights, predictive analytics, personalized engagement, and operational efficiency, driving Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement. [Read full explanation]

 
David Tang, New York

Strategy & Operations, Digital Transformation, Management Consulting

This Q&A article was reviewed by David Tang. David is the CEO and Founder of Flevy. Prior to Flevy, David worked as a management consultant for 8 years, where he served clients in North America, EMEA, and APAC. He graduated from Cornell with a BS in Electrical Engineering and MEng in Management.

To cite this article, please use:

Source: "What role does social media play in influencing NPS scores, and how can companies leverage social media feedback to improve their NPS?," Flevy Management Insights, David Tang, 2024




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