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Stop the Forced Follow: 10 Ways to Make Customers Love Your Brand at Events in Korea and Beyond

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I’ve seen so many events trying to “lock in” potential customers in exactly the same way.

A few weeks ago, I went to a festival and asked participants, “Did you join the pop-up store event and get the free drinks?”

One of them said, “No… you know what, I used to do that a lot in the past. But when I saw their post on my feed, it just felt so irrelevant. So I decided not to join those events anymore.”

Then, at another event a week later, I met people who had never joined the typical “get the coins and follow us/promote us” style of event. When I asked them why, they simply said, “I just don’t want to do that,” or “I’m not comfortable with it.”

So why are we so focused on forcing people to follow us when they’ve only just met us?

It’s like going on a first date and immediately asking, “Do you want to be my boyfriend or girlfriend?”—it just doesn’t feel right.

The whole point of marketing is to leave a great first impression, so that when someone’s ready to buy in that category, they naturally think, “Oh right, I actually want to try that product.”

If they choose to buy in the long run, without us pushing them, that’s how you build real brand love.

Today, I want to share 10 creative ways to rethink your lead-gen process and connect with your audience in ways that feel authentic and positive—whether it’s in Korea or beyond.

For example, when you open a pop-up store, you don’t have to stick to just one approach. You can offer three different ways for people to connect or simply focus on one powerful, meaningful experience.

1️⃣ Receiving a newsletter
(or just sign up / become a family member — IKEA)

When you buy something for the first time at IKEA, you’ll notice they offer benefits for becoming a member. It’s a gentle invite, not pushy.


If you’d like to learn more about how IKEA Korea uses this in marketing and makes $460M in sales, here’s an article for you.

Credit : HY MARKETING
Credit : HY MARKETING

2️⃣ Following your account

If you think your potential buyers already know your products and would love to support you, you can suggest this. However, don’t make it feel forced—like “you get free products if you promote us.”


A more subtle approach would be to have a promotional QR code or visual signs that let your audience choose to follow you on their own.

3️⃣ Receiving text messages

This can be great if you can offer real benefits for signing up. But trust me, just giving discount coupons all the time won’t make a huge difference.

4️⃣ Sharing the moment on their social (Gentle Monster)

If they want to! If it’s Instagrammable or truly worth sharing, they’ll do it themselves. The key is creating experiences that feel worth sharing, just like how you choose what to post on your social media.

Credit: thebigdata
Credit: thebigdata

5️⃣ Bringing another person to try

This is a smart move—like getting a brand ambassador or referral for free.

6️⃣ Dancing/singing on the floor (like McDonald’s)

This type of fun, if your audience is more extroverted, can make your event feel more like an event.


🎶 Big Mac Song (“빅맥송”) — Korea-Specific Event


McDonald’s Korea launched a fun promotion called Big Mac Big Day where customers who sang the “Big Mac Song” at the counter (e.g., “참깨 빵 위에 순 쇠고기~”) could get a free Big Mac.


Originally launched in 2011, it rewarded the first 100 participants per store who sang correctly.


Over the years (since its debut in 2011), up to 100,000 customers have participated in the event, with four iterations so far. It was so popular that high school students sang in groups—even dressed in hanbok or with props—creating a lively atmosphere and generating a lot of social media content.

Credit: Donga
Credit: Donga

7️⃣ Receiving next event info with flyers

A classic approach—add a little QR code or persuasive copywriting with visuals so they remember your next event and come back.

8️⃣ Buying the product

It’s like a “buy 1, get 1” approach—a great way to turn potential customers into real customers quickly.

Credit : Gong cha
Credit : Gong cha

9️⃣ Wearing your brand color look (Coffee Bean Korea)

A fun costume party theme can promote your brand’s message in a memorable way.

Coffee Bean Korea – “Purple Festival” Dress-Up Event

During their “Purple Festival,” customers who wore purple-themed clothing or accessories (e.g., clothes, hats, scarves) could receive free drinks at participating stores. It turned into a mini fashion show and was widely shared on social media.

Credit : Purple
Credit : Purple

🔟 Filming testimonial videos / writing reviews

If they’re comfortable, asking for reviews is a great way to build trust and foster relationships naturally.

BONUS: Interview them and upload it on your social

Another way to create engaging content and deepen your connection.


At the end of the day, there will always be people who just want free stuff and never actually buy from you. There’s even a phrase: “buyers are buyers.” It’s important to filter wisely, leave a positive impression, and build brand love for the long run.

How was today’s article?

Do you have any creative ideas to connect with your audience? Feel free to share them with us!

— Hyein

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