Do Relationships Matter In This Technological Age?
Relationship building is a fundamental foundation for any successful business. When your business is completely online, it’s even more important to understand that relationships matter. With millions of existing websites and more being built every day, the competition is fierce. Remember that technology is only the way you deliver your ideas and products. Unless you build strong relationships with your customers and others, it’s easy to get left behind.
The truth is, your direct success is dependent on the relationships you create with others. You could have a killer blog and great content…maybe even lots of traffic. The rapport you have with your audience, being personable, and sharing a part of who you are with them is what builds engagement. The people that have chosen you as a source of information should be held in the highest regard. When they have a great experience with you, they are far more likely to share you with others, bringing more traffic to your site and more potential customers. Think about it, when you see a good movie, spot a great shoe sale or find any other great resource what do you do? Not only share it with others, but share it with the people in your circles that are like minded and will get the greatest benefit from it.
Relationship building doesn’t stop with your audience, though. Having constant interaction and contact with those that are also on the same path as you is a great way to build your business. Mastermind groups and live events let you connect with people who are on the same journey. Valuable business partnerships and joint ventures are created just by having interaction and befriending those around you. These are people you can count on to share ideas with, create products, and provide bigger and better services that will take your business to the next level.
So what are some ways you can build rapport with those in your target market?
Share, share, share. The more you give, the more you will receive. If this seems a little backwards, you’re wrong. In this business, it’s all about how much valuable information you can give away. Once people see that you are a reliable source of epic content, they will genuinely want to know more and learn more from you. Many “customers for life” are created this way.
Another way is to write FOR your audience. What problems do they have that you can solve? What do they want to hear about? Keep this in mind each time you sit down to write and you will never have a problem reaching those you want to help and in turn, having them buy from you over and over again.
Our lives and the success we experience depends not just our own creative efforts but in large part on the people we know and associate with. Building solid relationships with the people you come in contact with can launch your business to places you never dreamed. A huge bonus is that you will also be creating lifelong friendships that will be worth more than any amount of money. The key is to be yourself, and let your unique personality shine through to those you want to reach.
© Teresa Cleveland, The Entrepreneur's Toolbox