Making relationships part of your biz plan
As a business owner, you might know that relationships are a critical part of your bottom line, but what if relationships were more than that. Let's dive into relationships as part of your marketing plan: loyalty, referrals, resources, and more!
Consider relationships as a way to breed loyalty - not just loyal customers & clients, but YOU being loyal to THEM! What if you were a loyal communicator, sharing tips, ideas and VIP experiences on a regular basis? What if you were a loyal cheerleader, celebrating their milestones, anniversaries, and successes? When you take the initiative to foster loyalty, your customers and clients will do the same. But it starts with YOU!
Relationships should equal referrals - everyone loves a good warm lead in business and what better way to ensure there’s more of those coming in than developing real, authentic relationships with your circle of influence. This could include existing clients, potential customers, and clients, partnerships with other businesses and industry leaders. But referral relationships don’t just happen by accident. They need cultivating and intentional oversight to see that they blossom into healthy connections.
Open the door to your connections - relationships can lead to a fluid motion of referrals coming in and referrals going out. Your database of contacts should know you are the “well connected” business owner who knows everyone. Need a painter? You know someone. Need a good CPA? You know someone. Your relationships should be built in such a way that you are the hub of a wheel with a lot of spokes. Your well connected and are equally good at connecting others.
Set your connections up for success - What resources can you provide your business-to-business connections that help them do better business? Got a great book, tip, idea, techno gizmo? Look for ways to elevate and highlight your relationships’ and their connections. It’s service to the max, putting their success ahead of your own. But remember the quote from good ol’ Zig Ziglar, “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”
If your marketing plans don’t include building and cultivating relationships, consider adding it to the mix right away! It’s been a game-changer for our company and for many of our clients. The trick to making relationships work to where they are an intentional part of your marketing plan and become an authentic way to engage with others… you need a thorough plan to execute and a great way to track your activity. Looking for some help? Check out our three R method© at https://www.contentbyrequest.com/3r-method
