A few simple communication strategies that are important for business- client relationships.
This sounds really silly at first glance, but if you compared the relationships most companies have with their clients to the relationships of everyday life that don't involve money, it's hard not to cringe.
Seriously, think about it. Most companies don't communicate with their clients for months on end, then, when the company really needs to "boost the bottom-line" they send out some bogus direct mail piece that essentially says, "Hey, how are ya? Why don't you come see us so you can spend some money?" Is that the way you like to be treated?
Well, it's certainly not the way we like to be treated, and this foul treatment can be avoided altogether if you just take a few simple steps.
1. Try to reach out to your customers, at minimum, on a monthly basis.
Whether it's a newsletter, a phone call or any other means of communication, keep the lines of communication open with your clients.
2. Don't just call or write when you have a self-serving agenda.
We all have that one friend that only calls when he needs to borrow the sugar or needs a favor. Don't be the business that your clients feel the same way about. Only communicating when it benefits you is not the way to build trust. Continue to reach out to them even when you don't have something to sell, remember, we're trying to build a relationship here.
3. Communicate with your clients and treat them like real people no matter what advertising medium you are using.
This if my favorite. Do you yell the following to your best friend, "COME OVER TO MY HOUSE TODAY JIM, WE'VE GOT ROCK-BOTTOM PRICES!" Well, if you do, I'm glad we don't speak on a regular basis, but realistically, this is no way to communicate. If you can communicate with your clients across mediums (television, radio, sales letters, direct mail, etc) using the same wording you would use when talking to an old friend, then it will likely connect with those who read it. When you take the time to communicate in this fashion, it shows that you have some personality, and people can instantly connect with you personally rather than the droves of other faceless radio announcers yelling at them to buy used cars. Just remember to take out the 4-letter-words and inside jokes!
There you have it; just a few simple steps that will help you create a longer-lasting and more profitable relationship with your clients. Hey, who knows, after a while you may even get invited to "meet the parents."
The 8th Deadly Sin: ThoughtSourcing
What is ThoughtSourcing? It's the function of outsourcing everything that crosses your path that requires some good old-fashioned thought; and possibly even some management of time and effort to execute on the decisions that you make based on that thought.
How Failure in My Kitchen Can Give You Success In Your Business!
The ultimate goal should be to get your clients and prospects to feel like you are their friend in the business. The only way to do this is by constantly delivering quality solutions, on time, at the right price (notice I didn't say the cheapest price) and by building a relationship.
Telling Your Story for More Profit
Telling stories is not only one of the oldest forms of communication; it is also one of the most effective. Accepting this statement as true should help you see why creating a business story is a reliable way to connect, and to create a bond with your customer that helps you rise above your competition in their eyes.
