Business relationships and sales are based on strong customer relationships. Think of how you like to be treated when dealing with a business. This can be either in your professional or personal life. Nobody wants to be in a one-sided relationship, so fostering a mutually beneficial relationship is imperative for success.
Begin by thinking about how you are delivering valuable information to your customers. A customer relationship is more than handing someone a gift and saying "Thanks for being a great client" or adding someone randomly to a series of emails. A solid customer relationship should be personable and impactful.
You should set a flow and triggers for yourself so you are interacting with your customers in the way they want to receive information. If you notice someone engaging with a piece of content repeatedly, ask what is happening in their world to make this important. Put yourself in their shoes, be a resource and trusted source of information ... not a nag.
When you analyze how your current customers respond to the information you provide, you can begin to build trust with them. Any relationship without trust isn't going to get you very far.
Communication is key in your customer relationships. Be open and honest. You are here to solve a problem, so don't dance around the truth.
Collaborate with your customer to determine the solution. Two minds are better than one, and forming a true partnership where you are working towards the same goal will enhance your relationship.
A partnership over time can help your business and your customer's business. A customer relationship should be mutually beneficial. The effort you put in should not only help your customer, but your own business.
Referrals are often a great source of new business, your customer today could introduce you to your next customer. Don't be afraid to ask for an introduction. If you've done your job of establishing a strong customer relationship, your customer should have no problem sharing your name with someone in their network.
If you need help establishing strong customer relationships, reach out to see how JH may be able to help.
