I’ve been a successful business owner through the years in various markets and learned a thing or two. My biggest success has been in the relationships built with my clients, customers and consumers. Unless spending the majority of your business budget on marketing campaigns and ads, the bulk of your business is in the relationships you build, service and quality products you provide with a guarantee that will put you in the lead.
From my perspective too many people are losing the ability to effectively communicate despite the fact they think they’re connecting and marketing consistently. Cell phones and social media platforms are offering apps daily and the possibilities to create relationships world-wide. However, I personally feel it’s in the direct approach, (one-on-one conversation with eye contact, voice tone and good listening skills) while standing behind your product with great customer service that will always win over any app, peep or post. Just because you’re tweeting, posting and texting every activity and movement in your day does not mean you’re creating meaningful relationships that matter personally or professionally. If you’re a business person ask yourself these 3 questions:
- What is your marketing campaign and is it working?
- Are you successfully fulfilling your goals and objectives?
- Are your customers satisfied?
When in business you must stay focused with a business plan and defined goals that consistently generate income. You must do this by establishing good relationships with people who want your product or service. It’s easy to get side-tracked while reading emails, checking social media sites and posting peeps. Focus! Find a method that works for you to stay on track doing what it takes to grow YOUR business while expanding your network.
Know your target audience and post messages related to them.
- Location – if you’re commenting on a specific product that’s only sold locally be sure to target those who live in the area. Take pictures, make reference to applicable topics and engage your audience in conversation but keep in mind your end goal. Be an active participant in your community. If you’re set up to market world-wide make your message understandably clear, always thinking about how the reader can respond and how your “words of wisdom” apply to your marketing message and have a method to follow up, connect and answer questions. Stand behind and be the voice of what you believe in.
- Language – Not everyone understands abbreviations or what I refer to as morse code of the 21st century (computer and social media lingo). Effective communication is becoming a lost skill although we argue otherwise. It’s often one-sided and missed opportunities that could potentially double or triple sales because we aren’t hearing (or listening) to what people really want. Read what you write and ask yourself if your message is clear to anyone, or does it only address a specific, narrow audience. Don’t skip words thinking people will read between the lines. If you want them to take action, tell them.
- Likability – people buy from people they relate with. Customer service is under-rated and will always, in my mind, be the #1 reason for retention in business. Ask your customers what they want and then be willing to provide it for them (after all they’re the reason you’re in business). Always fulfill your promises and over-deliver service. Ask questions. Is your customer happy with your service? If so are they willing to refer you to their friends. Will they return for future business? Was there anything you could have done better? The more questions you ask the clearer you become on the wants and needs of potential business and customer needs. Be willing to accept the advise and act upon it. Provide results that leave an impression.
Whether you are in business or not the more questions you ask and the more you listen to precisely what people are telling you the easier it is to deliver results. Take appropriate action you feel aligned with to improve your relationships with customers. Marketing & sales is simply the ability to relate to your audience on their level and be outstanding at it.
Know your value, be willing to give more than you expect to receive and you’ll not only reap the rewards, but you will stand out in a crowd. Chances are you have an outstanding product or service but unless you gain the trust and interest of the masses you’re destined to fail. Be proud of what you have to offer and confidently share why people should choose you compared to the competitor.
That’s my take on it today. Share your comments below or share this post. Get my free offer in the right hand column for more tips. To your success and happiness – Wendy MacKay
**Marketing and sales are not my specialty, however in everything we do in life we are selling our thoughts, opinions and ideas. People don’t want to be sold to, they want to receive what they feel they need that has the most value for the least cost.