Relationship marketing is a dirty word and I hate the term to tell the truth.
When you talk about this ‘technique’ with people you can sense them being taken back when you talk about strategies and different things like that.
Relationship marketing, at first glance, would make you think of manipulation. But isn’t all marketing manipulation in some way or another? You want people to sign up to your email list, you want people to click your links, you strategize and plan to prompt people to do different things that you want them to do for your business, so in all reality, marketing is manipulation.
But the main factor in building your business online is through the relationship side of things.
Now I’m not talking about being fake and distant with people, only putting on your friendly face just because you know you need to in order to lure them into your Call To Action trap later. It’s not that at all, but the opposite.
I want to show you why relationship marketing is so easy you don’t have to do anything special, just be your friendly self.
Here are some ideas to build relationships with people, get you on their radar and start a friendship that will take your business places in the future.
#1: Be Helpful to Their Business
Taking your business to the next level requires that you take someone else’s business to the next level. People won’t know that you exist if you keep shouting about your own stuff.
(a)Share
However, when you take the time to share their articles, podcasts, webinars, etc, consistently then they start to take notice of you.
So the first thing I would recommend to build a relationship with someone in your niche is to share.
Sharing is the easiest thing you can do right now to help you stand out with someone that you would like to become close with. I make it a point every day to share someone of influence and make sure to tag them in the share as well to let them know you’re thinking of them.
(b)Help Them Out
One of the most powerful things you can do for a person that you would like to build a relationship with is to help them out. When you help people do something better, gain something, or bring more value to their business, then they don’t forget it.
Remember #EvilWade the first part of August? It was an ‘evil scheme’ I planned to help out a friend of mine. That friend was Jay Baer and his Google+ page had only 51 followers and I thought I could help him build that number in a short amount of time.
Here’s the post:
Actually I ended up hitting two birds with one stone with this campaign because I helped the Convince & Convert G+ page build their following to 503 followers in 3 days AND I was able to use the clout of Jay Baer and his brand to help out bloggers that I felt needed recognition from powerful people like him.
The question is always What can I do for someone today? It’s never, What can I get out of someone today?
The question is always what can I do for someone today that will help them?Click To TweetOnce you figure that question out, you’re going to hit your mark with your business. Sure you want people to buy from you, but before that happens you’ve gotta build your business this way first.
#2: Meet Them in Person
My best relationships have came from the people I have went out and met. You have conversations with these people every day on social, but you can’t beat a face to face meeting!
If you have the opportunity to meet someone then you should do it! It will show them that you are serious about taking the relationship a step further.
Offer to make the drive or the flight, and when you get there, offer to buy the lunch or dinner! Make this meeting about them and not you. It is always your pleasure to be in their company.
#3: Invite Them To Your Event
I remember when I first met Jay, that was pretty nerve wracking for me. This guy has a multi-million dollar business, has big corporate clients and is one of the most sought after speakers in the marketing industry.
Why would he want to be my friend?
That was the wrong question, and one I learned from. The real question is why wouldn’t he want to be my friend?
A great way to start the relationship building process with a person is to invite them to be on your show, your Blab, webinar, etc. Whatever the case may be, invite them to participate with you.
Final Thought
Being yourself is easy. That’s really all you need to do. Don’t be fake, don’t be a suck up, people hate that. Just be YOU. Help them as much as you can, all the while building your business consistently through helping your readers and followers.
And don’t forget to send the elevator back down, because while you’re looking up at someone hoping they will notice you, there is someone looking up at you hoping the same thing. It’s just as important to treat the people below you with as much respect as you would treat the people above you.
Wade Harman
Latest posts by Wade Harman (see all)
- How A Freelancer Can Acquire More Clients Quickly - July 25, 2017
- The Steps to Take After Your Website Has Been Hacked - July 24, 2017
- 4 Ways To Keep Your Business Running Smoothly - June 25, 2017