The relationship marketing trend seems to be picking up everywhere I go.
I would like to think that I was the one responsible for this movement, but I can’t take credit for it.
Anyone who is invested in their audience and blog readers already understands the effort that it takes to build a solid relationship with people and what that can do to their business.
It’s literally everywhere I look. If you’re wondering what relationship marketing is all about just take a look at some of the people who live it and breath it everyday.
Or you could take a look at the new community.
I see Ian Cleary has a certain tweet that he puts out like clockwork and I know I’ve seen it at least 5 times this month.
He gets it.
Building relationships is the most important thing you could achieve with social media! pic.twitter.com/35nd94MwR3
— Ian Cleary (@IanCleary) April 7, 2015
So I thought I would take it one step further and ask people what they felt about relationship marketing and give us a couple of great tips that we could take home today and use for our business.
Let’s go!
Relationship Marketing Tips From the Pro’s
Building relationships on Social Media isn’t complicated, the same things you do to build friendships and relationships offline all apply online as well.
3 ways to grow those online relationships:
– To me, the first step to building relationships on social media is to be active and available.
Just like in life, being available and attentive to people helps strengthen friendship/relationship.
– Second, understand in the beginning you will want and need to be very giving and supportive.
Just like in life, the best relationships come from you being supportive and giving of your time, emotions etc…
– Third, learn to be helpful, the best way to build and nurture online relationships on social media is to be helpful. Offer tips, answer questions etc…
Again like in life, being kind and helpful when your needed is a powerful way to grow friendships and relationships.
There are many things you can do to build relationships on Social Media, but if you focus on just these 3, you will be well on your way to building friendships and relationships that will benefit you and your blog or business well into the future.
To build the best relationships your mindset should be “What can I do for them?”
Do something today that will make them remember you tomorrowClick To Tweet
In the attention economy we give our attention, which is valuable, to those we trust. Trust is first established between us and those we come to know and build relationships with.
Trust however is a transitive property.
It is passed along to those we know who do not have close relationships with those we trust, but which now they are willing to trust them too, because they know and trust us.
This merry-go-round of trust is not infinite but it is scale-able so that close relationships, build on a solid foundation are an investment that pays off as one’s reputation grows. The approach helps marketing achieve two almost impossible things:
Be real and stay honest.
Relationship marketing is so much about building a tribe around your business.
Relationships with potential buyers are now increasingly built one conversation at a time.
As trust builds, a reputation forms around the person/brand, and in time they rise to become an authority i.e. they are known as ‘the best’, the most relevant, the answer, in that niche.
Google Search is now the place where authorities shine – it is through Search results that we can truly determine authenticity that people are the authority.
But how does this come about? It is through relationships with the people who are engaging on their content, this is how trust is built and a reputation is shared across the web.
I think if you’re going to truly succeed you need to be open and genuine when building relationships with customers and business associates, either on social media or in person.
Your heart needs to be at the center of what motivates you and you have to expect to give and not to expect anything in return.
If you have an ulterior motive the ‘mask’ will soon slip and you’ll be exposed for what you are: self-interested.
1. Always be relate-able! People are attracted to stories and things that they can relate to. The moment you stop being relate-able that is the moment you become irrelevant. You have to connect with your people.
2. Don’t make things too perfect or polished. If people think that it has to be perfect then they will never begin to do it. Keep things simple and duplicate-able.
3. Be honest and be you…don’t try and be someone you are not. Put your personality out there and the people worthy of being part of your tribe will begin to follow you.
Relationships are at the heart of every business, and every interaction you have has the potential to become a rewarding, lasting relationship based on the trust you earn.
Authenticity-being genuine and consistent, these are the qualities that will cultivate that trust. The thing about building relationships online is that they’re no different from those in your offline life and work; they need to be treated as something you hold precious.
In crafting your marketing strategy, realize that relationships aren’t created or built-to-last by using a formula.
There are no short cuts.
Good relationships require repeated engagement [real conversations], true listening and time [like anything worthwhile], familiarity, helpfulness and mutual respect.
Use tips with caution and not by rote. Keep in mind that every relationship is unique and needs to be handled thoughtfully with care.
It’s about them, not you.
Write with your audience’s wants and needs in mind. Take careful note of the feedback you’re getting and invite your audience to participate in the conversation.
Focus on how you can help them, not how they can help you
The thing about relationship marketing is that it’s not really about marketing, it’s about relationships.
If you do the relationships part with genuine and pure intention, the marketing stuff just takes care of itself.
Just find people you like and people you trust and you’ll all end up helping each other eventually. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that.
Don’t get obsessed by tools, but do properly research the ones that will work for you and your business.
Try not to follow the crowd, but look at tools that will help you be more productive and help you concentrate on what will help your business and on the things you enjoy.
Sometimes it’s best to choose a variety of tools other than “One Tool to Rule them All”.
Don’t just thank people on social media- add more value.
With so much clutter and noise on social media, a single reply of “thank you” on social media has lost a lot of its meaning for many people. As well as thanking people for sharing your content or following you- give them something more valuable in return. That could be helping them with a problem, asking them how they are doing or introducing them to someone you know.
Make sure you create eye-catching and engaging images for your blog posts.
That includes images optimised for Pinterest as well as Facebook, Twitter and Google+. If you use a social sharing plugin such as Social Warfare, you can share a Pinterest optimized (i.e. tall) image on Pinterest and a landscape image for other networks.
The Final Thought
The basis for your social media to come alive can be found in all of these great tips that you’ve just read. As you can tell, a lot of people have reiterated some of the same things, and these work.
Engage, be helpful, build trust, create your tribe, etc. This isn’t rocket science, it’s just you being good at you. And when you can display your originality of who you are, people will be more inclined to head your way because they will remember all of those times you helped them consistently.
That really is the key to all of these tips.
Be consistent in what you do. Don’t just do a lot of things halfway, do a select few things great and you will thrive.
Want more tips? Sign up to the email list below the post and receive a free sneak peek at my new ebook The Relationship Manifesto!
Wade Harman
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