The most successful businesses in the world, large and small, have something in common: They build relationships with their clients on an emotional level and then nurture those relationships.
Many small business owners get this wrong. They use their marketing channels almost exclusively, to send sales messages to the marketplace. You are more likely to find them on Twitter sending out links to their sales pages, than reaching out to clients and future clients, with help and ideas. They are so short-sighted that they see social networks simply as a free way to push sales pitches and broadcast.
The money is in the relationships
The enlightened small business owner has figured out that the money is not in “the list.” The money is in the relationships. They know that before they can expect the marketplace to care about them or their business, they must first earn that privilege.
- This means communicating rather than broadcasting.
- It means understanding that when you refer to your COMMUNITY as your LIST, you have just transformed them from PEOPLE into ITEMS on some database.
- It means offering your marketplace independently valuable information (like this brief blog post), rather than sales pitches.
- It means listening.
- It means understanding, really understanding, that behind every name, handle, photo and avatar, is a fellow human being.
- It means understanding that you need to play the longer game, if you want to stay in business long term.
- It means humanizing what needs to be human and automating what needs to be automated AND knowing the difference.
- It means understanding that the process of giving and receiving starts with giving.
In short: Business is all about people, so keep it as human as possible.
Jim Connolly can help you grow your business and achieve the breakthrough marketing results your hard work deserves. To find out more, simply click here!
Photo: davedehetre
Hello Jim,
I hope you don’t mind me saying that this is a beautiful post. I say this because you write of people and not process here. And the value of people; the value of relationships; the value of giving … priceless!
Thanks for raising me to a higher level, one that brings awareness, today!
Have a fantabulous weekend!!
Much kindness,
Elena
Hi Elena. Sadly, most of the marketing information out there, treats prospective clients / customers as prospective victims.
I have had many, many emails for help, from well known Internet marketers, who advocate that hard-sell bullshit and are going broke.
Sadly, people are willing to believe much of what they see online, so the problem persists.
Thanks for the kind words, Elena.
I fully agree here Jim.
The fastest way to lose my business is for me to think I am being treated like a number. I totally cringe when “copyblogger types” use that scammy discriptive.
Not cool.
Thanks for showing that people can be human and still market their wares online Mr Connelly.
Hi George and welcome to the blog.
I love the term “copyblogger types”. They do, however, have a large and dedicated readership, who connect with their approach.
I didn’t agree with the thought of this post.
It’s always great to get constructive feedback, Mansoor.
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