The Internet has changed the way consumers research and shop. Chances are, they have access to information about your products and can directly purchase them online or even from the same manufacturers. That means that you have to add value to every sale or inquiry.
Compassion, commitment and forging relationships go a long way towards building your business, faster and better than a faceless website with a better price. Given a choice, customers want a face to go along with their purchase. How you handle those interactions can go a long way towards building your core business. Here are a few everyday tips to help you grow.
Employ the ‘Grocery Store Rule’
What’s the grocery store rule? If you ran into a client in the grocery aisle, you should feel confident in going up and shaking their hand. You should always feel accountable. You should never feel like you gave them a raw deal and need to avoid them outside of your office. Make your deals work and treat everyone with the respect they deserve.
Create Goodwill and Build Social Capital
Small gestures mean a lot when building business relationships for the long term. Take care of your customers and go the extra mile. You’d be surprised how effective something as simple as a thank-you card can be. Making real connections with real people is critical to business growth.
Admit Your Mistakes
The bottom line, be honest. If you’ve made a mistake, or missed a deadline own up to it. You’re part of a greater community and as such sometimes you may make a mistake; don’t make excuses. When you screw up, own it and ask for forgiveness.
Create Partnerships
Building relationships that can yield long-term opportunities takes time. If a request comes in that is outside of your area, pass it along to friends in the community who can handle the task. It will come back to you in the end.
Remember, building your business takes time. Adding the human factor to your dealings will make the sale. You can gain clients by showing extra care when dealing with them, but remember you can lose them just as easily by being rude or inattentive. Don’t get emotional, be accountable and keep your dealings fair. Be a part of your community and your business will grow.
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