Opinions expressed by entrepreneurial contributors are their own.
My most satisfying, long lasting Business relations Started at a trade show organized by a new promoter. Year after year, we saw each other on the show and built a great relationship through good times and challenging times. Today, we refer new business opportunities to each other all the time.
I can call that relationship a true friendship because it’s not all about business, and it’s no longer a practical arrangement; We do not make referrals to get something in return, such as taking turns picking up checks at lunch. We’ve known and trusted each other for years, so when someone needs help, we know who to recommend. We know our best Valued customers Will be in good hands.
This is the first rule of relationships in business: Help the other person without expecting anything in return.
Related: 4 Strategies for Building Deep Business Relationships
The more you give, the more you get
Offer your support and resources out of a sincere desire to help, not because your colleague owes you something. I believe that the more you give and the more freely you give, the more you will receive – a reputation for generosity and Credibility As the “go-to” person for help and advice. Additionally, customers you refer to other businesses may view you more positively because you have helped them in addition to helping the company you referred them to consider.
Take a cue from LinkedIn, the online business connection platform. Read the posted content, and you’ll see that while many ask other members to do business with them, the vast majority simply provide helpful insights and information. They hope it will lead to new business, of course, but there are no such strings attached.
Like LinkedIn connections, in-person business relationships begin by offering opportunities to help. Real, lasting business success comes from the relationships you nurture, person-to-person – and if you’re doing it right, it comes before your product or its price. Of course, you can’t dismiss product and price; Your customers will certainly not ignore them if they are significantly different from your competitors. But if you have installed it A solid relationship, it can get you a lot. When there is not much difference between your product or service and your competition, a good relationship can tip the customer’s decision in your favor.
Related: 7 Amazing Ways to Build Long-Term Relationships with Your Customers
5 Tips for Building and Maintaining Important Relationships
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Check your attitude: It’s almost like falling in love. You must really enjoy being with the sales prospect or the person you work with. Get excited about what you have to offer them. Put on your most Positive attitude, wear a smile on your face, and be able to laugh with them. If you show them how much you enjoy your work, they will want to feel the same way.
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Find a connection: It helps to find common interest with another person. Know what they want and need — but not what you can sell them (and you don’t have to be subtle about it. Just ask them; they’ll be happy). Since I’ve traveled so much, I know places to visit and good restaurants to try, so if a client or colleague is visiting a place I’ve been to, I recommend the places to them. It gives them a positive feeling about me, which they will remember.
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Make gift giving meaningful: I like to send gifts at Thanksgiving, because I find that Christmas and New Year’s gifts can pile up, so your gift can get lost in the stack. But I don’t just give during the holidays. During the year, I will give away books that I have read and found suitable or send one of my own written books with a personal note.
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Join a networking or lead-referral group: They are great ways to connect with new businesses, especially if you find it difficult to get out and meet prospects yourself. But remember, Networking It’s not a contest you win by handing out the most business cards; It’s the starting point for new relationships (some people leave their cards behind, so they’re not tempted to go on a card-dropping spree). Approach these events with the goal of finding contacts who can help you, not people who can help you.
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Relax: I will go back to the analogy of falling in love. It is often said that love happens when you least expect it, and the harder and more deliberately you look, the less success you get. Whether you’re meeting prospects at a networking event or just chatting with clients, don’t make it all about you and your needs. Relax and get to know another person Officially. If they think you’re only interested in them because of what you’ll get out of it, they’ll break up with you before your first date.
It all comes down to offering help with no expectation of return. Just keep doing the right things, and eventually, the relationship will grow. Many people have helped me in the past and never asked for anything in return. I miss each of them, and I will always look for opportunities to help them in the future. is the key Knowing your customers Better than you know your products or services.
Related: Want strong business relationships? Avoid these 3 mistakes.
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