With the birth of social networking sites, people had this new online avenue to create relationships not only with their current friends but with people with whom they share similar interests with. After the initial adding up friends or people that they know, social networking sites started to build communities that attract people that do not even know each other. Businesses first capitalized on this by creating ads first and then by letting their business seem to be like a person wherein people who share the same desire about their products add them up. This is where relationship marketing and small business marketing was first linked and born. So what does relationship marketing do to your small business?
1. Relationship Marketing became an avenue to build online trust
The downside of the vast world that the online industry brought up is that it also opened its doors to potential scammers. Relationship Marketing, as an online business, is your avenue to build trust within your consumers. Having accounts on social media networks such as Facebook or Twitter allow you to humanize your business on an online level, that is, with Relationship Marketing, they are able to see that you are real.
2. Relationship Marketing opened the gates for you to peek into your consumers’ minds
Having those online communities, your consumers can directly give you feedback and valuable insights on what they think of your product and services and also what they want you to give them. It’s basically instant market research as your target market voluntarily and easily gives you the things that they want you to give them. This allows you to focus your efforts to what they want and when they get what they want, they stay with you and essentially makes your online business flourish.
3. Relationship Marketing allows you to build valuable networks
Being an internet marketer makes you a network marketer as well. Take advantage of the easy-access that the internet gives. Go ahead and follow influential people through Twitter or add them up as friends through Facebook. After which, communicate with them. Ask them for advice and tell them if their advice worked. More than being able to help you with your business, if your consumers see that you actively know and participate with these influential people, you gain credibility.
An Important Note to Make Your Relationship Marketing Effective
Now, that you know what Relationship Marketing can do for your online business, just one last note before you start this type of marketing: do not give out sales pitches through these communities and social networks. As the given name, Relationship Marketing capitalizes on fostering relationships between you and your consumers and between your consumers themselves. So be human, use these avenues to talk to them in a personal level. Comment on their comments. Let them know what you think of their comments. Give them advice if they ask for it. Give them solutions to their questions about your business right there. Let them discuss their experiences, both the good and the bad through your page and participate in those. Thank them for the good and apologize for the bad and work on it. Once they feel that they actually belong to a community or that they have a relationship with you then you can start telling them, still on a personal way, about checking your videos or your website or telling them about your new product or promotion. Just remember, keep it personal.
If you can successfully employ Relationship Marketing, you would be successful in no time. Not only will you gain loyal consumers but you would grow as well because for sure, you will be recommended. Remember, your consumers are your treasures and you must take good care of them. Relationship marketing is your sure shot to making your small business successful. This is small business marketing in its finest.
Have you started your relationship marketing strategy? What are your experiences? Share your thoughts!
Wed, Apr 6, 2011
Marketing