And Why Does it Have Anything to Do with your Business?
No, this is not one of those flashy headlines to get you here.
Actually it is, but what I mean is that it’s TRUE.
Yes, I did land an apartment for free for 2 weeks in August, in one of the most expensive cities in the World.
Yes, central London!
How did that happened?
Because I’m pretty good at building and maintaining relationships.
Now, to be honest, I’ve not always been that way, but I’m getting better and better for sure.
But what does this has to do with me you may be asking?
Well, if you are in business, everything.
Because today business is built on relationships more than anything else.
My goal for with this article, is to help you understand why YOU need to build relationships to build your business.
Why are there More and More Ads out there?
Last week I wrote about 5 tell-tale signs that show that you don’t have a clue about marketing, and if you don’t, I suggest that you go read this article first.
But the point here is that people who don’t know or don’t want to spend some time building their business through relationships are losing out big time.
One of the main lies that business owners want to believe is that people will buy from them for no reason, just because they are promoted and advertised to.
Well, according to a recent Google case study what used to be called the Rule of Seven, which means that someone has to be exposed to your product about 7 times before they buy, has become the rule of 10.4, which means that people have to see your product over 10 times (on average) before they decide to buy.
This is a strong sign that it takes more advertising, and therefore more of your money, to sell your product these days.
Just think about it for a minute, there are more and ads thrown at us every day.
Do you remember when YouTube was ad free? Well, as you know, it’s not longer the case.
Indeed, ads are popping up more and more everywhere, because it takes more to convince people to buy.
But why is that the case?
Well, I’m no advertisement expert, but here are a few things that comes to mind.
- There are more and more products out there (more competition).
- If there are more products, then automatically it will take more ad space to promote them.
- Because there’re so many ads, people have developed blinders to ignore them as much as they can, so as a result even more ads are thrown at us.
Just a quick glance at the screen shot below, from Statista, showing the constant increase from the recent past to the upcoming future is a tell-tale sign that’s not going to decrease any time soon.
With the increase of businesses from large Fortune 500 companies to new solo entrepreneurs, the business landscape is increasing, and so is the advertisement for it.
This is why if all you’re going to do to promote your business is using cold advertising, you need to have a huge budget for it to start with.
But maybe, you could use another method that won’t cost you much money at all… what it will cost you though is more of your precious time.
The good news is that you can also hire someone to do that for you, but at least it will be way more economical than having to pay for advertisement.
And what’s more is that it works much better in the end.
How Building Relationships Pays off more than Ads
Just a few days ago, as I was having a conversation with an entrepreneur woman, I asked her how she got her clients.
Here answer was very telling, if you ask me.
She said that the vast majority of her clients came from referrals.
She’d meet someone online and build a relationship with them, and then through them she would meet other people that would become her clients.
For some reasons the first person she would build relationship with would not necessarily become a client, but she’d meet her future clients through them.
In any case, she said that none of her clients came out of the blue. She had had to build some type of relationships with them first.
Advertisement is not where she’s getting her clients from.
Even her blog is not the vehicle that she’s getting clients from.
While her blog is a platform where she can send them to learn more about her, what she does, and even deliver value for them, most of her business is created thought emails and other exchange messages, before someone decides to hire her services.
No advertisement can and ever will overtake the value of building strong relationships to grow your business.
Why Relationships are so Important in Business
Remember my headline?
How I landed an apartment in London for 2 week for free?
As some of you know, but probably many more of you don’t, I am writing these words from England right now, because I am on a 12+ month journey all over Europe.
So far I’ve been in Scotland for 2 weeks, and one week in Ireland. Next week I’ll be going to Spain for a week, before I head back up to the UK for another month. Then I’ll be heading to France, my own native country, for an extended amount of time.
In case you’re wondering, one of the best ways to travel that long is to what’s called housesitting. So, instead of staying in an expensive hotel, or having to rent a holiday apartment, you agree to take care of someone’s place (which usually includes pets) while they’re away.
The house sitting market is becoming more and more popular and my guess is that it will also become more and more crowded as time goes on, but I have a head start, because I’ve already built relationships with people that not only would invite me back, but give me great referrals as well.
However, the reason why I got that free apartment in London for two weeks, is not because I’m going to take care of someone’s place while they go on vacation.
No, it’s because I’ve built a relationship with someone in France whose house I’ll be taking care of later this year, but they have invited me to stay in their apartment (which will be empty at that time) in London as a gracious gift for me to enjoy the city free of rent.
So, while some people will pay $300, $500 or more a night, I’ll be staying for free in central London.
One thing is certain, no advertisement in the world would have got me that, now would it?
And the beauty about relationships is that it doesn’t work only one way( unless you’re a very selfish person).
Meaning I’m not the only one benefiting from free beautiful places to live in Scotland, because those people I built a relationship with will be welcomed to my place when I get back to the United States.
We may do a house swap or not, it doesn’t matter.
If they want a free stay in the US at some point, they got it.
We’ve built a trust-relationship that’s priceless and that can’t be advertised in any way.
Why am I telling you this story?
Because…
Relationships will get you Lifetime Customers
If you do it well.
If you are genuine enough to appeal to people to the point that they can trust you, you will get lifetime customers or clients that will not only come back to buy more from you, but send you referrals, who in turn will send you more referrals.
Advertisement will cost you only money, so if you have plenty of it, you might want to spend some on that, but what advertisement can’t buy is trust and bounding that only YOU can create.
And that my friend, won’t cost you a penny, but it will cost you some of your time and commitment.
So, are you ready for the challenge of building more relationships for your business?
Let me know what you think in you comment.
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Hi Sylviane,
Well stated! Every business is built on the back of relationships. Even Fortune 100 and 500 companies need relationships to grow their business.
At the core of it, this is what “Lobbyist” do… they build relationships that in turn enable them to have conversations with powerful people they otherwise would not ever get a voice with.
You can debate the merits of it and if it’s a good or bad thing but the point is it’s the relationships that drive business.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for retailers to market in other ways that introduce them to the masses who may buy their products. However, they have relationships and create alliances, strategic partners and referral partners as well.
Great post Sylviane.
Have a fantastic week and enjoy it the scenery. Looks like you’re having the time of your life!
~ Don Purdum
Don Purdum invites you to read..You Are Not Your Ideal Customer
Hi Don,
Yes, of course in the case of retailers, advertisement seem to work well for them, because it’s a bit of a different type of business, but for the rest of us, relationship building is what’s going to bring our clients at the door for the most part.
Thank you for taking the time to come by and you have a wonderful week!
Hi Sylviane,
Indeed, it is all about relationships. We can go out there and spend money, and yes it can work, but what is better is building relationships. That’s how we get referrals. In my off line business I never advertized. I built relationships with my clients. They were happy and told other people about it. To this day I still get referrals coming in.
It is all about treating our clients/customers well. Give a little extra…really take interest in who they are and how you can help. That to me is a foundation of a strong business.
I sell my products all the time but what I always notice is before someone purchases something I may put on the warrior forum or elsewhere, they come and check me out. They may ask me questions and I have to be available to be there for them.
No matter what business we are in it always comes down to people. This is why relationships are the most effective.
-Donna
Donna Merrill invites you to read..How To Make YouTube Cards
Hi Donna,
Yes, businesses thrive on people, so we should put people at the top of our priorities to build our business.
The same thing goes once a customer is in, we need to not ignore them, like that stupid guy who had sold me my previous blog theme. I really despise him now all because of the way I was treated. We definitely don’t want to follow a very bad example like that one 🙂
Thanks for your input Donna and you have a wonderful week.
Hey Sylviane,
Well you know I’m all about building relationships and I’ve also shared that although even your own blog readers may never buy from you, because of the relationship you build with them they’ll refer you to their friends. Prime example of this same thing happening with you Sylviane.
I never pay attention to ads but if I wanted to purchase something I would go online and start doing some research. So those statistics are right because like most people I don’t necessarily jump on something right away. I like to look around, check things out and then make a decision. So the ads probably aren’t working as well as they use to which is why more money is being thrown their way.
I appreciate referrals more than anything because that trust factor has already been built. My friends would never refer me if they didn’t think I’d do someone a good job. Of course being available to answer questions or help them in any way is another added bonus so they know what they’re getting.
Really great share and I’m excited for you. July is creeping up on us and you’ll be off to another adventure. Can’t wait to see where you go next.
Have a wonderful week Sylviane.
~Adrienne
Adrienne invites you to read..Magical Monday: Vision, Clients, Comments, Influencer Marketing, Successful Blogger
Hi Adrienne,
I’m glad my blog let you in this time. Crazy technology, isn’t it?
Yes, for sure you’re all about relationships and it’s been working very well for you, as it should.
Since I’ve got involved in personal development I started to get better and better with people, and now I’m WAY better than I used to be even only like a couple years ago or so.
Once all the crap is gone, all the subconscious issues and all 🙂 I see that people really like me. I was telling someone the other day how those people I house sit for have left giving me hugs and kisses. I have two more family that I’m going to meet in July and August and I love them already 🙂 It’s also the proof that my LOA is working very well these days, because I’m mastering it much better.
I sure will be sharing more pictures on Facebook, but I’m never sure how many of my friends actually see them, like I had barely seen any of yours and actually went to your page this morning and looked at all of them. Your sister in law looks so much like a French actress when she was about that age, by the way. Can’t look at her without seeing that actress 🙂
You take care and see you around 🙂
Hi Sylviane,
Wow! All because you have been able to built awesome relationships with the people around you! I want that, too!
I was at Adrienne’s site last time and she was talking about building relationships, too.
I understand perfectly that it is a very important thing not just in business but in our personal lives, too.
I am learning more from you, thank you!
I hope you have an awesome and safe trip!
Thank you!
Luna
Luna Darcy invites you to read..When Life Hits You Hard: 5 Things To Remember And 5 Verses To Live By
Hi Sylviane,
Shouldn’t even post a comment…in a bad mood, but you brought it home
that dedicated work and even dedication to your cause is the only way to attain any level of success and reward.
Since all of it will come from people you meet and engage with, can’t expect to waltz around and enjoy others work without leaving some appreciation.
Really enjoying your pictures, but do admit that I have to go look for them upon occasion.
Facebook has its own ways lately.
C.
Cararta invites you to read..Cure for Type 1 Diabetes
Hi Cararta,
Where you in a bad mood when you read that post? So sorry about that and I hope you feel better by now.
Thank you for your input, and I’m glad you enjoy the pictures. I know Facebook is very weird and won’t allow all your friends to see your stuff. Frankly, I use facabook, but never liked it anyways 🙂
Take care.
“Why Relationships are so Important in Business?”
Building customer relationships is one of the nine customer retention strategies you can use to improve customer service and reduce customer churn.
Yes, I agree with you that “Relationships will get you Lifetime Customers”. That is very true. It is very clear and self-explanatory. The better the relationship you have with your customer, the better your sales will be. If you uphold a well-built relationship with them, the power of mouth will help you to grow bigger and better.
Not everyone is expert, nevertheless, practice makes perfect. Communicate like a human-being, learn about your customer and stay in regular contact with customers. These will help, I must say.
All in all, a helpful article. Thanks for sharing!
Metz invites you to read..You Are Not Your Ideal Customer
Hi Metz,
Yes, relationships is big for retention that’s for sure. Some companies have retention teams that do just that.
Thank you for your input.
Hey Sylviane
Housesitting is awesome and is especially so in more expensive areas of the world such as Europe. I hope you enjoy your journey and I am sure it will be so enriching and bring lots of clarity, insights and great ideas! You are so right about relationships for leveraging your presence and exploding your business.
kelli invites you to read..Law of Attraction: Is Your Energy Stuck in Suppressed Anger?
Hi Kelli,
Yes, you should know, house sitting is wonderful and helps you grow, beside all the other bells and whistles. I am really loving it more than I even thought I would, and some great gifts come along with it such as this free apartment in London. That’s amazing what we can get when we know how to use the law of attraction on our side, isn’t it?
Thanks for coming by. Really appreciate that 🙂
Ciao, Sylviane,
Love the title and loved your intro! You’re absolutely right! Building and maintaining relationships is very important in business.
You’re spot on, my friend – folks don’t buy from someone for no reason at all, I for one, do not!
I think housesitting is a fabulous way to travel. My daughter was really interested in it, but she got married and started a family. My son may be delving into this, who knows, but the travel bug has definitely bit him. We’re wanting to go to Italy some time this fall, but not sure when – all depends on the legal stuff for the house we’re getting.
Anyway, you said it right when you said: relationships will get you lifetime customers. I’ve experienced this. I have some folks who have been with me since I started – truly loyal. What a tremendous blessing!
Love to follow your journey, Sylviane, awesome job on sharing this important topic. So happy you’re living your dream!
Take Care,
Carol Amato
Carol Amato invites you to read..10 Best (and Legitimate) Work-at-Home Jobs
Hi Carol,
Always nice to see you here.
That’s right, I don’t buy something just for nothing either and knowing who I’m buying from is strong determining factor for me.
Well, I want to tell your son that house-sitting is the way to go to travel at minimum expenses while doing it with the top comfort. I think that as single people go there are more females than males doing it, but I do know some single guys house-sitting too so he shouldn’t let that stop him. I’m still amazed how easy it was for me right from the start being able to book a 12 month house-sitting in just about a 4 week frame.
Thank you for coming 🙂
Yes it’s totally true, people who care to establish and build relationships with others have an easy time being successful. They get better jobs, clients, help when needed and so on.
Oh, now I’m jealous about that trip of yours. Maybe I have to give a try to that housesitting concept, lol.
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Hi Sylviane,
Yes, indeed relationship building takes time and commitment to be successful. It eventually pays off as trust is built.
It is one thing to advertise for a good/service but its quite a different ball game to influence and convince potential buyers. Only trust can bring about lifetime relationships and customers which every business needs.
Your piece makes good sense and congratulations for the free apartment you received in Central London!
I left the above in kingged.com as well