If there is one “secret” to online success, it is developing relationships. All successful online business people work hard at developing relationships and then nurturing them.
As human beings, we like to buy from people, not companies. We enjoy knowing that someone thinks about us, and offers to help us with our needs. No abstract idea of a conglomeration of the things it takes to form a business can offer that – only a person can.
And only people can spread a message via word of mouth – or in the case of the internet, word of comment. Others’ opinion of you and your company is perhaps the most important factor in online marketing. Positive comments and spreading the word are the benefits of establishing long and lasting relationships.
Relationships exist not only between the business owner and his or her clients, but their employees, and the people they mentor as well.
Client Relationships
The most obvious relationships you need to establish and nurture are those with your most important asset, your customers. Without your customers, you have no business.
Your company’s main goal should be to help people in some way. In the case of your clients, your products or services need to offer a solution to their problems, or to simply make their life a bit easier. You can do this in many ways: by offering personalised customer service, by selling quality products, or by filling a niche market that other companies have not identified.
Client relationships will grow through personalised interaction. Although this may seem impossible to accomplish through the internet, today’s tools such as social media make it possible. Follow-up email messages, phone calls, or autoresponders allow you to speak directly to your customers. Satisfaction surveys help you determine if you are truly helping the people who purchase your items. Newsletters provide an easy means to stay in touch and at the forefront of your customers’ thoughts.
Mentoring
One of the best ways you can give back to the online community is to use your skills, talents, and knowledge to help someone else achieve success. This is never wasted time. The people you choose to mentor can easily become a trusted employee, a successful affiliate who sells your products, and your biggest supporter as they venture out into their own business concerns.
Mentees are one of the best sources for finding, and establishing, new relationships with potential clients. Because you have given them something valuable, they will be more than willing to do the same in return and will be talking to others about your expertise.
Remember that the key to any business, no matter the goods or services offered, is the relationship that exists between two people. Whether you concentrate on B2B or B2C interactions, each person in the equation (you, your employees, your mentees, your clients, and even your competition) is a vital component for success.
See you at the top of Google!
Sean Rasmussen
SEO Australia Pacific
AussieSEO.com © 2007 - 2010
Hi Sean,
This is excellent advice. I think that how successful you are with anything comes down to the quality of your relationships with other people. Internet marketing is definitely a team sport.
I also think that customers are the most important part of any business because without them you have nothing. Now more than ever before, customers have a lot of choice. So, I think your customer service needs to be the best you can make it.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Learn and Earn Competition – This is It =-.
Hi Sean
One thing we all do as humans is to be in relationship with each other. It is impossible to do otherwise unless were to lock ourselves away and live alone forever.
In online and offline businesses it is crucial to build relationships, trust being the first major component with all relationships as well as business. Trust needs to be earned and returned, and once you are trusted in business, word of mouth advertising can spread fast and often with more surety of your good name than any other form of advertising.
I always do what I say I will do, therefore I make sure that my heart is behind any commitment I make. If I falter, I don’t make excuses, but I will be honest, apologise and work hard to reinstate my trust with that person again.
You have given me great advice and ideas in this article thankyou.
.-= Elly´s last blog .. =-.
Once you are “using online relationships to your advantage” it’s amazing the ripple effect that can be achieved.
As an example, I “discovered”
Sean via acquaintances I’d made in Australia over the Internet with whom I’d developed a very friendly relationship. As I followed their comments on various social networking sites I started to see glowing references to this Sean Rasmussen fella and finally decided to check him out. I liked what I saw and I’m still following him around on the ‘net. 
.-= Don White´s last blog ..Meeting Family =-.
Hi Don,
I think this has to be the best use of social media. It’s not Sean’s advertising that got you in but hearing about him on the social networking sites. This way you’d have a lot of time to check him out before you buy anything from him.
This is really my favourite aspect of social media. You can automatically start following anyone you’re interested in and watch them over time. Anyone can be a good person for a few months but not many can sustain it over time.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.
Hi Don,
That’s a great story and is likened to the message Sean has in this article. More proof that he walks the talk and practices what he preaches.
I’m can see you will benefit and so will Sean from this competition as we all will. Thanks again for sharing your story. I’m also following your comments with interest.
.-= Jill Brown´s last blog ..Couples Marry at Common Law =-.