I Know Relationships Are Important, So What?

Every time you communicate with your current or potential customers, you are building your brand and your relationship. Your marketing is your "face" to the public. Use of aggressive "sales-only" marketing methods can negatively affect your brand and the relationship you have with your customers.

Too much snail mail & spam can also be negative factors in building your customer relationship. This doesn't mean you shouldn't send mail or e-mail, but you need to balance your efforts. You also need to know your customers and provide valuable information and or 'deals' that customers will appreciate.

Some Effective Marketing Ideas To Help Build Customer Relationships

Here are some ways you can effectively market your small business while positively building your brand and reinforcing relationships:

• Traditional Newsletters
  Newsletters are an easy way to keep your small business name in front of your customers while not only building the relationship, but also establishing your business as the 'expert.' Newsletters can be big or small, long or short; but they MUST be valuable—make sure to include information your customers need and want.
• Postcard Marketing
  Another quick way to keep yourself on your customer's radar is using postcards. They're an inexpensive yet effective way to share brief snippets of information, or pass along 'deals.'
• "Thank You" Events
  You can never say thank you too many times. One great way to thank your customers is to have an open house of sorts. Depending on what your small business does, you can tailor the event to what your small business is best at, just be creative.
• Writing/Providing Information
• Association Newsletters
  There is an association for every industry, hobby or area of interest. Many of them publish newsletters and are always willing to accept content—so write an article and submit it, it's a way to get your name out there and it's free.
• Speaking at Conferences or Events
  From association meetings to community events, there are many opportunities available if you're willing to get up and speak. Just look for an event that fits your area of expertise and volunteer. Event organizers are always open to new speakers, especially if they're inexpensive.
• Press Releases
  Press rele
  Employee Time Clocks - Enter The Modern World
  For decades, businesses and factories monitored the working hours of their employees using time clocks. A particular favorite was the punch card system, where the employee had to insert their card into the time clock, so their hours could be stamped on the card. The payroll officer would then collect these cards each week and pay the employees accordingly.It's a simple system, but unfortunately it's also very easy to cheat. Joe Bloggs is a bit late today? That's okay, John Doe can pop his card in the time clock and nobody will know the difference. Most com
  our relationship. Your marketing is your "face" to the public. Use of aggressive "sales-only" marketing methods can negatively affect your brand and the relationship you have with your customers.

  Too much snail mail & spam can also be negative factors in building your customer relationship. This doesn't mean you shouldn't send mail or e-mail, but you need to balance your efforts. You also need to know your customers and provide valuable information and or 'deals' that customers will appreciate.

  Some Effective Marketing Ideas To Help Build Customer Relationships

  Here are some ways you can effectively market your small business while positively building your brand and reinforcing relationships:

  • Traditional Newsletters
    Newsletters are an easy way to keep your small business name in front of your customers while not only building the relationship, but also establishing your business as the 'expert.' Newsletters can be big or small, long or short; but they MUST be valuable—make sure to include information your customers need and want.
  • Postcard Marketing
    Another quick way to keep yourself on your customer's radar is using postcards. They're an inexpensive yet effective way to share brief snippets of information, or pass along 'deals.'
  • "Thank You" Events
    You can never say thank you too many times. One great way to thank your customers is to have an open house of sorts. Depending on what your small business does, you can tailor the event to what your small business is best at, just be creative.
  • Writing/Providing Information
  • Association Newsletters
    There is an association for every industry, hobby or area of interest. Many of them publish newsletters and are always willing to accept content—so write an article and submit it, it's a way to get your name out there and it's free.
  • Speaking at Conferences or Events
    From association meetings to community events, there are many opportunities available if you're willing to get up and speak. Just look for an event that fits your area of expertise and volunteer. Event organizers are always open to new speakers, especially if they're inexpensive.
  • Press Releases
    Press rel
    Online PR - Most Lucrative Marketing Method
    There are many ways available on net to publicize and market your business, but, one of the cheapest methods is to use online press release websites, as many of these offers free of cost or low-cost PR options.With online press release one can simply reach the significant online community. PR web-sites offers article submission database of free content and reprint articles. Publishers, who are in quest of free reprint articles and the business community who wants to shoot their business, can make best use of this significant resource to enhance their marketing
    you can effectively market your small business while positively building your brand and reinforcing relationships:
    • Traditional Newsletters
      Newsletters are an easy way to keep your small business name in front of your customers while not only building the relationship, but also establishing your business as the 'expert.' Newsletters can be big or small, long or short; but they MUST be valuable—make sure to include information your customers need and want.
    • Postcard Marketing
      Another quick way to keep yourself on your customer's radar is using postcards. They're an inexpensive yet effective way to share brief snippets of information, or pass along 'deals.'
    • "Thank You" Events
      You can never say thank you too many times. One great way to thank your customers is to have an open house of sorts. Depending on what your small business does, you can tailor the event to what your small business is best at, just be creative.
    • Writing/Providing Information
    • Association Newsletters
      There is an association for every industry, hobby or area of interest. Many of them publish newsletters and are always willing to accept content—so write an article and submit it, it's a way to get your name out there and it's free.
    • Speaking at Conferences or Events
      From association meetings to community events, there are many opportunities available if you're willing to get up and speak. Just look for an event that fits your area of expertise and volunteer. Event organizers are always open to new speakers, especially if they're inexpensive.
    • Press Releases
      Press rel
      Smell It - Buy It!
      I always knew lemon scent reminded me of something and I am not thinking about lemon :) There is much deeper understanding in scents (and flavors)– they take back to the past and dig deep into your brain. Remember Marcel Proust ritual consumption of tea and biscuits?It is just too bad (?) we can't smell though screen ;)Researches say smells can affect a shopper's behavior. For this reason they have made significant strides in analyzing how consumers respond to scents. Melon draws nearly universal feeling of friendliness, youthfulness and happiness; Ameri
      omer's radar is using postcards. They're an inexpensive yet effective way to share brief snippets of information, or pass along 'deals.'
    • "Thank You" Events
      You can never say thank you too many times. One great way to thank your customers is to have an open house of sorts. Depending on what your small business does, you can tailor the event to what your small business is best at, just be creative.
    • Writing/Providing Information
    • Association Newsletters
      There is an association for every industry, hobby or area of interest. Many of them publish newsletters and are always willing to accept content—so write an article and submit it, it's a way to get your name out there and it's free.
    • Speaking at Conferences or Events
      From association meetings to community events, there are many opportunities available if you're willing to get up and speak. Just look for an event that fits your area of expertise and volunteer. Event organizers are always open to new speakers, especially if they're inexpensive.
    • Press Releases
      Press rel
      The New Branding Awareness - A Value Based Concept
      The new branding awareness is about when you take ownership of a commodity, a special talent, concept or product. What is it that you stand for? What you stand for is an experience that your customers feel from you.Don’t be ShyWhen it becomes for you to take a stand, you cannot be shy about it, you need to back it up totally, no matter what other people think of you, say about you, you need to promote it and be it.Your brand needs to be value-based, like giving extra WOW customer service and being good corporate citizens will build brand equity, t
      try, hobby or area of interest. Many of them publish newsletters and are always willing to accept content—so write an article and submit it, it's a way to get your name out there and it's free.
    • Speaking at Conferences or Events
      From association meetings to community events, there are many opportunities available if you're willing to get up and speak. Just look for an event that fits your area of expertise and volunteer. Event organizers are always open to new speakers, especially if they're inexpensive.
    • Press Releases
      Press releases offer another opportunity for free publicity for your small business. If you figure out a way to use press releases on a regular basis, you will gain a steady stream of free press.
    • Local Newspapers/publications
      If you see a news piece that is in about a topic your small business is known for and you have something to say, write a letter to the editor. By becoming vocal in your community you will become known as the expert in that area and it will reinforce your image to current customers (and your relationship).
    • Traditional Advertising Methods
      Advertising in newspapers, trade magazines and on the radio are also ways to keep your name in front of customers and potential customers. Advertising is meant to support the 'brand' that you've already established as well as get your name in front of people, so it is a good way to help reinforce existing relationships. It is however, the least effective way to establish your small business as knowledgeable because it is paid for.

    Don't Just Sell, Build Future Sales

    As you work to gain more customers and sales, building your small business, remember to nurture the customer relationship. Focus on ways to continually meet their needs and provide value with every marketing effort. People do business with those they trust; by focusing on customer value, your small business is building a foundation for a long-lasting and mutually profitable relationship.