The Power of Consistency: Sustaining Relationships All Year Long | RR238

Welcome, welcome to the last episode in this

series about relationship marketing. It will be short and

sweet as it is the end of the year. And I I think it's such a

busy time that I just wanted to get some main points across and

make sure that we wrap it up in style. Last week we looked at

staying in touch during the holiday hustle and bustle,

showing gratitude and appreciation and setting you up

for networking and prospects and prospecting success in the new

year. This week, we turn to the importance of maintaining and

nurturing relationships all year round. what to watch out for,

plan for and build into your workflow to stay top of mind

with your existing customers, which will always then I

believe, lead to referral business. Relationship marketing

is like the glue that binds trust between a business and its

customers. And trust isn't built overnight. It's nurtured through

consistent positive interactions, personalized

experiences, and a genuine commitment to customer

satisfaction. I believe that relationship marketing is

effective for several reasons. Number one, it fosters strong

connections with customers, leading to increased loyalty and

repeat business. I believe in building rapport quickly with

new customers, building trust and showing them that I am

genuinely interested in their success. So any work we do

together is geared toward that end, and they become comfortable

referring others to work with me. Number two, it's about

thinking beyond transactions. successful relationship

marketing taps into the emotional realm. It's not just

about selling a product. It's about crafting an experience

that resonates with customers on a personal level. When customers

feel emotionally connected, they're not just buying a

product, they're investing in a relationship with you. Number

three, relationship marketing contributes to loyalty, higher

retention rates, reducing customer churn, showing people

you care right from the beginning keeps them coming

back. loyal customers are a goldmine. Relationship marketing

fosters loyalty by showing customers that they're not just

another number. It's about making them feel seen, heard and

valued, creating a bond that withstands the allure of

competitors. Number four, successful relationship

marketing strategies set businesses apart from

competitors, providing a competitive advantage by

building unique, lasting connections with customers. This

is always my focus to make sure that my clients know how to

build that relationship with their customers. Happy customers

become brand advocates. When businesses excel at relationship

marketing, satisfied customers become the best marketing tool.

They share their positive experiences, friends, family and

the vast world of social media, creating a ripple effect that

boosts the brand boosts the brand's reputation. And number

five, it emphasizes long term customer relationships, aiming

to maximize customer lifetime value by continuing to engage

and satisfy customers. Well, I'm sure you know by now how much I

believe in relationship marketing, and that it isn't

just about selling. It's really about connecting. It's about

being more than a provider. It's about becoming a trusted

companion on your customer's journey. And in a fiercely

competitive landscape. That's the edge that sets businesses

apart and propels them to the front of the pack. Now let's

take a look at the pitfalls of the post holiday fade. You know

that feeling when the festivities are over? And

suddenly that connection start to dwindle? We've all been

there. What challenges does that bring to light. Right after the

holidays is tough for carrying on networking and continuing the

conversation with people. Everyone gets back into their

routines buried under work. And the holiday spirit seems like a

distant memory. Not to mention all the people that create new

year's resolutions and are fiercely trying to make those

happen. So how do we avoid the pitfalls and keep those

connections strong? Well, here are a few challenges and some

ideas to overcome them. Challenge number one, fading

enthusiasm. Keep the enthusiasm alive by setting small goals and

getting into the groove again, by maybe planning a casual

coffee date or virtual coffee to kick off the new year. Maybe put

a few those into the first couple of weeks of the new year.

It'll get you into the groove again of networking. Challenge

number two overwhelmed schedules. It's easy to put

networking on the back burner as people begin to work on new

projects. So perhaps block out time for connecting with your

hot prospects. And by putting it on your calendar, you will see

it as a priority. Number three, communication drop off the

holiday cards and messages naturally slow down and it

becomes easier to lose touch. So be proactive in your

communication. Send out New Year's cards, thinking of you,

or just to note messages or cards, share interesting updates

and keep the conversation flowing. Do you have a

newsletter, if so, change it up a little shake things up. If

not, maybe the New Year is a great time to start one.

Challenge number four, post holiday blues. Some people do

actually experience a bit of post holiday sadness, affecting

their overall mood, and engagement. Be the one to spread

positivity, share uplifting content, organized group

activities, and be a source of encouragement for your

connections, online and offline. There are so many things you can

do throughout the year to stay in touch with your connections.

And first, you have to commit to the idea that relationship

marketing is indeed a year round endeavor, not just a seasonal

activity. It's not just about sending a holiday card once a

year. Here are two things to think about and even incorporate

into your business. Number one, consistently engage with people

on LinkedIn sharing ideas and strategies in maintaining your

visibility. You can be proactive by taking a close look at your

existing connections, perhaps carve them up into a b and c

groups, and how many messages to send a week and systematically

send LinkedIn messages staying in touch as you rotate through

your groups. Number two, create a quarterly connection calendar.

Each quarter you can list seasonal holidays, quirky

holidays, birthdays, any of a multitude of reasons to stay in

touch and maintain relationships throughout the year. Every time

I send out a Facebook or LinkedIn message to a group of

people, or send a heartfelt prompting card like just because

thinking of you, just a note something good comes of it. So

thank you for being loyal listeners all year and for

indulging me in this solo series. I hope you see that

maintaining connections is a year round effort. Don't let the

post holiday fade, get the best of your relationships. Stay

connected, stay engaged. And let's make next year a year of

strong lasting connections. I look forward to bringing you

more interesting interviews in 2024 with fabulous fabulous

people who believe as I do, that relationships are the backbone

of any business. And my plan is to throw in a solo episode

perhaps once a month going forward to share with you

something new I might have learned or a trip tip or or hint

of things that you can do to make relationship marketing

better for you. Until next time, keep building those meaningful

relationships and stay connected and be remembered