5 easy ways to build relationships and grow your business

1. 5 easy ways to build relationships and grow your business (even if you’re brand new)

2. The goal in relationship marketing is fairly simple: Create long-term customer loyalty and continued engagement.

3. Relationship-based marketing gives you: • Visibility • Authority • A stellar reputation • Happy and enthusiastic fans

4. One: be social

5. Be Social Be present and personable on the social networks where your ideal client is hanging out. • Set limits • Make sure you are hanging out with the right crowd • Step out and share • Listen. Really listen

6. Be Social Being social is not just chatting on social media. It’s thinking up posts, infographics or image quotes that will help or entertain your followers. It’s writing helpful blog posts, or making a quick “how to” video about something they are struggling with, right now. Do it in the spirit of helping and sharing.

7. Be Social • Attend local festivals • Volunteer in the community • Give workshops at your local library, business association or community college (free or paid) • Join local organizations relevant to your calling You can also donate resources—online and off—but always keep in mind that the social part of relationship building is key.

8. Be Social If you are an Accountability Strategist or VA like me, I share photos of my planner — and give them a personal slant as seen here:

9. Two: be authentic

10. Be Authentic When business and life are good, share these stories. When it’s bad, a wonderful way to practice authenticity is to share the bad days as well. People relate best to people who experience the same doubts, setbacks and struggles as them.

11. Be Authentic Teaching from your failures is a wonderful way to help people realize that failure is not important; it’s what we do with it and take and learn from it that helps us move forward.

12. Be Authentic • Start every day with a gratitude prayer and a healthy breakfast • Go for a walk before you sit down to work • Work in a place that inspires you

13. Be Authentic Common areas that online business owners and entrepreneurs have problems handling: • Procrastination • Balancing work, play and family life • Being workaholics • Not being able to switch “off”

14. Three: remember your manners

15. Remember Your Manners Avoid being overly political, especially if hard-hitting stances on socio-political issues are the polar opposite of your brand. Avoid religion, unless a huge part of your marketing is your faith. Don’t be rude, crude, or downright distasteful (unless that’s your brand, of course).

16. Remember Your Manners Ideally, your community—especially in social media—should be a nurturing place; a safe place to explore ideas, discuss, ask questions and grow.

17. Four: set aside your fears

18. Set Aside Your Fears Be brave. • Go live on Facebook. • Step onto the stage to speak at an event. • Reach out to other online business owners. • Attend events hosted by others in your niche. If technology is freaking you out, outsource it. If outsourcing is freaking you out, learn how to do it effectively and economically.

19. Set Aside Your Fears If you feel you’re not there yet, or you need to learn more about outsourcing and out-tasking (there IS a difference), a great place to start is by talking to a Virtual Assistant. If you need help with this, I am a the Chief Officer of Engagement for the Association of Virtual Assistants. For more information you can tag me or any of the AVA team!

20. Set Aside Your Fears • Fear of failure • Fear of success • Fear that people will find out you’re a fraud • Fear of setting specific, measurable goals • Fear of public speaking • Fear of how people will think/react • Fear of making commitments • Fear of being ‘noticed’ • Fear of giving up control • Fear of accountability

21. Set Aside Your Fears Sometimes it can help when you realize that all fears basically stem from breaking with a safe routine, a safe set of boundaries, and doing something different. There’s one sure-fire cure for all these fears: focusing on your community, instead of dwelling on your own weaknesses.

22. Five: know and live your brand, everywhere

23. Know and Live Your Brand, Everywhere An easy way to stamp your branding in people’s mind is to represent your brand—in photos, Facebook Livestream videos, webinars, workshops and when attending events. If you can’t wear your brand colors, dress according to your brand! Be comfortable in who you are and it will show through in how you live your brand.

24. Know and Live Your Brand, Everywhere Your branding strategies need to harmonize with and support your personality, mission and message. Remember, it’s all about standing out in a crowd.

25. Next Steps… • Build relationships with the right community – one that energizes you (and vice versa) • Simplify your marketing while focusing on the fun • Learn shortcuts, tips and secrets for keeping your people active • Learn strategies, tips and secrets that will help you connect even more • Step up your product creation easily for more income, thanks to your newfound visibility and trust factor

26. https://associationofvas.com/ Q&A Session