To succeed in business, you must compare your business strategies to that of a relationship. It may sound odd, but by understanding the usual process of forming a relationship, will help you to form a good business strategy and relationship with your business clients. Business strategies are often compared to relationships and although it seems strange to mix
The Date Stage - Getting to know your clients
After meeting your potential date/client, you must try to get to know them and begin to build a friendship. Just as in a relationship, it is important to get to know your client and find out what they want from the business relationship and find out if you both want the same things. The 'dating' stage of the relationship can be a slow or fast one; depending on how well you get to know your client and whether or not you see a future of working together. You may have to go on a few 'dates' before knowing whether or not you are well suited and on other occasions, you will know the answer instantly.
Being Persistent
You wouldn't give up on a potential date if their answer machine was full or found that their number was busy when you tried to call, so why give up on a potential client if their inbox/answer machine is full or they are perhaps busy?! If it was a date you were pursuing, you would be persistent with contacting them until they gave you an answer and it is the same with dealing with clients. Like many things in life, if it is of interest to you, it is worth pursuing.
Treating your 'date' with respect
When you go on a first date, the last thing you would be is unfriendly, rude or ignorant towards them. You may be in business, but remember that in business people will deal with the people who they like. Naturally, this works the same as dating and if you were given a choice of two people: one unfriendly, rude person who didn't give you any respect or someone that was friendly, polite and respected you and what you had to say - which would you choose?
Marketing - Playing hard to get
Marketing is a completely different area of business altogether. To be successful in marketing, you must be strong headed and play hard to get. If you are advertising your company in the hope to find some new clients, then you must not give too much away and bear in mind that this is in fact a two way street. Don't beg a client to advertise with you or use your services, but on the other hand you should flaunt your assets in a sophisticated way, so that you make your potential client think that it is you doing them the favour - even though they are paying to advertise or work with you! You wouldn't want a date to see you as desperate and clingy, so avoid making this mistake when dealing with potential clients.
Long term relationship
After the initial stages of dating and getting to know each other, your relationship enters a new stage when you have worked together for quite some time. Once you have entered in to the long term relationship zone, you will be able to ask your clients for their suggestions on improving your business, as they will be long term trusted clients that will give you good, honest feedback. The more you get to know each other, the more you will be able to confide in each other and build a strong connection.
