How to Make People Your Business
It can often be tempting to see a business as a non-human machine merely concerned with efficiency and profit, but do your best to step outside of that box in your business. Sure, business is business… We get that it is often an appropriate mindset to have in the business world, but you can also set your company apart if you can make people your business. This is especially important at a marketing agency…
Be Personal.
Each of your clients is different, and you are going to be working closely with your clients on the marketing materials that they are looking for. So you are really going to need to strive to get to know each of your clients on a personal level. Make that person feel like you really care about him or her.
5 Ways to Be Personal in Business
- Use names. (“Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language”) People like to hear their name. They just do.
- Remember someone’s story. Learn to become an active listener. There are so many marketing companies that clients have to choose from. Give yourself a competitive edge by connecting with your clients over more than just work. Knowing key details in someone’s life can show that you care for that individual and enjoy working with him or her for more than just for the money.
- Create birthday coupons. Have you ever lost points with someone for forgetting an important date (anniversary, birthday, etc.)? Remembering (and showing you remember) can be a great personal touch for your client.
- Handwritten notes. As we talk about in this blog, handwritten notes are special and can help you propel your business forward.
- Respond in a timely manner. 1. It’s the respectful thing to do. 2. It is just good customer service.
Be Personable.
If you are personal, you are focusing on the other person. You are learning about them and who they are. To be personable, be self-aware. Know who you are and what sort of messages you are sending.
5 Ways to be Personable in Business
Smile. Even on the phone when the person can’t see you, it makes a big difference.- Don’t cross your arms. You may be cold, but never cross your arms over your chest. Open body language is friendly and doesn’t intimidate.
- Make eye contact. If a picture is worth 1000 words, live communication must be worth zillions. You’ll miss a lot if you aren’t making eye contact, or if you are multitasking while talking.
- Give a compliment. OK, don’t be cheesy. “I like your shirt” isn’t going to cut it here. Really think about a genuine compliment (work-related and appropriate) that you can give that will put your client at ease. Example: I appreciate that you are so organized. It makes meetings efficient for both of us.
- Ask opinions. People have opinions, and they like to share. Asking for opinions can show your openness and adaptability. Don’t ask a controversial opinion to make that person feel like they are being grilled, but figure out what they like.
Be Personalizable.
We have established that you need to see people as individuals and that you need to be friendly. Those things are fine and dandy, but if you don’t commit to implementing them into your business, they just seem superficial.
You also need to adapt your message to each individual client and really get to know what they are looking for in a marketing agency. We aren’t talking about knowing what the particular demographic that they fall under is looking for — that’s not enough. A good starting point to be sure, but not enough. Remember the little things about them and see how you can implement those aspects into the work that you do. For example, if your client values quick responses in communication, find a way to work that into their website so that the customers can utilize a platform that offers those benefits. If you understand your clients and their goals, you can better adapt your marketing strategies to their businesses.
Making people your business takes a lot of effort, but it is so worth it. You can really set your company apart by valuing your client’s experiences.
If you have any questions about marketing, connect with us here.