The 1-2-3 of Creating Lasting Customer Relationships

The explosion of social media marketing has enabled businesses of all sizes to create more targeted and regular communications than ever with customers.  While some businesses have mastered the art, many are still struggling with ways to harness the power of social media to engage with customers.

However, what they may not realize is that the key to building connections with customers online is to start offline, taking your daily interactions with customers and building on them using social media and online marketing tools.  It’s as simple as 1-2-3:

1.  Create compelling customer experiences. When you give outstanding customer service and superior products, customers return and tell others about you.

2.  Use email to connect directly with customers. After you’ve established an offline relationship, deepen it through consistent, relevant email marketing messages.  Provide a useful monthly newsletter or couponing, and always offer them a way to opt-out.

3.  Extend the conversation through social media. Take your relationship to the next level by engaging your contacts through social media, and extending your conversation to your customer’s network of friends and family.

The primary reason that social and online media can be so effective for small business is because it is simply speeding up the traditional one-on-one relationship that marketers seek to have with customers.  Since it is so targeted, your time and money is put too much more effective use in making those authentic connections that translate into sales.