Best Way To Build Relationships With Owners?

You are off to a start. Don't stop. People deal with those they know, like and trust. If you can build those three components, you'll be fine. You have two goals in your opening statement/question. I am ass-u-me-ing that you wish to build relationships with business owners online. That takes time, and something to offer that they need. You have to be able to solve their problem. Sometimes people don't even know they have the problem until you educate them. That's why offering engaging, informative content that addresses real problems will draw interested parties to you. Do that well and often, and ideal customers will seek you out.

Find out everything you can about the business and the owners, learn where the owners hang out, what their interests, charities, hobbies are, which clubs they belong to, who they are following and who is following them online, if they write articles or are mentioned in the news/articles.

At this point, do not contact them asking for a meeting or pitching your product. In my book, ABC's Of Networking, there is a chapter called Withdraw After You Deposit. You deposit into a 'trust' account by giving first, making yourself known in subtle way by commenting on their article or mention in the news, a common interest, etc. Maybe he/she is looking for a specific marble for the new home and you just read about a supplier out of town who has this same product. Deposit into that trust account by connecting them without asking for a favour in return. Keep depositing without expecting. The person will be grateful and want to reciprocate and that starts a strong relationship.

Another way is to determine what is the connection between your businesses. Are you selling a new and improved Velcro tape and the business owner manufactures tents? There was a farm in the US that produced blue potatoes that wasn't selling to the usual consumers who didn't think blue mashed potatoes was appetizing. They connected with Jet Blue to supply them with blue potato chips for their flights.

Which business would want, no need, your product? Build a strong business case and they will want to meet you. We business owners dream of business lining up outside our door,

Good luck!

Alignable allows connections between business owners in your local area, so you're off to a great start with an account on here! When you reach out to someone, offer to meet up in person for a 1-on-1 and get to know them. Building relationships is alot easier to do in person over a meal or cup of coffee! For strictly online relationship advice, I'd advise following/liking pages of different business owners, and offering a phone conference to discuss how you can 'work with each other' or some other phrasing. Get to know the person behind the business and you'll have a stronger relationship with them as a potential or definite client!

Use social media and apps. Create good, relavant, sentimental, emotion moving content. Allow your authentic brand voice to penetrate the noise. Your true fans will eventually hear you and began to respond. From there, have genuine conversations about things that matter to them.

Always respond to them and make them feel special. The worse thing a company can do is disregard an unhappy client or customer, or leave their questions unanswered --- sure formula to get a bad reputation on the web. The word travels fast too.

Being grateful for those with whom you do business and expressing gratitude to them is so important.

Hi Tony!

Lots of great information here. Funny how when we talk about networking it is all easy until we throw the word "online" in the mix. Build a strategy to connect with those you are targeting. Since you are with LegalShield I am sure this is business and individuals.

What other groups do your ideal customers belong to? What are the things that concern them (pain points)?

Making the connection is fine but you HAVE to prove your authority and your relevance to the person for it to be beneficial to them as well as you.

You also don't want to be the one that runs around passing out his card at networking events without getting to know them. The same applies to online networking.

Good luck!

ty thirst Tony, find something you can offer without charge to the people you're looking to connect with, so that you start the relationship off by creating value without obligation. Too many business owners see their customers as prey rather than an opportunity to be of service. Prey with them not on them!

Most business owners appreciate access to a good article, a book recommendation when you explain why you recommend it, and just a connection to someone else that may add value in their business.

Let me know if you have other questions and here are a few books that may help:

The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
Click by George Fraser
Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty by Harvey Mackay

I've found its difficult to build relationships with people solely online. Online's a great way to meet people , maybe even attract them to you, but when you can talk or meet with them voice to voice or face to face, that's where the relationship can begin. See how you can help them, if with your service, great, but in what other ways too? Who can you connect them with? If you're only talking to them to sell to them, they'll see that right away, and if they don't buy right away, they're gone. Why not keep them in your circle, even if they don't buy right away, they may be your customer one day and even refer others to you. If you build relationships this way, your network will be grow stronger and business will come your way, seemingly out of the blue. Best of luck Tony!

Fortunately, as a post frame construction company, we do most of our business directly with the consumer. Over the 35+ years we've been in business, we have learned that honesty is definitely the best policy.

Building relationships is all about building trust! And what better way to build trust than with an honest communication. If there are unforeseen hiccups in the road, don't try to let it go unnoticed. Taking responsibility goes a long way!

Find out what causes them pain and provide the aspirin, either via direct sale, gift, resource or referral.