Content, Connections, Conversations: How to Build Better Customer Relationships Online

Everybody wants to go viral online. Everybody wants to get more likes, more shares, and more views. At some point we all get lost in the social media sauce, thinking it’s about really big numbers when in actuality it’s really about connecting with real people. To keep you grounded and focused on marketing strategies that matter the most, let’s go over a few things that I’ve done recently to create content, connections, and conversations that build better customer relationships online.

Personal Commitment

I’ve recently made a personal commitment to writing 100 Articles in 100 Days. No matter what, I am showing up and sharing information that matters to me and the clients that I serve. I make a conscious effort to not get lost in likes or lack of comments because I know that if I can reach one real person, connect with them, help them, create a deeper relationship with them, I’ve done exactly what I’ve set out to do. Even though this is true, most of the time we (entrepreneurs) don’t put enough time into that act of showing up and adding value, especially when it feels like we aren’t making a dent or no one is watching. I’ve learned that in business folks are always watching you, even when they aren’t commenting. By simply making a personal commitment to always showing up, I’ve been able to consistently connect and convert clients online. Many consume my content and invest in working with me or tapping into something that I’ve created when they are ready. As they say, when the student is ready, the teacher appears. Many thank me for always being around offering guidance and inspiration. By committing to showing up and always sharing I’ve created a community that’s always there.  

Personal Messages

I recently sent out somewhere between thirty and fifty personal voice messages to clients and business associates. Some messages were simple hellos, well wishes, and good vibes. Other messages were invitations to check in and reconnect. And many messages were opportunities to answer their questions, address their challenges, and ultimately provide a form of accountability and support. Most have sent back a reply mentioning that they were pleasantly surprised to hear my voice and appreciative of the personal touch. Sometimes we (entrepreneur types) are frozen doing nothing, trying to find the perfect strategy to start with. Other times we are so fixated on reaching thousands that we lose sight of the ones right in front of us. I have a voice messaging feature on my website which I consistently mention to create a way for people to communicate with me and vice versa. Because that direct, personalized communication is key to creating a space for open conversations and improved conversions. People want to know that you are a real person that understands there real needs; this is a big part of what compels others to work with you and get to know you too.

Personal Space
Every week I carve out time to work with clients individually or within small groups on a variety of digital projects, especially around content creation. Working together, laughing together, completing projects together, and overcoming challenges together; are the things real relationships are built on. Each month I share my schedule of opportunities for private calls, the monthly mastermind, quick win webinars, workshops, and mini-challenges too. There’s always a full schedule to dig into, but to be honest with you, what’s more, important than the type of activities we do is the fact that there is always an opportunity to get back on track and work with me or within our community. Where two or three are gathered in his name. Amen. As a spiritual entrepreneur and social introvert, I know the miracles and amazing things that can happen within small groups and personal spaces. Even still, we (entrepreneurs) sometimes get caught up in the hype of doing things big or not at all. But I’ve been able to build my business on this strong foundation of creating small personal spaces for my clients, who know they can come to me when they need me. And bring their friends too. In addition, to repeat business, the referred business has helped me with sustainability and consistent revenue too.

Personal Opinion

As I work on my many projects including 100 Days of 100 Articles, the monthly mastermind, the Template Club, and the Content Creation Challenge (just to name a few), I am consistently reaching out to my subscribers and followers asking for their personal opinion. I want them to know that I want to know their thoughts, because what they think matters to me. Their input is oftentimes an integral part of my agenda and marketing strategy. I might ask questions like, what did you think about that last issue? What do you think I should talk about next? And with the help of Poll and Question features on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, I’m finding even more ways to reach out and check in with my community. I want to know. What do you think? What do you need? How can I help? By asking these questions within my text, audio, and video content I get a regular stream of messages from individuals reaching out to me offering their personal opinions or requesting mine, which of course opens the door for more conversations. Asking for input, surveys, questionnaires, quizzes, feedback forms, and case studies, it’s all part of the process of building a better business that effectively connects with your customers and helps you create content that converts.

Personal Touch

I try to add a personal touch to most of my marketing and offerings. For example, in every email that I send, I include the recipient’s first name in the message (and sometimes the subject header), because I want my emails to read more like a conversation than a sales pitch. I love to focus on content projects and templates that clients can personalize to really make them their own. And I make it a habit of integrating topic requests into my schedule, so I’m not just talking about what I want to share, but what my community wants to hear. When it comes to creating deeper customer relationships, I always encourage entrepreneurs to focus more on connecting with real people than simply hitting big numbers. As an organic marketer, I know you can get big results from a small list when you make a real impact on the real people you are trying to serve. Do you remember the theme song from Cheers? It’s a place where everybody knows your name and their always glad you came. I challenge you, my fellow entrepreneur, to stop obsessing over your numbers or lack thereof and start getting to know the names of the people you engage with online. I regularly send individual check-in messages, gifts, resources, and invitations to previous clients all the time. This helps them remember me and our community. Even when they aren’t there, they know there is somewhere they can always come back to.

These are a few things that work for me, let me know what works for you. These are just a few things that I’ve done and continue to do when it comes to creating content, conversations, and deeper connections that build better customer relationships online. Share your thoughts and ask your questions. Are any of these strategies something you would like to try? I’m here to help. That’s it, boss. That’s all she wrote today.