How to Create Emotional Connections with Your Business Supporters
Your sales expertise, marketing skills, and the way you treat others, all have a bearing on how people feel about your company. Here are some ways to promote and maintain strong emotional connections.
1. Take care who you allow to come on board
Every company has a unique culture, and your company is no exception. You may be tempted to welcome any investor, or client, who wants to join you in your business. This may be exciting, but it is not always a good idea. You need to carefully consider whether the person in question fully supports your business culture, and will fit in with you and the rest of the team. If it looks like a dicey fit, the person concerned will be unlikely to build an emotional connection with you. Don’t take anyone on board if you can see potential trouble ahead.
2. Be as casual as possible when entertaining
Business lunches have become a popular way of entertaining potential clients and investors. Unfortunately, these lunches can be rather formal and are not conducive to real bonding. If possible, opt for casual or family-style lunches or dinners, or entertain in your own home to create an informal atmosphere for discussions and forward planning. Customers, potential investors and employees will be more inclined to open up and give honest opinions. There are many companies that use informal gatherings to build trust in businesses.
3. Use technology
If you are not able to meet in person, technology will allow you to have a face-to-face conversation. A video call is more personal than sending an email, or making an ordinary phone call. Video calls are useful for conducting interviews with those seeking employment, as well as potential partners.
Depending on the importance of the meeting, if it is vital for you to be there in person, and just cannot make it, a video call supported by digital technology will be invaluable to use. However, on some occasions, such as when it involves a sales pitch or the termination of employment of an employee, a trip needs to be undertaken for the benefit of all concerned – including your business.
4. Marketing strategies
If you are in the marketing game and want to generate sales, making an unsolicited video call is not a good idea. Some marketers have tried this approach and have been given the short end of the stick. For example, e-mail marketing has become very popular because many purchasing agents are not always ready for video face-to-face marketing, or a personal visit from a salesperson who has not got an appointment. Research by some IT consultants has revealed that it is still possible to create a connection by other means such as email marketing.
The studies also maintain that potential customers may change their purchasing habits when receiving advertising by means of e-mail marketing offering good suggestions and details of their company’s products, which will suit the specific company approached. This often generates enough interest to close a sale.
Get the right people in your team, treat them with respect, and your business will flourish. Your stakeholders will be happy, your employees will stay loyal, and your customers will keep on giving you their support.
