Proven Ways To Build & Maintain Lifelong Business Relationships

The key to successful relationships is being genuine

Did you know that 79% of customers say that they want brands to show that they understand and care about them before they buy anything? If this shows anything, it’s that authenticity is key when it comes to building relationships. Demonstrate sincerity and genuine interest through focusing questions aimed at them and their story. This, on top of researching the business and what they’re about, will give you genuine and relevant questions to ask them, including the open space to discuss any problems they’re facing. You will not only build trust but also have valuable insights to help you to find out how your company can help them grow.

Active listening

Truly hearing and understanding others is crucial for effective communication. Practice actively paraphrasing their points to demonstrate your engagement as well as using your expertise to come up with a solution to their problem, as it’s this proactively which helps build relationships!

Relationships need to have clear and pen communication

Transparency is key when building trust with your customer. In fact, 93% of customers are likely to make repeat purchases with companies that offer excellent customer service. This is why it is always important tobe clear about what you can bring to the table and what you can’t. Now, whilst this might be difficult to accept as everyone wants to be the perfect fit for their prospect, it’s important to have this openness to avoid unnecessary let down or friction in the future – by not providing your service to the standard expectations set at the start of the relationship, this will commonly lead to eventual relationship breakdown. You don’t want to have setbacks in business, but keep your business relationships moving forward.

So, avoid any assumptions and address any potential misunderstandings promptly. Encourage feedback, and ensure your prospect and yourself are aware of the relationship expectations.

Ensure regular engagement

Building relationships requires consistent effort. Getting complacent within your business relationship, assuming they will always be a loyal customer, often ends up being the reason the relationship ends. Whilst a little negative exposure can be good for business, if you don’t keep providing what they need or give them a bad experience, unfortunately they will simply take their business elsewhere. In fact, according to Forbes, 96% of customer cases. Yikes! So, stay connected through regular interactions, be it through face-to-face meetings, phone calls, emails, or social media platforms. It’s also worth setting up an automated reply message saying how long it will take for a member of your team to contact them, so at least they are not left wondering!

Our final thoughts

Building and maintaining relationships in business is a continuous journey that requires dedication, authenticity, and effective communication. By investing time and effort into nurturing your connections, you create a supportive network that can enhance your professional growth, open doors to new possibilities, and contribute to your overall success. Remember, success in business is not solely dependent on individual achievements but is truly built on creating meaningful connections.

Did you find this article useful? Have you tried any of these tips, or have additional ones of your own? Let us know in the comments!