Achieve Success Through Forming Relationships, Not Just Making Sales.

After 16 years in sales, I've learned that there is nothing more valuable than understanding the concept in the above quote by Jim Rohn. My most recent experiences as a business coach have made it abundantly clear that this is something most people just do not understand, or simply refuse to believe.

I suppose it's all a matter of your long term goal, assuming you have one. Those of you that are only interested in making some fast cash for whatever reason will probably never understand the importance of nurturing a business relationship for the benefit of all involved. Instead you'll choose to use hype and spam to make the quick sale, and be off to a new project with a new web site, with your customers, (victims?) never to hear from you again.

If you're extremely lucky, or perhaps extremely lacking any ethics at all, this will work for you in the short term, but not often. You should consider yourself lucky to have made any money at all, and do us all the favor of moving on to the next 'quick money making' trend.

For the rest of us, making the sale is the first step in forming a partnership. The initial trust of purchasing a product by any consumer places the burden of satisfaction on the seller.

Here on the Internet, is there any more obvious way for a client to tell you that they have an interest in your business, than when they purchase a product or service from you? I don't think so. All of your future business dealings with a client depend on your reaction to this first purchase.

Recommendations for creating partnerships:

1) Send a personal thank you note, or perhaps even make a phone call. Autoresponders are great tools, but a personal note will always separate you from the competition!

2) Follow up, and ask if they are satisfied! Find out if your product or service has met their expectations. If this is something you are afraid to do, perhaps you already realize that there is something missing in what you have to offer. Have your clients help you fix this!

3) Find out if there is anything they need to help them achieve their own goals. This step can lead to future sales, possible joint ventures, and very valuable target market information.

These beginning steps will always bring you closer to forming partnerships, rather than simply 'sales transactions'. Personally, I save all correspondence and phone logs with my clients for my own reference.

What may not seem relevant today, could be the solution to a need further down the line.

Communication is the key. Remember that you're dealing with people, and remind your clients of the same thing. The relationship you begin to build today, may turn out to be the Joint Venture that makes you an incredible success tomorrow!

-- Resource Box -- This article may be distributed freely on your website, as long as this entire article, including links and this resource box are unchanged. Copyright 2003 Ginger Geracitano All Rights Reserved. The Portal To Success E-Zine http://theportaltosuccess.com Receive Ginger's recommendations that may solve your client's needs: mailto:subscribe@theportaltosuccess.com

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