Do You Exceed Your Own Expectations?

Here’s a resolution we should all keep throughout the year 2020: provide backing to everything we say to our clients. Think about how many empty things you say on a daily basis, like saying that your day is going well. While this is harmless in daily conversations, it can leave a bad taste in the mouths of your clients if they don’t feel your promises are fulfilled.

We’ve found a few ways to make sure you’re using specific language in a way that demonstrates the value of your business:

• Rely on your history. If you have the numbers to back up a claim, this is the best opportunity to use it. Saying that you’re able to save your clients 40% or more speaks much more than simply saying you can save people money.
• Showcase your accomplishments  If you’ve been recognized for your work, your clients want to know about that. It increases your accountability and helps you build trust even before meeting new partners or clients.
• Share past work. Obviously, this piece comes with guidelines. You can’t violate any confidentiality you’ve agreed upon with your clients, but you can share general overviews of people you’ve worked with in the past. It can allow prospective clients to resonate with your work.

By utilizing these tactics, you’re able to really put your money where your mouth is. Not only will you be able to attract new opportunities that are in line with your mission as a business, but you can end each day knowing that the relationships you’re building are genuine.

New Decade, New Marketing Strategies?

When it comes to building and implementing strong marketing campaigns, it seems to be  easier and easier to publish something that’s savvy and enticing to viewers. However, what does this do for your business? As we’ve covered before, we’re trying to establish marketing that engages viewers and reminds them of the value you provide, which can’t be done through hasty posts and quick interactions.

Instead, try to take a deeper look at what you’re trying to achieve. We tend to focus on the how (which, don’t get us wrong, is important – your hard earned money should be put to good use!!), when really, we should be focusing on the why. Why should viewers interact with your campaign? What should they take away from it? What should their next steps be? Through this, you’ll be able to build a deeper understanding of their underlying motivations which can then be used to your advantage.

So, what does this mean for your marketing strategies? Take a moment during the first few days of 2020 and think about what you’ve used in the past. There’s likely been some changes since you first started, which can be helpful in determining what comes next. The new year doesn’t have to be full of groundbreaking marketing techniques; all you might need is a realignment into your value to bring about the next wave of happy clientele.

Making Your Mark

One of the best things about living in today’s digital age is the endless amount of opportunities available for people to leave their mark on the world. However, this can lead to saturated markets and competitive industries. With everyone trying to find the latest way to differentiate themselves, how can you make sure you truly stand out against your competition?

It’s important to understand what your clients look for.  When clients are looking for different firms to align themselves with, they often have a series of criteria they look to fill. Since this relationship with involve sharing personal subjects like legal and financial advice, it’s important your prospective clients feel comfortable sharing their information with you.

Now, we can’t speak for every potential client in out there, but the majority of people feel most comfortable when working with people they trust, and this trust is often formed out of creating real relationships. Think of some of the key things that you use to market your business: the things that sound exciting to you are going to sound just as exciting to your new clients as well.

Whatever your differentiators are, you need to understand what they are and make sure they’re present in everything that you do. Every potential client has a preconceived idea of what they’re looking for, and the reality of the situation is that your culture might not fit the wish list of every consumer. By owning your company culture and sticking to it, you’ll be sure to attract clients ready to build a lasting relationship.

Make 2019 the Year of Upgraded Marketing

In the past, the definition of marketing has been simple: find a way to get new clients to learn about your brand. But what if your marketing did more than just get the word out? What if your marketing performed in such a way that these new clients actually believed in the services you offered?

Rather than focusing on what you can do for your business using elaborate (and expensive) marketing campaigns, try ringing in the new year by using specific and strategic language that compels your audience to take action. What better way to bring in new clients than by relating to their needs and providing solutions for them?

Using strategic communication also furthers the understanding of your brand. Do you prioritize finding solutions or do you often find your focus set on helping your clients cut unnecessary spending? Whether it’s in person or online, using consistent verbiage with your clients provides them with a better understanding of what you offer, but more importantly, why you offer it. This also provides you with countless opportunities to ensure that you brand displays its values at every opportunity.

Take the arrival of the new year as an opportunity to expand your marketing efforts to let your brand speak for itself. You’re a part of an incredibly powerful business – let your skills shine!

Fostering Business Relationships

Whenever you think of building relationships so that people can trust you, and so that your relationships grow, do you think of business? If you don’t, you should. Relationships are something we do want to grow in our businesses. Especially if you’re a financial advisor and you want your clients to trust you. Why are they important? Think of all the referrals you’ve received last year from your best clients. Some of those were probably your biggest sales. Now, try to quantify that number. Once you realize the importance of how you make your clients “feel” as you build those relationships, that in return could be helping your business grow.

We’ve discussed the benefits of building business relationships, now let’s focus on how we should go about doing so. When you first attract a possible client, here are a few things that will go through their head: Can I trust this advisor? Will they understand my unique situation? And, will this advisor’s advice be unbiased? The goal for you is to triumph all of these questions. Do so by being transparent in your process, empathize with their situation, and trust them back.

Following these guidelines will not only increase trust with your potential clients, but also develop those business relationships. In return, both the client and you, as a business professional, are better off.

Are Your Clients Talking About You?

Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM) – you participate in it daily. “So have you heard about that new iPhone X? It recognizes your face!” Rather you are recommending your favorite leadership book or your friend convinced you to switch gyms because the one your friend attends is “better,” WOMM affects us on a daily basis. WOMM has been around way before social media existed. It’s one of the first forms of marketing and is one of the most valuable. A study conducted by The OECHSLI Institute on the power of WOM influence for financial advisors states that 92% of clients found their financial advisors through word of mouth influence. 60% of clients say that the main reason they chose their financial advisor was due to word of mouth influence. So, the question here is how do we go about increasing WOMM in the 21st century? Here are some methods that you can implement into your marketing strategy:

1. Ask top clients to share testimonials/reviews. If you have a website, this is a perfect addition. In fact, 79% of people report trusting testimonials and online reviews just as much as word of mouth recommendations.
2. Offer an incentive. You’re probably thinking, “My client is super busy and doesn’t have time.” However, people are more likely to do things when receiving something in return. As you reach out to your top clients for either testimonials, reviews or even for your marketing campaigns, offer discounts or services as an exchange for their participation and referrals.
3. Organize a formal referral program. This will make the process for your clients fast and easy. Additionally, this will allow for you to measure the results.
4. What is your story? As always, ensuring your website is up to date and interesting is important. But what will increase WOMM is sharing your unique story, right on your website. Why did you start your business? What drives your business? Whenever you give people something memorable, they will share it with the people around them even if you don’t ask them to.

If you have a great example of successful WOMM for your firm, share in the comments below!

Here’s to Remembering Your Customers

Customers want to be remembered. When you recognize a customer, something about them, welcome them back to your website, etc., that will leave a lasting impression with them. Customer retention and new customer acquisitions are some of the most important things to keep your business thriving and relevant.

You might be wondering why remembering your customer, even if it’s the website that recognizes they have visited before, is so important. First of all, it makes the customer feel important. It shows that you are caring about them and the service they receive. Secondly, you’re creating a connection with your customer. If you’re meeting face to face, people like to feel as though they know the people that they are with. And thirdly, whether it is electronically or in person, it makes everything about the experience that much more personal.

So, here is what customers appreciate you knowing or doing:

1. Personalization. Make the experience tailored to the specific customer and they will appreciate it more than you know.
2. Names. If you remember the customer’s name it can make all the difference in the world.
3. Simplifying. Simplify the process for websites, simple loyalty programs, great customer service, etc. The more you do the less the customer has to do and that’s what they want.

Do you have any great tips or stories on customer relations? Share below!

The Importance of Handwritten Notes

The world we live in is quickly moving away from things like snail mail, and as millennials move into the workforce it can be easy for them to overlook things such as the power of a handwritten note. While a handwritten note might not be as common of a gesture to see, it will send a positive message to your potential employer.

Sending handwritten notes are important for much more than just after an interview, though. They can be sent to potential clients, donors, loyal customers, etc. Not everyone is going to send a note, so it will set you out from the rest of the competition, no matter the setting. It means much more to the recipient than you may realize. A note can, and should, even be sent for things like birthdays, anniversaries or other special events.

It doesn’t need to be long or extensive, something short and simple will do the trick. Thank whoever it is for the interview, service, etc. and mention who are you are. You will be remembered and it shows that you really care about the opportunity at hand.

5 Tips to Stay in Contact With Potential Clients

When it comes to clients, we have all figured out the best ways to communicate and behave with them. What’s not always so clear is how to stay in contact with the people who have decided that now is not the best time to work with you. When running your business it’s important that you always keep yourself in the back of these customers minds, so that when it is time for them to commit you will be in the forefront. It’s important to keep track of these people or companies, and strategize how to best market yourself to them. Here are 5 tips to help foster better relationships with your potential clients.

 

 

1. Social Media Engagement. A great way to stay in contact with your potential clients is through social media. In a business relationship you should connect with them on LinkedIn. To encourage a more personal relationship, feel free to add them or promote yourself using other outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. Here’s a video on how connect through Facebook.
2. Utilize Newsletters, Articles, and Blogs. Similar to social media, it’s important to show potential clients the type of work you do, what your expertise is in, and how your business is doing. A convenient and efficient way to do this is through the use of weekly or monthly newsletters or regular blog posts.
3. Invite Them to Events. If you are hosting a business, social, or personal event for your clients, be sure to invite your prospective clients as well. This not only gives you an opportunity to talk with your prospective clients on a more personal level, but it also allows them to see the type of service and relationships you maintain with your clients.
4. Make an Introduction. A great way to make a lasting impression is to think about who you may know that would be beneficial for the potential client to know as well. Maybe you had a conversation about how they wanted to expand an area of their business and you have a connect in that field. Introduce them! It will show them that you are already invested in their success.
5. Check In and Be Responsive. Send them a small gift if you recently had a meeting, a holiday card if it’s that time of year, or a birthday card if you know it’s their birthday. Even simpler than that is making sure you are keeping up on your email and social media. Make sure to respond to comments, calls, or emails quickly, whether they be positive or negative.

The key to great client relationships is great communication. Keep these tips in the back of your mind as you foster your new relationships, and work to maintain old.

What are your tips for potential client relationships?

4 ways to grow your business

Are you looking to grow your business? Well you’re in the right place. It can be hard to get out of your routine and try to expand your talents. So to help, we’ve put together 4 easy ways to grow your business.

1. Do your research. If you’re reading this blog, then you’ve already started #1. Research how other people are growing their businesses; there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. If you can come up with some ideas, great. But remember there are a lot of people out there with great ideas they are willing to share.
2. Target new markets. A great way to build your business is exploring different markets for your business. Think about opportunities to reach out to a different group of people. You never know who’s out there with a need for your product.
3. Develop your website. We can’t emphasize this enough. Having a professional, updated website is crucial for growing your business. This is how many new clients will discover your business. You want your first impression to blow them away.
4. Set goals. Make sure your goals are S.M.A.R.T:  Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. Having SMART goals will keep you on track for building up your business. Without set goals, it can be hard to accomplish what you want.

Your business is fine, but you want it to be great. Use these tips to build your business and grow into whatever you set your mind to.

 

How did you grow your business?