Understanding the Importance of Relationship Marketing
Understanding the importance of Relationship Marketing in 2021, will help your business better pivot within the digital arena. And let’s face it; businesses need all the help they can get right in order to assist them during these changing times. Which is something Net 360 Solutions would love to help our community of businesses with! So – What is Relationship Marketing?
As described by Wikipedia, it is “…a form of marketing developed from direct response marketing campaigns that emphasizes customer retention and satisfaction rather than sales transactions.” Well said and very true. A digital connection is NOT a personal relationship. In fact, that is exactly what it lacks – personal or in-person interactions. It is easy to “connect” with people online, but making a connection is a very different thing. In fact, clicking to connect will often have customers disconnecting quickly. No one has the time nor the desire for unending superficial interactions on a screen. Which is why relationship marketing is so important – and it takes time to grow. Combining Instant Gratification with Real-Time Interactions
It’s true, we are an instant gratification society. With products and services at our fingertips to acquire or book, we often choose to cut out the ‘middleman’ – otherwise known as a live conversation. However, in doing so – as a business, you are taking away the valuable nature of building and fostering relationships with your customers. This is often what your best retention is based on – relationships.
How Do We Build Relationships in a Digital World?
It is well known, in the marketing arena, that 80% of your business will usually come from 20% of your customers. Although business owners often seek the quick buy-ins through transactional interactions for their products or services, these types of prompt transactions can be short-lived one-time buys. Instead of short term pay outs, seeking a long-term strategy that focusses on building meaningful relationships with your customers will actually benefit you more. As well, it will cost you less in the long run. A poor customer service experience is all it takes for online customers to take their business elsewhere. It’s in your best interest to prevent this! Be the Change Buyers Want (but don’t know they want) to See
We have quickly been taught that fast is best. When in reality, that is so far from the true human condition of care we all genuinely seek. Imagine tapping into a marketing strategy that roughly only 19-30% of companies are doing. Did you know …almost a quarter of businesses don’t carry out any relationship marketing? Data from the new Econsultancy/Responsys Cross-Channel Marketing Report 2013 shows the value of building customer relationships, as 70% of respondents agreed that “it is cheaper to retain than acquire a customer.” In such an untapped market, having a strategy to be the change customers unknowingly desire, and companies rarely do – will put you ahead of the curve and creating a fresh norm we all deserve! Why Are So Few Companies Investing in Relationship Marketing? Although the intention is there for a lot of businesses to interact with their online customers, there tends to be a lack of strategy to truly make it a consistent reality. As well, many businesses believe that their loyalty programs, customized products or newsletter keeps them ‘in touch’ with customers. But those are all things that – in the end, benefit the company, not the customer. And they know this. This could even be referred to as “tactical marketing”, and nothing feels more sterile to a customer than being SOLD something. Digital marketing can almost seem diabolical at times with its approach. Alternately, relationship marketing seeks to understand the client’s needs, wants and desires. Not to SELL them on something, but to help understand how you can SERVE them. Someone who’s needs, wants and desires are being met, will feel a sense of loyalty, respect and desire to return the authentic care in which they’re being treated with.
Campaigns, slogans and promotions cannot compete with true, personal customer care. Care goes beyond the head and lends itself to the heart of the matter. This is where the REAL transactions happen – in the arena of desire over duty. Purpose Driven Connections Matter – Become a Brand that CARES! When ‘evangelizing’ to your customers – ensure your brand truly cares about their wellbeing. Business-to-business is a poor term for what is meant to actually represent business-to-person sales. People have feelings, and feelings require ‘feel good moments’ in order to, well – feel good! People who grow emotionally connected to your brand will buy from you because they care. They will also share your brand with their friends, and likely their social media audience too (free viral advertising that works!), which adds to your ROI and will cause your efforts to pay off handsomely. Quick Ways to Enhance Your Relationship Marketing Build a Rapport through real-time connections via truly personalized emails, a person-toperson phone call, or a hand-written invitation to a private shopping experience …just to name a few. Build Trust through consistent interactions, not just a one-off sales tactics. Show Personality on your social media pages, tagging those you have interacted with in a positive way, giving shout outs, sharing human struggles so people can RELATE to your product or service and see the person behind the brand. Inspire Confidence with consistency and an ongoing brand experiences that show you care. Provide Excellent Customer Service …not good, not great, but EXCELLENT! Provide Value to your customer’s lives by asking HOW you can do so. As Simon Sinek put it in one of his famous Ted Talks: “Profit isn’t a purpose. It’s a result. To have purpose means the things we do are of real value to others.” People want to align their buying decisions with a company who cares about them and about the community they live in. People love seeing passion and purpose, and when you love what you do, it shows in how you care for those who invest their hard-earned dollars into your brand. At Net 360 Solutions, we employee a team of local professional creatives who are truly passionate about what they do and the service we collectively provide our customers. We are a local Langley BC digital marketing company who thrives on YOUR success. We are truly are excited to further our relationship with you in 2021, and help you in doing the same with and for your customers! Lets Talk!
Top Digital Marketing Trends: 2021
With a worldwide pandemic still altering how businesses operate, Net 360 Solutions has been working diligently to help local businesses continue to thrive. Across the Lower Mainland many companies have had to pivot how they serve their customers, and their digital marketing agenda has played a big part in how they do so. Products are moving swiftly to online platforms, and services are also being offered virtually when and where they can. In addition, a remote working environment has become a highly popular method of conducting business, and all signs point to these and other such Top Digital Marketing Trends in 2021 that we want to expand on. Engage to Retain Your Customers in 2021 It typically costs less to maintain your existing customer base than to earn new ones. Which is why marketing experts recommend keeping your customers engaged and returning for more. Happy customers tend to share their experience with friends – both within any given online platform, as well as in person. Right now, especially, keeping loyal customers is key to the success of any business. Also known as ‘retention’, this is what usually fuels 80% of business, with the other 20% being attracting a new customer base. Both are clearly important with the ebbs and flows of seasonal business, and it definitely makes generating and engaging with online traffic more important – which is where we see the trend moving (online) in mass-exodus fashion. Buying audiences, and businesses along with them, have quickly moved their dollars to online platforms, and purchasing products and services from the comfort and safety of one’s home is now – seemingly, the preferred method.
In fact, MarketingCharts.com reported that 24% of marketing budgets (in the US) went up 13% from last year, with social media platforms being a heavy hitter. Which makes sense, as that is the top platform for engagement and where most customers can be found. This will remain a growing trend for 2021 within a medium buyers are frequently visiting, so don’t miss out! Optimize Your Content for 2021 Google listings, Google My Business and SEO (search engine optimization) remain highly important for small businesses. Verified local listings through Google My Business allow customers to quickly and easily locate your business, uncover your hours, find out about your services – and much more. These such directories are something we can help you set up and maintain, and often mean a massive difference between customers finding you – or not. Google prioritizes their algorithms based on their platforms, so having an ‘SEO master’ spearheading this for you is well-worth budgeting for. The Growing Importance of Online Communication in 2021 Brand recognition and brand loyalty are key when it comes to your bottom dollar. So, not only is ensuring your products are readily available and visually appealing important, but also having a customer service rep available for remote Q&A’s is also vital. With many working from home, this is the time to ramp up your customer service availability. You can do so by offering a dedicated staff base ready to answer emails, social media messages, phone calls – and any other form of communication you choose to utilize. Far less (if any) in-person interactions are now happening for businesses, so being available outside of such human-to-human contact has become increasingly important and will continue to grow in 2021. Staying relevant is key for 2021, and this is one way to stay on top of – if not ahead of, the trend. These are just a handful of trends Net 360 Solutions can assist you with in 2021. We would love to have a conversation with you to help you further understand the many benefits your online presence can offer, and how it can work for you affordably and effectively in the coming year. Contact Us to get started!
Technology is Transforming the Way We Do Business – How Not to Get Left Behind!
Across our communities and around the globe, technology is transforming the way we do business. As a local digital marketing company in Langley, Net 360 Solutions would like to help businesses understand how not to get left behind with these changing times. We provide guidance and affordable solutions to our business community at large, delivering digital marketing services where and when needed. As such, we have a variety of question to pose, helping you to think about these changing times and how technology can help your company stay current. What is the Purpose of Your Business? This may seem like a silly question, but right now asking ‘what is the purpose of your business’ could provide a question that requires answering in a new way. Where once your business may have provided an opportunity for locals to come shop in-store, ask questions and gain a tactile experience; now you may want to uncover how you can transform that into an online experience through various technology and digital marketing tools. Are You Prepared to Invest in Technology? Once you can decide on how your business can translate over onto a digital platform, deciding on if and how much you are prepared to invest in technology will contribute to the final outcome. Whether choosing to allow a digital marketing company, such as ours, go to task with bringing your business into the 2021 model of online marketing, or investing in cameras and video equipment to capture how your buying audience might use a product or service you offer from
their home – there are many ideas to considering before invest in technology and the outcome intended. Is Your Staff Ready for the Transition? Perhaps these changing times require additional staff training at your store location. Or perhaps it is necessary to build your business from various home offices. Getting your staff prepared for transitioning your company to a more online-friendly platform is important. So … Involve them in the process. Ask for their input. Uncover what each employee brings to the table to invest in this transition, and then work together as a team to bring it to fruition. When employees feel part of the plan, they tend to invest more and feel pride in what they are doing, creating a winning environment for everyone. Does the Transformation Require Rebranding? If you have been offering in-person services, it is also important to ask yourself if your company will require rebranding. Businesses should not be afraid to rebrand, as it can provide a fresh platform from which to make your company thrive, while also helping your community do the same. Pivoting during these times will ensure everyone stays – not only afloat, but capable of making a difference. Small efforts can make a big impact, and we’re here to help you with your ‘technology transformation’ in any way we can! Contact us for a FREE assessment of your digital marketing plan, and rewrite your future in a beneficial way for 2021.
The Value of Adding Interactive Content to Your Website
Did you know there is value in adding interactive content to your website? Not only does interactive content provide visitors with tools to engaged with your brand and gain information they deem important, but it also helps YOU gain valuable insight into your viewers. Whether offering a calculator for websites such as realtors, investment companies or even tax services, providing a personality test for employment service or dating companies, or delivering ‘how to’ videos to your viewing audience – the options for interactive content are plentiful. In fact, a report from Wyzowl discussed how interactive videos are increasing exponentially in popularity. And rightfully so, as their data also showed that viewers who interact with videos have a 591% increase in their activity on websites. Video may very well be one of the easiest immersive experiences, delivering interactive content that provides results with minimal time and cost involved. Interested in Video Marketing for Your Business? Our Video Marketing Services Includes… • • • •
Pre-production consultation On-site filming Post editing File uploading
Professional on-site videos start at just $895. Contact us today to get yours! Additional Examples of Interactive Content Still unsure how interactive content might work for your business? Here are some additional examples of interactive content: Quizzes – are another manageable way to offer interactive content. They are fun and easy to share, creating the opportunity for viral content and brand exposure. Both Quiz Maker and Survey Monkey offer the tools to create and share quizzes effectively. Polls – are another popular method of interactive content, which are used often on social media platforms. They allow for consumer feedback, audience information and purchasing preferences, giving you insight into your customers and offering them the value of having a say in your products or services. Contests – are an excellent way to attract people to your brand and gain visibility, while doing both quite quickly. Liking, sharing and tagging people in social media posts is one of the fastest and most effective ways to build your brand and your platform. If you are looking to build your audience in a positive way – this is an excellent choice for interactive content. If you have not yet begun your journey into interactive content, 2021 is the year to do so – and Net 360 Solutions is here to help. Contact us for a free website analysis and cost breakdown for your digital marketing plan. We look forward to helping your build your brand, as well as your customer base alongside it!
Source: https://www.net360solutions.com/blog/