For many people who are new to owning their own business, understanding how to develop online relationships with customers can be easier said than done. The fact is, the Internet has changed everything in terms of B2C marketing and customer relationships. While some aspects of traditional marketing and CRM remain useful, there are a variety of new techniques that business owners need to learn in order to push their customer relationship model in the right direction. Fortunately, doing so doesn’t have to be nearly as difficult as many people think, so long as you take the following tips into consideration and have a strong notion of what you’re doing.
Social Media
Social media is of the utmost importance when trying to build or maintain relationships with clients and customers. One of the best parts about using social media sites like Twitter and Facebook is that they not only allow you to send out updates to clients and customers as often as you see fit, but the services are also free to utilize. This makes social media ideal for individuals who are starting a new business and need to conserve in terms of how much they spend. Social media is easy to learn how to use, and typically comes with a very small learning curve.
Email Blasts
While social media is considered by most people to be the most effective method for maintaining client and customer relationships in the Internet age, there’s no denying the fact that email blasts are essential as well. After all, not everyone utilizes social media sites, which means you’ll be alienating a portion of your customer base if you don’t look to other methods for maintaining communication. Email blasts can be sent out as often as you’d like, although it’s best to keep them to one per week in order to avoid overwhelming your customers. Since many people receive email on their smart-phones, this is the perfect way to catch those who are constantly on the go.
Networking Events
The Internet is a great way to advertise networking events that are held either virtually or locally. These types of events are very useful for those who are trying to broaden their client base, but can also be ideal for maintaining customer relationships. Sending out virtual invites for networking events is easy, and typically only requires a few minutes of your time. You can even plan networking invites to be sent out automatically if the events you’re advertising tend to happen on a regular basis.