Relationship Marketing. Is it new? What is it?

Relationship marketing has been around for centuries. Marketing for your business has changes so much in last 5 to 10 years through the prevalent use of social media, the internet and technology.  However, relying on social media and technology to build relationships with your clients, customers and potential clients and customers can see relationship marketing take somewhat of a back seat. Relationship marketing is people to people, not computer to computer.  Yes, you can engage through social media and some great business is done using social media as a tool; however the relationships that you build and create using these tools cannot be under-estimated.

When we nurture on-line relationships to carry over in off-line relationships this is where the magic begins.  When we engage people, nature relationships and build both on and off-line relationships this is where you can have a client for life.  Considering engaging with your on-line friend’s ones you find a connection with and then slowly bring this to an off-line connection you will find a higher level of engagement.

Relationship marketing is also about the follow up, connections and support you encounter with the people you meet.  Entertain the idea of becoming the connector within your circle of influence.  Connecting business to business, people to people and being the 'go to' person will help to nurture your relationships.  In time you will start to see referrals build, connections flourish and business multiply just through the process of relationship marketing.

Is it new, certainly not!  Relationship Marketing has been around for centuries, sometimes we just lose site of the value of the relationship and get caught up in fast paced technology. 

When was the last time you went to a networking event? Picked up the phone, sent a card or arranged a coffee meeting? On a scale of 1 to 10 where does your relationship marketing fit within your personal life and business?