Thanks to guest blogger, Brian Basilico
“Babies are cute. Puppies are cute. Know your bacon.” These are some “bacon-izms” from Chapter 3 of Brian Basilico’s book, It’s Not About You, It’s About Bacon. On September 4th, Brian was my featured guest on the Marketing Blab. Feel free to watch the replay, but in the meantime, here is an excerpt from that chapter of his book called “Babies, Puppies & Bacon.”
Social media have changed relationships
Relationship marketing means giving up your impersonal method of selling at people and learning to connect with people on an interpersonal level. It’s about getting to know people and allowing them to know you.
This means that you can’t just treat people as numbers or potential sales anymore, you have to treat them as complex human beings. People who like to laugh, and who have family, friends and feelings.
When you connect with people on a personal level, most will reciprocate. This means that you need to be willing to share some information about yourself. It may mean getting outside of your comfort zone. It definitely means that you have to meet people where they are and not just expect them to come to you.
Part of sharing, is giving people what interests them. This creates commonality and creates conversations. Nothing does that like babies, puppies and bacon!
Social networking has forever changed the landscape of relationships. We have become a more interactive and connected society. Whether you use a computer or a mobile device, you have access to people and their lives 24/7.
What you share and how often is a reflection of your relationships. These are personal relationships and business relationships. You get to pick and choose what to communicate and to whom. You also pick and choose how to respond to other posts, on a personal or a business level.
The key point here is communicating. We no longer simply consumer information, we are becoming communities of information. We are sharing and caring for others through these new social networking tools.
Social networking is becoming an extension of face-to-face networking. It will never replae it but you can enhance personal relationships by extending a virtual continuation of what happens in person.
Social networking can also have a negative effect on relationships when you only treat people as potential sales. The responsibility to build a relationship lies within you and depends on how you choose to use social media.
So how do you extend and enhance relationships in business?
You do it by being you. Connecting with people on an emotional level means showing your feelings and letting others know you have a life beyond your business. You have likes, hobbies, family, friends, pets, kids, passions and more. What can you share to build connections? Did I mention before that you may have to get out of your comfort zone?
So often people think they have nothing in common with others. “So how do I connect with people I really don’t know?”
There is an old saying in advertising, “Nothing sells like babies and puppies.” I offer you these three starting points for building and enhancing relationships. The rest is up to you.
Think about it. What can you share about yourself with others to nurture and build connections? Please share your thoughts below because I’d love to hear from you. Thanks and here’s to your sweet success.
About guest blogger Brian Basilico: Brian is a nationally-recognized speaker, author, and coach on social media marketing and networking. He loves golf, music, tech and of course, is a purveyor of BACON! This post is an excerpt from his book It’s Not About You, It’s About Bacon.
