As a business owner and avid social media user, I have noticed a really disturbing trend - people no longer have conversations. Everyone seems to be rushing through their daily interactions with very little value exchange. If a message can't be boiled down to 140 characters or less, it's abandoned altogether. What happened to talking to one another?
Facebook posts, Tweets, Instagrams, and Snapchats have replaced authentic customer connections. This is especially troublesome for small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and marketing professionals who need to find creative ways to engage their target market.
People buy from those whom they know, like, and trust. It used to be that one could walk into their local mom-and-pop shop and be approached by a caring person who wanted nothing more than to meet their needs. The warmth and sincere desire to help emanating from the store owners is what made you want to get to know, like, and eventually trust them with your business. There was time and attention devoted toward building a real relationship. In those simpler times, this was how customer loyalty was created.
These days, very few people seem to understand the value of relationship building. It's more than a monthly scheduled email, a reply to a social media post, or an automated robocall reminder of upcoming events. We need to get back to showing true interest in people. What do they like or dislike? What are their goals and dreams? What are their challenges and obstacles? To actually learn these things one must engage others in conversation then actively listen.
Take a moment to think about how you are interacting with people. Are you delivering value? Are you building authentic relationships? Or are you hurdling through life without taking the time to enjoy those with whom you are connected?
I challenge you to actively seek out opportunities to create new and build on existing relationships. Turn those 5000 friends on Facebook into 5000 valuable connections. You will find that your relationships will be much more fruitful and fulfilling. All it takes is a willingness to care.
If you're a business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, I'd love to hear your feedback on this particular topic. How are you making connections? Connect with me here on NetworkHoncho, Facebook, Twitter, or even Instagram to continue the conversation. Let's connect and build together.
