Ideas for Nurturing Clients & Networking Marketing Isn't for Quitters: 4 Key Steps for Nurturing Long-Term Leads You Won the Client! Now Start Marketing to Them 9 Ways to Network When You Have Less Work

"Relationship marketing." "Word-of-mouth advertising." "The future of marketing is one-to-one." "People like to do business with people they know, like, and trust."

You've heard those adages many times before. But what does it really mean to build relationships with people in order to sell something? Does it work to make personal connections with a hidden agenda? How do you go about creating relationships for marketing purposes without feeling sleazy? Here are seven tips for building marketing relationships you can feel good about:

1. Start with the best audience
   When you choose the right target market for your business, relationship-building becomes an enjoyable process. Your ideal clients and referral sources are people you already enjoy spending time with. Your clients should be people whose goals and problems you care about; your referral partners should be those who share your concerns for the welfare of the client base you serve.
   
   If you feel uncomfortable when you approach business contacts with the aim of getting to know them better, gauge your personal interest level in making the connection. A lack of interest on your part may be a signal that you are reaching out to the wrong group of people. Relationship marketing will not be a success if you don't have a sincere concern and a feeling of affinity for your prospective clients.

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