I’ve always been really big on building relationships with people. There’s a difference between being connected to someone and making a genuine connection. I could go hand my business card out at a conference and get 50 business cards myself, but it’s what you do after you have those cards that make all the difference. Do you nurture those relationships? Ask someone out for coffee or lunch? Send a follow-up email to re-introduce yourself post-event, or meeting? Then, how do you stay connected and add value to that person’s life?

There’s power in your connections/relationships. People crave connection. So do you want to just be another name in someone’s phone or follower on their social channels, or do you want to help that person build a successful business, be their biggest cheerleader, send them leads, know their life story and what excites them, etc.?

Having a genuine relationship with someone is actually more beneficial for your business than the actual number of followers you have/people you “know”. Here are five reasons why building relationships can actually create more efficiencies in your business.

1. Built-in referral source

Would you be surprised if I told you that more than half of my business comes from referrals? I pride myself on building genuine connections with my clients, followers and people in general in the online space. I want to get to know you and what you do. I want to know your values, what type of person you are, who you love to serve and how we can better serve each other. The more you invest in people, the more they invest in you. I have found that those relationships typically lead to some sort of referral. We all have vastly different networks and people have an easier time trusting a referral.

2. More “sales”

People don’t buy what you sell, they buy YOU. You have to build that know, like and trust factor with people. Building a relationship with someone absolutely builds trust. Once you build that trust with someone, they’re more likely to buy from you when it’s time for them to invest in what you sell. Therefore, creating that relationship vs. just showing up in “all the places” is more likely to lead to a sale - therefore more efficient for your business.

3. Additional network to tap into

Once you build a relationship with someone you can tap into their network. Whether it’s in person or online, you have the ability to meet those in their network. Maybe they have a friend who would be a good fit for what you offer, or maybe you trade Instagram takeovers for a day. Getting access to someone else’s network is great because the trust factor is already there. Their followers or friends trust them, so if they’re recommending you or acknowledging their connection to you, it’s built-in trust already, which leads to a faster sale or connection with someone else.

4. Someone to bounce ideas off of

Not only is it someone to bounce ideas off of, but someone to help you understand your audience’s needs. Your relationships give you the opportunity to fine-tune your business services/offerings. Whether you’re asking for advice on your next launch, or need some feedback on how you’re currently positioning yourself for a particular service, your business relationships can help! It’s always nice to have another set of eyes or another perspective from someone who isn’t so “in” your business but knows you and your business.

5. More Opportunities

Outside of just more sales and new customers, there are endless opportunities when you build relationships. Opportunity to be a guest on someone’s next podcast, or maybe a speaker at their next event, or maybe even a new partnership where you tap into each other’s skillsets and expertise.

Building relationships takes time. And as we all know, time is money. But it’s the long game. It’s like watching a pot boil. You’re consistently adding heat, and then all at once the water boils - your business blows up. As long as you keep up the heat, the water keeps boiling. All of those phone calls, lunches, investment in others’ books, programs, events, etc. is the heat, and pouring into those relationships will pay off for you and create even more opportunities for you without you having to go searching for the sale, or the business.

Katelyn Hamilton is an Online Business Manager and Get Your Sh!t Together Strategist. She helps busy entrepreneurs organize, strategize and prioritize their business to go from overwhelmed to out-in-front.

After spending 6 years in the corporate world working with multimillion dollar companies, top-rated chefs and celebrities, she launched her own business to find more flexibility and freedom. She matched her corporate salary in just one year of starting her business.

Katelyn is also a wife, stepmom, dog mama of two furry friends, fitness lover, sports fanatic (Go Dawgs) and dreams of living at the beach.

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