There is nothing that brings me more joy in business than connection. It’s one of the top reasons why this entrepreneurship journey is all worth it. Building authentic business relationships is the foundation of a successful business no matter what industry you are in.
And after you establish those relationships, nurturing them is even more important.
I know it’s counterintuitive to think that you need to “schedule in” nurturing time. But just think about how busy we all get as mamas. Sometimes, we forget to reply to our best friend’s text…so how are we going to consistently remember to nurture our business relationships?
But this is so crucial to our businesses that we must be intentional about it.
Why are Relationships Important in Business?
Building and cultivating business relationships can feel daunting if you’re first starting out in this whole networking world. And there are many types of business relationships (like clients, vendors, etc). But today, I’m talking about referral partnerships. These are your business besties in a sense.
And why are these types of relationships so important for your business? Well, if you don’t want to stress about how to consistently fill your lead generation pipeline, you better listen up here. REFERRALS WILL HELP YOUR BUSINESS THRIVE!
7 Ways To Nurture Business Relationships
Check In Spontaneously
To your network, it may be spontaneous, but you just may be following a scheduled rhythm. Either way, spontaneous or by prescription, the contact will feel special, and you will come across as an organized networker!
Send Resources
Are you the master of all things tech? Maybe you’re an organizational wizard? If there’s ever a resource you find that makes you think of someone specifically, share it with them!
Seek Advice
As you develop your relationships, you’ll learn who has a valuable perspective in specific areas (finance, marketing, parenthood, life, etc) and how best to “vet” a topic with them. Two heads are better than one!
Share Opportunities
As mompreneurs, we’re always looking to consciously grow our network. Be sure to invite selected contacts to events or connect them with valuable new people.
Engage With Their Social Media
Make sure to leave genuine comments, not just “Likes!” This is an effective way to not only engage and communicate with your contact, but a great way to learn more about them – both personally and professionally!
Celebrate with Them
Whether it’s their birthday, anniversary, or a major holiday, send them some love! You don’t have to break the bank either. A simple email, note, social media tag, or text can even do the trick!
Refer Them Business
Make sure you send a personal email to them letting them know you’ve referred someone to them, who it is, and how they might serve that lead best. You might even consider writing up an e-intro email with the referral and the contact together.
Business and Business Relationships Should Be Fun
I think we forget that sometimes, right? We tend to get so caught up in the inner workings of our business that we stop having fun!
Well, I’m here to remind you that you started this entrepreneurship journey for a reason… to enjoy your life and everything about it, including your business! Real business relationships will fill your tank AND your bank! Are you looking for resources to help you network like a mother? I created the Market Like a Mother System just for this reason. Check it out!
