Build On Customer Relationships Using LinkedIn

Reported by foodem.com, the online wholesale food marketplace-

Building and growing a business definitely takes time and a great deal of effort. Aside from getting a business off the ground, attracting new and keeping existing customers satisfied is another task within itself.

Luckily today technology has afforded business owners innumerable ways to reach their target audience and engage with potential and existing customers. Though expensive, traditional marketing will probably always have a place in business, but we can’t forget about cost-effective methods such as and . No, I didn’t forget – hands down, have taken over the world of business. If you own a business and you do not have a Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn account, you may need to go back to the drawing board and start over.

Speaking of LinkedIn, it’s one of the fastest growing professional social platforms, with nearly 60% of all active social networkers vouching for its relevancy. By far, it is the best platform for business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals. It is approximated that LinkedIn has over 150 million registered users building repertoires and engaging with vendors, potential business partners and current and potential customers, not to mention letting the community know what product(s) and service(s) they provide.

Owner of CoryWest Media, LLC and LinkedIn sales training consultant, Barbara Rozgonyi, shared with Inc.com, a few tactics to maximize the value of current customer relations on LinkedIn.

1. Find out who’s who – Review your top 20 customers’ profiles and determine what makes them “top profiles.” Perhaps it’s the number of sales or lifetime customer value. Also, think about what they have in common; it could be a problem that your product or service can fix, an attachment to your brand or a specific need. After evaluating this information create customer profile models. These profiles will dictate the types of individuals you want to connect with.
2. Confirm your connections – To all current and past customers, send invitation requests. Be sure to mention their name and your business connection. Also send invitations to assistants, vendors, suppliers and anyone else you interacted with in order to expand your reach.
3. Request recommendations and referrals – It’s not rocket science, the best time to ask for a referral is when a client is happy. Simply ask two questions: What’s the biggest problem that my product or service solves for you? What do you say when you refer me or my business to others? Try to make it as easy as possible for them to be your best advocate.

For more tactics, click here.

(Photo Source)