Relationship Marketing

Relationship Marketing as it name implies will introduce you to a new way of increasing profits. It's not complicated. In fact, Relationship Marketing boils down to reselling past customers (and friends of past customers). Relationship Marketing is not about having a "buddy-buddy" relationship with your customers. Customers do not want that. Relationship Marketing uses the event-driven tactics of customer retention marketing, but treats marketing as a process over time rather than single unconnected events. By molding the marketing message and tactics to the life cycle of the customer, the Relationship Marketing approach achieves very high customer satisfaction and is highly profitable.

Relationship Marketing delivers many benefits to a design firm, big or small. Slowly but surely, as you build your client and prospect list, you'll be able to reduce marketing expenses, build referrals, and grow your business in step with your clients' needs. 

The Relationship Marketing process is usually defined as a series of stages, and there are many different names given to these stages, depending on the marketing perspective and the type of business. Using the Relationship Marketing approach, you customize programs for individual consumer groups and the stage of the process they are going through as opposed to some forms of database marketing where everybody would get virtually the same promotions, with perhaps a change in offer. The stage in the customer life cycle determines the marketing approach used with the customer. 

Relationship Marketing grows to meet client needs: Websites are hardly stand-alone entities that need an occasional tweak. For most businesses, they're but one tool amidst many that are used to build brand, in ease revenues or minimize costs. And by offering more tools that help your clients reach their goals, you become more valuable. Build affiliations or strategic relationships with copywriters, photographers, search engine marketers, and other specialists whose talents will benefit your clients.

To increase your sale here are some Relationship Marketing techniques: 

· Invite elected officials to Extension educational events. Make sure they are given a visible and active role in the meeting, such as keynote speaker, member of a panel, etc. If the officials can't come, they'll send a representative from their staff. When they visit, make sure they're given appropriate recognition and media coverage. 
· For Relationship Marketing send newsletters and other pertinent information to them. Occasionally include information about elected officials in your newsletters, remembering pictures are effective. 
· Send success stories, copies of letters of praise from clientele, news of staff awards, etc. Collect news clippings of programs, photocopy, and send them to elected officials periodically. If you have a feature article, a personal delivery is often effective. 

· Seek advice year-round from elected officials. Ask them if extension staff can serve on appropriate committees that match professional responsibilities. This makes the communication two-way, rather than Extension always informing elected officials about needs and programs. 
· One of the most effective ways of educating decision makers is breakfast or dinner forums. These forums can feature short reports outlining Extension's program areas (achievements and future direction), a meal, informal conversation, and feedback between decision makers, staff, and key clientele. Make meetings short - no longer than one hour and lively. Deliver what you promise - on time and in a visible fashion.

Always remember, if you will take care of all the points mentioned in Relationship Marketing, you are bound to get success in the long run.