What is Relationship Marketing, and how do I do it? Relationship Marketing, is a facet of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) focusing on customer loyalty and long-term customer engagement rather than short-term goals like customer acquisition and individual sales. It is a management strategy designed to encourage strong and lasting connections to your brand, service or product. The goal is to turn your prospects into loyal customers who will then generate repeat sales, and encourage and give word-of-mouth promotions (referrals). Yes, the goal is create loyal, long-term referring customers I say this with humility, as many of us should bring a bit of humility to our business, and let go of expectations. Be respectful of yourself and your customers/clients, referrals, and potential clients. Don't force people into "liking you." Value your message because you value yourself as the messenger. The value you place in yourself as the messenger is the confidence you need to take the necessary steps outlined in this book. You may be thinking, "I don't own my own business. I work for someone else." Well, then, this information is still for you. Even if you are "working in someone else's business", we better ourselves, our personal business/sales, when we live and believe we are working for ourselves. If you are a sales person, account representative, working on commission, etc ... know and understand this ... you are working for yourself. Your effort directly effects your result (income). You will get out of a relationship what you put into the relationship. When I started my web and graphic design business, back in 1994, my Dad told me, "Never mix business with personal and never mix business with religion". Back then, he was right, maybe. But now-a-days, that is not so. Now-a-days people are craving relationships. Maybe it has something to do with so many hiding behind the computer screen, their phones, etc. We need that extra something when it comes to human contact. People want to know who you are, they want to see the *real* you. We all struggle, at some point in our lives with a specific question, "Where do I fit in?" It is our relationships ... it is who we have relationships with ... that tells us exactly where we fit into this crazy world. Building a Relationship Relationships all start in the same place. Two strangers meeting and desire to get to know each other. Sometimes there are sparks in the beginning; sometimes the relationship requires time. Building a relationship requires 2 people to show and be who they are. Building a true relationship is about letting the authentic you shine through. Building a quality relationship requires your heart to lead you, the wall must come down. When our wall comes down, the other person in the relationship can and will feel comfortable letting their wall down as well. We are sharing a story and creating a new part of the story together. Isolation doesn't build anything but loneliness. So, the question is, how does the wall come "tumbling down"? One of the ways I let my heart and authentic "me" shine through is cards I have always sent out cards, for everything. Think about a rose for a moment. The petals are all wrapped tightly in the beginning. Slowly, a petal opens. With each petal that opens a new picture is created. Something beautiful happens. All the petals are open; the rose is in full bloom. And, inside that bloom, we find the seeds. The seeds of life. Cards, for me, are the seeds of life. Sharing moments with my friends, my prospects, my clients are the petals slowly opening. Each card develops a deeper meaning ... until one day the picture is complete. Yes, I send cards to celebrate and share all occasions: Thank you for your business, nice to meet you, thank you for talking to me, birthday, Christmas, anniversary, etc. This is how I built a six-figure business, sitting at home, behind a computer, while nursing babies.