5 Powerful Technologies To Build Relationships
By Terry Brock
For a long time I’ve been saying that success in business is not about the E-Commerce (The Electronics), but it is about the R-Commerce (The Relationships). We can buy all the fancy, new-fangled technology we want to try and reach more customers. However, what matters most for success in business, is not the tools we have but the quality relationships we nurture. Successful people emphasize establishing, building and maintaining relationships.
Towards that end, here are some select tools that you’ll want to bring around you to build relationships more. These five tools are available today and they can help boost your relationships.
1. A Good, Working Contact Management System. You want a system that handles important dates (calendar), e-mail messages (communication is vital in relationships), keeps track of important information regarding contacts (address book) and more. There are several good software packages that can assist you. Some of these include ACT!, Goldmine, Maximizer, Microsoft Outlook and others. I use Outlook with the MS Office Suite and it allows me to keep details on contacts that are important, track dates that are important, measure results and more. I integrate Word, Excel and PowerPoint as different tools to help bring more possibilities to relationships.
2. Video E-Mail This is a breakthrough that is now possible due to a couple of factors. One is that more people are using hi-speed access to the Net making video possible. The other is that video tools are now easier than ever. Watch the video that accompanies this article (see reference at end) and you’ll see an example of one that I use to send quick, easy video e-mail messages. With video you can communicate more information faster and easier than with e-mail alone. Think about it---you can talk faster than you can type. Also, with video, you have voice and moving pictures to communicate and enhance relationships much more than with print alone. Sure, we’ll continue to use e-mail, but V-Mail is a tool that can seriously help you in communicating and building relationships.
3. Audio E-Mail As video helps to communicate more than just typed text, audio can often communicate more feeling and emotion. You can use some simple, easy audio editing software to create a sound file that you attach to an e-mail. A short, 30-60 second audio message can help to clarify your message. Ever get an e-mail that is misunderstood because of text alone? Audio can enhance the communication and clear up questions. Combine that with two or more voices and you take communication---and relationship building--- to a much deeper and longer-lasting dimension.
4. Handwritten Notes You ask, “I thought we were talking about technology? “ Yes, this is a tool and that is what a technology is. Don’t be deceived thinking that anything that is effective must have electronics attached to it. Remember, it is not about the Electronics, the E-Commerce---it is about the Relationships, the R-Commerce. I never cease to be amazed at the power of a handwritten letter or note to let someone know you care. In an age of e-commerce, e-banking, e-travel and too much e-everything, a simple, handwritten note saying thank you can have a much greater positive impact to build relationships than an avalanche of e-mail messages.
5. Handheld Computer/Smartphone/PDA Keeping in touch with people is paramount. You also need to keep your schedule, commitments and other items available regularly. A small handheld computer can help you with this. Today we have Smartphones that combine a cell or mobile phone with your calendar, voice recorder, video and audio playback device and address book. Watch the video that accompanies this article (see reference at end) to see an example of what I’m using and how it can help you. One of these devices can prompt you for upcoming meetings (using an alarm to prompt you, say, 1 hour before that important meeting). It can be a lifesaver to check out information on the Net and check important e-mail messages.
All of these technologies and many others are great tools for establishing, building and maintaining relationships. Remember that they are good tools but the emphasis must be on helping people that are important for you in your business. No, we can’t be in touch with all the important people in our lives all the time. That is not possible. However, you can use tools like your contact management system to stay in touch with a great number of people much easier than with a paper and pen system. I find that usually it is a combination of the old paper and pen system with an updated Smartphone, for instance, that provides the ideal, integrated system.
Remember also that your system will be unique to you. What works for one person might be counterproductive to another. You’ve got to find what works best for you in your situation.
Also remember that systems are living, integrated processes. They are constantly evolving and changing as 1) we find what works and what doesn’t work for us and 2) new technologies emerge that provide better solutions. Have the mindset to continually test and embrace those tools that help you achieve your overall goals.
With the right combination of tools and technologies you can achieve your overall goals of establishing, building and maintaining relationships better than ever. E-Commerce is nice, but the R-Commerce is what lasts.
To see the video that accompanies this article, and see some of these tools and how they work go to: http://tinyurl.com/e84x9 .
________________________________________
Terry Brock is a marketing coach who helps business owners market more effectively leveraging technology. He shows busy professionals how to squeeze more out of their busy days using the right rules and tools. He can be reached at 407-363-0505, by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com.
Copyright © 2006, Terry Brock, All Rights Reserved Internationally. No portion may be reprinted or used in any way without prior written permission.
For a long time I’ve been saying that success in business is not about the E-Commerce (The Electronics), but it is about the R-Commerce (The Relationships). We can buy all the fancy, new-fangled technology we want to try and reach more customers. However, what matters most for success in business, is not the tools we have but the quality relationships we nurture. Successful people emphasize establishing, building and maintaining relationships.
Towards that end, here are some select tools that you’ll want to bring around you to build relationships more. These five tools are available today and they can help boost your relationships.
1. A Good, Working Contact Management System. You want a system that handles important dates (calendar), e-mail messages (communication is vital in relationships), keeps track of important information regarding contacts (address book) and more. There are several good software packages that can assist you. Some of these include ACT!, Goldmine, Maximizer, Microsoft Outlook and others. I use Outlook with the MS Office Suite and it allows me to keep details on contacts that are important, track dates that are important, measure results and more. I integrate Word, Excel and PowerPoint as different tools to help bring more possibilities to relationships.
2. Video E-Mail This is a breakthrough that is now possible due to a couple of factors. One is that more people are using hi-speed access to the Net making video possible. The other is that video tools are now easier than ever. Watch the video that accompanies this article (see reference at end) and you’ll see an example of one that I use to send quick, easy video e-mail messages. With video you can communicate more information faster and easier than with e-mail alone. Think about it---you can talk faster than you can type. Also, with video, you have voice and moving pictures to communicate and enhance relationships much more than with print alone. Sure, we’ll continue to use e-mail, but V-Mail is a tool that can seriously help you in communicating and building relationships.
3. Audio E-Mail As video helps to communicate more than just typed text, audio can often communicate more feeling and emotion. You can use some simple, easy audio editing software to create a sound file that you attach to an e-mail. A short, 30-60 second audio message can help to clarify your message. Ever get an e-mail that is misunderstood because of text alone? Audio can enhance the communication and clear up questions. Combine that with two or more voices and you take communication---and relationship building--- to a much deeper and longer-lasting dimension.
4. Handwritten Notes You ask, “I thought we were talking about technology? “ Yes, this is a tool and that is what a technology is. Don’t be deceived thinking that anything that is effective must have electronics attached to it. Remember, it is not about the Electronics, the E-Commerce---it is about the Relationships, the R-Commerce. I never cease to be amazed at the power of a handwritten letter or note to let someone know you care. In an age of e-commerce, e-banking, e-travel and too much e-everything, a simple, handwritten note saying thank you can have a much greater positive impact to build relationships than an avalanche of e-mail messages.
5. Handheld Computer/Smartphone/PDA Keeping in touch with people is paramount. You also need to keep your schedule, commitments and other items available regularly. A small handheld computer can help you with this. Today we have Smartphones that combine a cell or mobile phone with your calendar, voice recorder, video and audio playback device and address book. Watch the video that accompanies this article (see reference at end) to see an example of what I’m using and how it can help you. One of these devices can prompt you for upcoming meetings (using an alarm to prompt you, say, 1 hour before that important meeting). It can be a lifesaver to check out information on the Net and check important e-mail messages.
All of these technologies and many others are great tools for establishing, building and maintaining relationships. Remember that they are good tools but the emphasis must be on helping people that are important for you in your business. No, we can’t be in touch with all the important people in our lives all the time. That is not possible. However, you can use tools like your contact management system to stay in touch with a great number of people much easier than with a paper and pen system. I find that usually it is a combination of the old paper and pen system with an updated Smartphone, for instance, that provides the ideal, integrated system.
Remember also that your system will be unique to you. What works for one person might be counterproductive to another. You’ve got to find what works best for you in your situation.
Also remember that systems are living, integrated processes. They are constantly evolving and changing as 1) we find what works and what doesn’t work for us and 2) new technologies emerge that provide better solutions. Have the mindset to continually test and embrace those tools that help you achieve your overall goals.
With the right combination of tools and technologies you can achieve your overall goals of establishing, building and maintaining relationships better than ever. E-Commerce is nice, but the R-Commerce is what lasts.
To see the video that accompanies this article, and see some of these tools and how they work go to: http://tinyurl.com/e84x9 .
________________________________________
Terry Brock is a marketing coach who helps business owners market more effectively leveraging technology. He shows busy professionals how to squeeze more out of their busy days using the right rules and tools. He can be reached at 407-363-0505, by e-mail at terry@terrybrock.com or through his website at www.terrybrock.com.
Copyright © 2006, Terry Brock, All Rights Reserved Internationally. No portion may be reprinted or used in any way without prior written permission.
posted by Terry Brock @ Tuesday, August 15, 2006
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