{"id":748,"date":"2020-04-01T12:38:36","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T16:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/?p=748"},"modified":"2020-04-01T12:38:36","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T16:38:36","slug":"how-to-grow-relationships-through-digital-marketing-remodeling-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/innovatebuildingsolutions.com\/dealers\/2020\/04\/how-to-grow-relationships-through-digital-marketing-remodeling-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Grow Relationships through Digital Marketing"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you look up the term digital marketing, you\u2019ll get a \u2018not-exactly-heartwarming\u2019 definition that it\u2019s \u2018any form of advertising on an internet-connected device with a screen.\u2019 Now if that doesn\u2019t give you the \u2018warm and fuzzies\u2019 I\u2019m not sure what will (sarcasm intended).<\/p>

And when you think of it who doesn\u2019t want more advertising messages pushed our way? I just can\u2019t wait to see the next Facebook or Pay Per Click ad.<\/p>

And who doesn\u2019t want to \u2018snuggle up\u2019 with their favorite Internet-connected device with a screen (but I bet if most of us were being real we have fallen asleep looking at our phones a time or two).<\/p>

However, I would contend in our \u2018age of increasing screen time\u2019 a new trend is underway and smarter marketers (AKA real-live people) are all over it. This trend is\u2026<\/p>

In this age of digitization, the smart people are all about personalization.<\/h3>

Even those money-grubbing, pay to play social media networks (Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook you can take a bow right now) aren\u2019t denying that REAL connections (or you can say \u2018engagements\u2019 to throw-in some fancy \u2018corporate-speak\u2019) are where it\u2019s at (and what\u2019s being \u2018rewarded\u2019 with free (organic) exposure and clicks). And if you\u2019re looking to grow your bathroom remodeling business<\/a> or get more guests at your hotel or diners in your restaurant, the formula for success is the same.<\/p>

You and I need customers. Yes, this is your \u2018Captain Obvious\u2019 speaking right here. You want people to know about your products and services (marketing certainly plays a part here) and see you as the expert and \u2018go-to\u2019 resource when they\u2019re thinking about buying.<\/p>

The challenge is in our \u2018over-digitized\u2019 push-marketing (\u2018er too much advertising) world is how can you get customers or prospects to think of your business before you run out of money promoting what you do?<\/p>

How do you create meaningful relationships (dare I say customers) through a seemingly impersonal Internet-connected device with a screen?<\/h3>

Surprisingly the secret is much less about \u2018opening up your wallet\u2019 than it is about \u2018opening up your heart.\u2019 Not to get all sappy here, but in our \u2018over-digitized\u2019 world it\u2019s all about developing relationships, not building \u2018followers.\u2019<\/p>

The question is how? In this article I\u2019ll dish out 5 practical ideas to \u2018Rehumanize Your Business<\/em>\u2019 (note \u2013 I\u2019m borrowing this title from a good book I\u2019m reading right now from Ethan Beute and Stephen Pacinelli) and grow digital relationships to grow your business. Let\u2019s check them out.<\/p>

Idea #1 to grow digital relationships \u2013 Cut out \u2018corporate-speak!\u2019 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>

Let\u2019s see how well you can \u2018understand\u2019 this mumbo-jumbo\u2026<\/p>

Let\u2019s take a deep dive<\/em> on how we can get our customers and stakeholders fully engaged <\/em>in our content. It\u2019s on everyone\u2019s radar <\/em>so we need to unpack<\/em> this knowledge for it to resonate<\/em> with the human capital <\/em>at the enterprise-level firm. <\/em>In order to be a disruptor, <\/em>we must right-size <\/em>our marketing program and interface <\/em>with our prospects. We\u2019ll be able to move the needle, <\/em>explain our core competencies <\/em>and grow our business at scale <\/em>when we keep prospects in the loop <\/em>and touch base <\/em>more often.<\/p>

W.T.F. (and hey \u2013 I needed to include the \u2018F\u2019 for this paragraph even though I don\u2019t swear!).<\/h3>

Does this paragraph mean a lick to you? Are these ‘corporateers’ even speaking English? Even if it\u2019s just a \u2018bit\u2019 confusing this is how many \u2018so-called professionals\u2019 talk and write on blogs, social media, web sites, white papers (those even sound fancy and official) videos and podcasts.

\"Don't<\/p>

This \u2018corporate crap\u2019 (IMHO) makes you and I (if I were \u2018smart enough\u2019 to use it) sound like we\u2019re trying to impress someone with our \u2018professionalism.\u2019<\/p>

In the age of \u2018corporate-speak\u2019 we\u2019re actually looking for real-live authentic people. People we know. People we can trust. People (and businesses) who have our back.<\/p>

Bottom line \u2013 if you want to grow relationships on digital devises speak like a real-live-person. \u00a0<\/em><\/h3>

Idea #2 to grow digital relationships \u2013 Give love to get love. \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>

Think about a friend or business relationship who means a lot to you. OK, who comes to mind?<\/p>

The first person who came to my mind while writing this was Diane Rehor. Although Diane isn\u2019t someone I talk to a ton (as a matter of fact, she\u2019s really closer with my wife because they work together as speaking consultants and get together for \u2018girl\u2019s lunches\u2019 all the time) I value our friendship.

\"grow<\/p>

You see the reason Diane\u2019s name came to mind is due to a beautiful quality she has. You see Diane is wonderful about \u2018making you feel good about you.\u2019<\/p>

She\u2019s fascinated with\u2026you. She wants to learn more about \u2026. you. She\u2019s not afraid to share what wonderful things\u2026. you\u2026. are doing on social media.<\/p>

In this age of \u2018ME,\u2019 Diane is all about\u2026YOU.<\/h3>

And this is where most of the rest of us can be \u2018technically challenged\u2019 on social media (and I have to admit to being \u2018guilty as charged\u2019 on this point more than a time or two). We want OUR likes. We want OUR shares. Flat out \u2013 we want love, before we\u2019re willing to give love.<\/p>

Ask yourself this question, \u201cHow much am I liking and sharing O.P.C. (Other Peoples Content)? Am I sharing their posts, blogs, videos and podcasts? How often am I their biggest cheerleaders?\u201d<\/p>

I\u2019m convinced when I (digitally or otherwise) show more love, I\u2019ll get more love.<\/p>

Are you digitally generous with the love or are you locked into the familiar station WIIFM (What\u2019s in It for Me)?\u00a0<\/p>

Idea #3 \u2013 Stop worrying about your U.M.D. \u2013 Don\u2019t be afraid to put a \u2018face on it!\u2019 <\/strong><\/h2>

My two sons (Grant and Parker)and I like to joke that the men (not the women mind you, because they\u2019re waaaaaay toooo pretty for what I\u2019m about to share) in our family suffer from a grave disease many have never heard of. This disease is called U.M.D. It stands for\u2026.<\/p>

U<\/strong>gly M<\/strong>an D<\/strong>isease.<\/h3>

Although my boys are definitely better looking than I (not a difficult feat), none of us (yet) are being recruited as male models.<\/p>

However, despite our \u2018dreaded, incurable (OK maybe it\u2019s curable with some plastic surgery) UMD this ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT MEAN we can\u2019t create value (and improve relationships) on social media, web sites, blogs and YouTube by putting our \u2018mugs\u2019 on video. Whether these are marketing videos or personal video emails directed at one person there\u2019s no platform which not only expresses what we think, but also how we feel better than video.<\/p>\"Digital

And video is not only hot, it\u2019s getting hotter. By 2021 it\u2019s expected the average person will spend over 100 minutes watching video per day.

\"Growth<\/p>

If your personal or business digital marketing program is as \u2018dead as a doornail\u2019 (whatever that means) start thinking about Frequently Asked Questions you can answer with video. Could you make \u2018how to\u2019 videos to give the steps for a successful project (even if your potential customers ARE NOT going to do it themselves)? Can you shoot a video outlining your personal \u2018take\u2019 on industry trends?<\/p>

In my business I\u2019ve named \u20182020\u2019 as \u2018The Year of the Video.\u2019 We\u2019re self-producing video every other week (and here\u2019s an example showing Frequently Asked Questions about our laminate shower wall panel line<\/a> below).<\/p>