Building Rapport With Your Target Market
First of all, what is “rapport”? It is the “connection”, the “understanding”, the “camaraderie” between two people. It is what bonds us as human beings to one another. Rapport is when two people feel that they have things in common and they feel comfortable with each other as if they’ve known each other for a long time. Haven’t you ever met someone that you didn’t know before but within just a few minutes you found yourself really liking them, and feeling like you’ve known them for a long time?
People like to do business with people they know, like, and trust – this is a well known fact! In this crazy world we live in, where we are “friends” with people literally ALL over the world – thanks to technology – how do we develop that rapport over a computer screen? How do we use the 3+ seconds we have of someone’s attention to GRAB it in order to even get a CHANCE to establish rapport? It is NOT easy but it is doable!
Remember, “They” Are Thinking “Who Are You & Why Should I Care”?
Use your 3+ seconds wisely. Be different, be creative, be remembered. Once you GRAB their attention, then you can start building that relationship and building that “rapport”. Business relationships are not that different than personal ones in the sense that if it is “all about YOU”, you will not have many friends or very effective business relationships. Relationships in general are a two-way street – or at least they should be. Business relationships are more about “them” than YOU from the get go. Most people don’t care about you (until they get to know you) EXCEPT in what you can do for THEM!
Gear Your Marketing To Answering These Two Most Important Questions
- Who are you?
- Why should I care?
Period! That’s it! IF you have the solution to a problem someone has, you will get their attention. If not, they are off to the next website, social site, forum, blog, etc.
How Do We Do This Online?
The process begins with:
- Capturing leads: grabbing attention with effective, compelling, valuable, and relevant information so that someone will give you their contact information
- Following-up via auto-responders: use the auto-responders to tell a little about yourself (so they will get to “know” you), tell a LOT about what your opt-in offer is about – in other words, deliver what you say you are going to deliver. After all, that IS why someone opts-in.
- Pick up the phone at some point and CONNECT personally with your lead.
- Continue building that rapport and relationship.
- Even if the person is not ready at that particular time to make a purchase, they will remember you BECAUSE of your relationship with them, when the time comes that they ARE ready to make a purchase.
I Almost Forgot! Who Am I?
With over 10 years Corporate Marketing Management Experience, I now helps small business owners hone in on exactly what their business offerings are, who their target market is, and come up with creative ways to get their marketing message across to their target at the right time. Based in New York, but with an International target market, I also help business owners learn how to use video as part of their overall marketing mix. I have a passion for creating videos and create and use videos to help business owners strategically plan how to use videos online, increase their web presence, and promote their brand. Video branding/marketing is the way of the future as video is such a powerful marketing tool. I also work with the automated marketing systems from Priceless Possibilities (very video-centric and incredibly powerful and valuable). Creativity is in my blood. I love coming up with unique and memorable ways to make anything stand out! 
My sidekick’s name is Sebrina. She is a 7-pound little white ball of unconditional love (also a toy poodle)!
Don’t Underestimate The Importance of Relationships
