The Fourth Key: Relationships – Avoid Blind Dates

Have you ever been on a blind date?

I had to think long and hard about this one – I don't think I ever went on one.

You know the type: when a friend thinks another friend is just PERFECT for you and invites both of you to spend some time together.

Neither of you knew about the other, neither had spent much time learning about the other because some external force (this time a friend) brought you together.

We NORMALLY think that a referral is the BEST kind of external relationship builder we can find… but be careful.

Someone looking you up in a directory, yellow pages, or finding your name in Google may be the LEAST loyal type of customer to have.

Have YOU ever looked someone up in the Yellow Pages? For ME, it's been a few years and I had one of the happiest experiences I've ever had with someone doing work for me (this company replaced a garage door opener when I wasn't even there and couldn't sign a credit card slip for them. Believe me, I have recommended them to LOTS of people since then).

But I've never hired a professional to work with me just from a directory or yellow pages. Never hired an attorney, accountant, doctor, or dentist that way.

And really – is that how YOU want to be hired?

If they can find someone else (needing only an ad to get them started), will they stay with YOU?

My Wife The Coupon Cutter

My wife LOVES to clip coupons out of those newspaper circulars. She sees what is new, sees what prices are being asked, and sees how much she can save when using the coupon.

Sometimes I think it's just relaxing therapy for her.

But then she's one of the LEAST loyal customers any of these products can have. When she sees a coupon for a NEW product… snip, snip, snip and she's off to use the NEW product.

Is that how you want people finding and working with you?

I doubt it.

So find ways to let your story out (like a blog like this) so that they come to you NOT for the price but because of your tremendous level of service.

And when they learn more about you, they will stay with you.

But EARN that respect with everything you do – it really is THAT important to your business's success.

PS: So… HAVE you been on a blind date? Tell me about it in the comment space, ok?

Best,

Charlie Seymour Jr
Blogging, Podcasting, Consulting

PS: You can find me here:

http://twitter.com/UltimateWAHDads

http://facebook.com/CharlesSeymourJr

http://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesseymourjr

PPS: Do you have trouble writing? Turn Your Words Into Gold – Go Here To Learn More! NOW is the time to start.

Follow Charlie Seymour Jr On Twitter!

Keep this with this article, please:

Charlie Seymour Jr is an entrepreneurial evangelist and marketing-success coach helping individuals and companies (up to $100MM) explode their success through online and personal-touch marketing. He specializes in blogging, podcasting, photography, video, and Facebook applications. Visit his blog at http://bit.ly/24eYTO to learn more about his successes.

Friends, if you like this post, please leave a comment, join our email list to get updates sent to you, and retweet it. And I've made it easy to retweet – just click on the icon below. Thanks!

Fallacies of Marketing

072 The Invisible Touch – The Eight Keys to Lasting Relationships – 1. Natural Affinity-Avoid Blind Dates