The universe has a perfect accounting system: the more you give out, the more you get back.
Huh? Does this mean you should deep discount your prices? As an astute business person, of course you can’t afford to give away massive amounts of product for free, or not charge a reasonable price for your services. So, no, that’s not what this means.
What you can do, and for next to nothing, is listen to your customers and other people you meet, and do what you can to help them solve their problem or dilemma – even if it doesn’t have anything to do with your business. This can be as simple as giving them the name of your fabulous mechanic, or suggesting a tradesperson who didn’t charge you for a simple repair (you know, the “you need to plug in the machine in order for it to work” guy.) Then phone that person and tell them you’ve referred a potential customer. How does this help your business?
Even a small act of kindness stands out and people will remember you for it. Inquire about your customer’s health, if they were sniffling with a cold the last time you spoke to them. Be friendly when you speak to them. Say please and thank you. In turn, they’ll remember you as the decent person you are, and when they come across someone who can use your services, you’ll be on the receiving end of a referral. Another simple thing to do is to ask for some extra business cards from a company that gives you great service and pass them on to others. It’s the pay it forward approach.
Here’s an absolutely free thing you can do right now, right this minute. Send an email to someone who has helped you along the way. It could be a customer, a supplier, an employee, a contractor or your accountant. Tell them you just wanted to take a minute to say thanks for all the help/advice/assistance/great ideas they’ve given you. Surprise them and make their day.
Sounds too simple to be of any value? Well, simple works. This is all part of good networking – building relationships with others. And building relationships is what business is all about. People buy from those they know, like and trust, so give customers a chance to see you as the solid person you are. Do something nice for someone. You’ll reap the rewards.