3 Groups You Need to be Building Relationships With

It’s no secret that building relationships is important in life, but did you know they can make or break a business? Developing and maintaining relationships is essential for success as a freelancer, small business owner, or remote worker. Read on to find out who you should be building relationships with and why it's one of the most important things you can do in business.

The Benefits of Networking & Building Relationships

Whether it’s networking events, online forums, industry groups or conferences, networking should be one of your top priorities when it comes to building relationships. Not only will networking help you build industry contacts, but it will also introduce you to new ideas and give you the chance to learn from others in your field. Plus, who knows where those connections might take you? You never know when an opportunity might arise from meeting someone at a networking event or through an online forum.

When networking and beginning new relationships in business, don't forget the follow-up! Send the emails, connect on LinkedIn (and message!), and schedule the follow up coffees/lunches/meets.

Creating Connections with Clients

Creating strong relationships with your clients is key for any successful business. After all, the success of your business relies on happy customers who feel valued and respected. By taking the time to get to know them personally, understanding their needs and keeping up regular communication—whether it’s via email or phone—you’ll be able to build trust and loyalty which leads to more sales and referrals down the road.

Continuing to make touch points through projects, over time and when special events/dates come up is a great framework to follow to maintain the relationships you've built.

Building Relationships with Colleagues

Having strong relationships with your colleagues can go a long way too! No matter how big or small your team may be, having a positive working environment and mutual respect between everyone involved will ensure that everyone works harmoniously together and produces results faster than ever before. Working together as a team also creates the perfect opportunity for collaboration which often leads to creativity and innovation within any workplace setting!

Connecting with Talent and Potential Hires

If you know will be hiring at some point, start making those connections now. It is a great way to build your network and have a pool of people to pull from and refer as needed. We don't recommend stringing people along with promises of work someday or great opportunities in the future, but rather be upfront with your intentions and start a genuine connection.

Don't be vague about what you can offer them—be transparent from the get-go to prevent any false hopes. There's no need for trickery—just genuine conversation and connection that will be beneficial for all parties involved!

When Should you Start Building Relationships

There is never a bad time to start building relationships, except for maybe never! If you have limited time to start creating connections and building relationships, think about where you need the most support and who might be the best fit to help with that component. Then think about where they might be hanging out. This is a way to help you narrow in and prioritize where you spend your time connecting and ultimately building relationships.

Move Forward with Building Relationships

At the end of the day, building strong relationships with people both inside and outside of your organization is essential for any successful business. From learning from industry leaders through networking events to creating connections with clients through value-driven communication strategies—relationships are powerful tools that can help take your business further than ever imagined! So don't forget that no matter what level you are at in your career – relationship building should always be at the forefront of everything that you do!