Relationship Building and its Importance for Sales and Business with Ashley Ann

Summary

In this Expert Inside interview, John Golden from Sales Pop Online Sales Magazine and Pipeliner CRM discusses the importance of relationship building in sales with Ashleyanne, a professional speaker and social media strategist. They explore how the pandemic has heightened the need for human connection and the role of automation in enhancing, rather than replacing, personal interactions. Ashleyanne emphasizes the value of genuine engagement and consistent positive experiences in building customer loyalty and advocates for using social media strategically to deepen relationships and foster growth.

Takeaways

• 🤝 **Importance of Human Connection**: The script emphasizes the significance of building human relationships in both personal and business contexts, especially during challenging times like the pandemic.
• 📈 **Automation for Enhanced Relationships**: Automation should be used to free up time for relationship building rather than to eliminate human interaction, which is vital for business success.
• 🛠️ **Service-Oriented Sales**: Sales are driven by service, and how customers feel about their interactions with a company is more important than the product itself.
• 💡 **Customer Experience Consistency**: A consistent positive experience throughout all customer interactions is crucial, as a single negative experience can undo a series of positive ones.
• 📱 **Utilizing Social Media**: Social media is a powerful tool for meeting potential customers and building a community around a brand or business.
• 🚀 **Value-Based Content**: Creating and sharing valuable content that educates, informs, or entertains is key to attracting and retaining an audience.
• 🎯 **Targeted Social Media Presence**: It's not necessary to be active on every platform; businesses should choose platforms that align with their brand and where their target audience is most active.
• 📈 **Market Research for Platform Selection**: Understanding where the target audience spends time on social media is essential for choosing the right platforms to focus on.
• 📊 **Intentional Marketing Strategy**: Having a clear marketing plan with defined content buckets and strategic collaborations can help businesses grow their social media presence effectively.
• 📉 **Avoiding Premature Advertising**: Businesses should focus on building organic traffic and sales before investing in ads to ensure a strong foundation for marketing success.
• 🧩 **Being Authentic**: Authenticity in social media presence is crucial; businesses and individuals should represent themselves genuinely to attract the right audience and build lasting relationships.

Q & A

Who is the host of the 'Expert Inside Interview'?

The host of the 'Expert Inside Interview' is John Golden from Sales Pop Online Sales Magazine and Pipeliner CRM.

What is Ashleyanne's profession and where is she based?

Ashleyanne is a professional speaker, social media strategy expert, business builder, award-winning event designer, and educational technologist. She is normally based in Little Rock, Arkansas, but was in Miami during the interview.

What is the main topic of the interview?

The main topic of the interview is relationship building in sales and business, and its importance in differentiating success from failure.

How has the pandemic affected people's desire for human relationships according to the discussion?

The pandemic has accelerated people's craving for human relationships, both personal and business, as they have been forced to disconnect from one another even with close family and friends.

What is the common mistake made by companies regarding technology and customer service?

A common mistake made by companies is using technology to remove the human element from customer service, leading to frustrating experiences where customers cannot speak to a human being.

What is the role of automation in business according to Ashleyanne?

Ashleyanne believes that automation should not replace human interaction but should be used to enhance it by freeing up time for relationship building and focusing on tasks that add value to the customer experience.

Why do customers leave businesses according to the transcript?

Customers often leave businesses not because of the product or service itself, but because of how the interaction with the company made them feel.

What is the importance of the entire customer experience from pre-sales to post-sales?

The entire customer experience is crucial as it contributes to building a consistent and positive brand image. A single negative interaction can undo all the positive experiences.

How does Ashleyanne suggest using social media for business growth?

Ashleyanne suggests using social media as a gateway to meet many people, providing valuable content, and inviting them to connect further through clubs, memberships, or apps to build a strong customer base.

What is the key to creating valuable content according to the interview?

The key to creating valuable content is to focus on providing information that educates, informs, or offers a different perspective, rather than just selling a product or service.

What advice does Ashleyanne give for selecting social media platforms for business?

Ashleyanne advises to first choose a platform that the business owner enjoys and then base the second platform on market research to find where the target audience spends most of their time.

What should be the focus after establishing a presence on social media platforms?

After establishing a presence, the focus should be on creating a marketing plan, being intentional with content, and considering collaboration with others in the field to grow the business.