Growing a business organically means getting back to the basics. So today I’m going to have some fun. I’m going to take you back to first base if you will.

The forgotten secret is people enjoy doing business with people they know, like, and trust. So old fashion relationship-building is the focus of this article. Is it really “old school”? Or is it the tried and true thing that still works.

And reminding you that what I’m going to share with you may be the most innovative thing you can do for your company right now.  Go back to the basics.

Back to the Basics: Growing a Business By Leveraging the Power of Organic Reciprocity

Here we go. Now you can’t expect that a successful business relationship will develop overnight.  Be patient. A truly trusted relationship needs unswerving nurturing over a period of time. I’d say usually it’ll take at minimum one whole year.

Be strategic. Ensure your time and energy is well spent.

First look at your sphere of influence and map it out. Don’t hold back. Put every name you can think of on your sphere of influence map from the guy you speak with at the local grocery store to your dentist.

Then look at other business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals who you could help them grow their business. If you can’t offer them any value, there’s no sense in you wasting their time and your time.

Now I currently run three mastermind groups every week (types listed at the bottom) for no direct compensation and give oodles of my expertise, insights, and advice without expecting anything in return. After 30 days and sometimes longer, members of my masterminds start referring me to people they know I can help. You know I’m demonstrating my value. That’s because my fellow mastermind members come to know I’m not a selfish person. I’m there for all of us to win.

What I discovered is most people really didn’t know how to refer me because they didn’t really know what I did even though I’d tell them. Now demonstrating what I do for them leaves nothing left to mystery.

Win-Win Is What’s In

A fruitful relationship is a two-way street.  From the list you made of your contacts when you simply mapped out who’s in your sphere, brainstorm what you can offer them and in return, how they might be able to help you. Growing a business through win-win relationships is the only way to succeed in the long-run.

And in the long-run, the only way your business relationship will grow into something special is if both you and your colleague receive what you want from your association. Right? A relationship won’t grow unless your outcome and their outcome produce a combined outcome which is mutually beneficial.

Get In Rapport

Rapport can happen fast when you discover a common interest you have together.  Like you share love for riding horses or jamming on your musical instruments on the weekend.  It’s simple. Treat them like a friend. Anyone who’s interested in helping me be successful is definitely my friend you know.

Keep track of the simple things they share with you.  If your partner tells you they’re going on a cruise. Then make sure you remember to spend time with them asking about what they did on their vacation. They’re excited. Right? If their a social media buff, go straightway on their Facebook page and comment on their photos and videos.

Go Even check on their FB page when their on vacation because some FB enthusiasts post things all the time. And what better way to show them you care about what their up to in their life than to show them some real love when their with their family and friends. Wouldn’t you like your co hearts to make you feel important too?

You know consistency is the “numero uno” thing when growing a business relationship.  You’ve got to nurture your associations like you like to be nurtured. “Do unto others as you’d like them to do unto you.”

So reach out and touch your contacts at least once a month. whether you send a short and sweet email, or an invite to an event which you know will be of value for your referral partner. And if you can work in your schedule handwritten notes, it would set you apart from all of their other business contacts because anything handwritten is so rare these days.

And you know if they get a personalized email from you, it’s  much more likely to be read than from your email marketing program: Constant Contact, AWeber, One Shopping Cart, or the mother of them all, Infusionsoft. I’m not down playing marketing automation because computerization is one of the best ways to grow a business. But I am saying to be personal and show you care about them and their success too.

So be the first to help to grow someone else’s business.  Dr. Ivan Mesner who founded Business Network International coined the phrase “givers gain.”

So learn about them. So you can give first. Leverage the power of reciprocity. Play detective until you figure out how you can become an ambassador for them. Be on the look out for how to deepen your business relationship with them by being interested in them, their business goals, and what their company is all about. Ask them who would be their ideal customer.

If you know someone who could use their product or service, offer to make an initial introduction. It’s better for you and them to properly make the introduction because it shows all who are involved you care. Don’t leave them out to dry. You know I’ve gotten referrals sometimes. And when I contacted the lead, it was worse than a cold call.

Do it right. You can read my friend’s Joanne Black’s excellent relationship building book: No More Cold Calling. Her book is all about growing a business through growing relationships. Joanne will whip you straight into relationship shape.

So you see. I do what I preach. I just gave a little bit of love to my friend Joanne. And we’ve never done business together. But if I had the need to call on her, she’d be their for me I know.

Grow Your Business Through Testimonials

A great business relationship can also be your best fan you know. Your relationship that works well provides you with a live testimonial. Right? And whether or not you do business with each other, Invite your business buddy to join you on your important prospect appointments.  Your relationship provides you with a live testimonial.  And you provide your friend with an introduction to a company they could do business with in the future.

Now this kind of close business relationship with a friend is invaluable. It has the power to spontaneously create new business relationships through your unique connections in your combined business networks.

I say business growth through relationships should be a large part of every business plan. Wouldn’t you agree with me?

Whether you prefer to network and create relationships today with social media like Facebook, Linked-In, MySpace, and Twitter or you join in an organization that facilitates business-to-business alliances, you are in a growth mode if you’re doing it effectively. And both business networking approaches can be a fantastic way to streamline your relationship-building system.  It’s a way for you to quickly connect with like-minded people.

So take the time now to create and follow through on a structured plan for growing your business through building and nurturing your relationships because  if done the right way, it will be both profitable for you and your business connections. What I’m simply saying here is you should pursue a philosophy of “collaboration over competition” you know — good old Berny Dohrman founder and Chairman, CEO Space.

Donald’s Mastermind Groups

• Sales Scripting Mastermind: Members bring their sales scripts and receive complementary coaching – six members
• Coaches Start-up Mastermind: It’s about coaches coming together to build their coaching practices and growing their businesses. We have a weight loss coach, business coach, business and finance coach,  and more – currently five regular members.
• Business Growth Mastermind: It’s a face-to-face meet up mastermind I’m launching in September to help business owners, entrepreneurs, and start-ups grow a business through getting their business strategies straight. And with strong financial planning, leadership, and management.

Let me know if you’d like to explore having me lead a Breaking Through Your Inertia Mastermind for your team. It could include a corporate team as well. My masterminds are proven to deliver what members want and need each week.

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