How Well Do you Know Your Customers?

I find it interesting that the more I reveal about myself, the more I tend to learn about other people. This is especially true when I am talking to you, my customers and prospects. As I have been travelling around and the topic somehow gets to my ever increasing belly, I share that I am expecting twins in February. This information tends to encourage people to share stories about their own children, someone they know who also has twins, or some other interesting tidbit. The point is, valuable information is being shared, and I am really enjoying it.

So my question to you is this - How much do you and your customers share when it comes to information? Now, I know this can be a slippery slope and can lead to phenomena like OVERSHARING, but I am going to encourage you to go out on a limb and get to know your clients better. Not only does this encourage a more personal (and genuine) relationship, but you never know what else you might pick up. What if your customer has a brother in law who works for a big law firm and is responsible for print buying? Or what if a customer told you when his or her birthday was a you showed up that week with cookies you made ( or bought and passed off as homemade?)

Just remember, people buy from the people they like, and if you listen to your customers and go a little deeper with them, it will inspire the kind of relationship that we all seek in the business world. One where lowest price is not the only factor in the equation, and where a genuine connection can last years or even decades.