Service as the Driving Force of Your Business

The prevalence of internet marketing techniques in the modern business world has led to a shift in the business-consumer relationship. Products are no longer the driving force; instead it is the service that does the selling.

The number one thing you can do to foster customer loyalty is to emphasize the service you offer. It is not just the tires you sell, but the advice of the mechanic that installs the tires that brings the client back.

In order to compete, you must put forth something that draws your clients back-- something that adds value, for no extra charge. In fact, a consumer should not even have to be your client to see this value in action.

After all, that is how you attract new clients.

The emergence of social media marketing-- tweets, Pinterest pin-ups, or Instagram photos-- does not mean the written word has been totally abandoned.

A newsletter or blog can quickly turn you from a vendor to a colleague, and turn a one time customer into a lifelong client.

That is not to say there is more or less value in one form of content versus the other. In fact, a tandem is especially effective for drawing quick attention to your business, while retaining the ability to deliver more developed content and advice.

A blog, like this one, is a prime example of long-form content that can become a value add to your existing clients, as well as serve as an excellent marketing tool to potential new clients. For in this content alone you can offer advice that demonstrates your business acumen, you can showcase writing services that may form other aspects of your business model, and you can even flex the graphic design techniques that you consider effective and that your clients should too.

Whether or not you choose to take every written word as truth is irrelevant.

What matters is that, in reading this post, our relationship has changed, and the shift from mere product vendor to service-oriented business has officially begun.

And I can guarantee you that no smalltalk conversation with you grocery clerk will ever be this useful.