There’s a different strategy brewing and everyone is starting to get on the ‘brewery wagon’, so to speak.  What’s happening that’s so revolutionary?

It’s relationship marketing!  Marketing our business or advancing our careers by marketing ourselves.  By entering into and forming strong bonded relationships with others who share common goals, interests, skills & similar life circumstances.  Women (and men) who come to care about each other; trust each other; and choose to help each other build their business or advance their career.

Everywhere I go and much of what I read these days, I hear or see something about “relationship-building” strategy as the way our society and culture is headed when it comes to business growth and success.  And it seems it is fueled by the prolific growth of social networking on the internet.  The success of sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook.   Indiana has its own successful variation entitled “Smaller Indiana” (they sponsored the Blog-In which I attended late last month).  It seems that everyone is eager to connect with others somewhere in the world for legitimate purposes, including business connections that will payoff handsomely for one or both of the ‘partners’.

Relationship marketing isn’t really all that new because when life was simpler and folks less mobile; business was done in a local venue and everyone knew most everyone else in the vicinity.  Even large metro areas such as NYC had (still does) its “neighborhoods” with all the needed necessities within a certain block radius and the store owners knew everyone by name. 

Then society became very mobile and the extended family concept faded from view - kids on one coast - parents on the other.  People felt a sense of isolation, and as the computer age dawned and the internet became common practice for more and more folks - our isolation was pierced by the advent of social networking.  First the teenage population, then the young adult and finally, those of us in the ‘chrono-mature’ category and beyond; took to the internet as a means of extending our circles of influence and as a way to do business beyond our own geographical area.

I’m convinced that this phenomenon is what has led us back to a new craze called “relationship marketing!”  We’ve always known that people purchase from people they know, like and trust (or brands that equal the same scenario).  But it’s taken some time to figure out that underpinning our human tendency for the previous is the fact that to “know, like & trust” is to first form some level of relationship.  A relationship that is mutually satisfying and beneficial.

Personally & professionally, I’ve never been ahead of a ‘curve’ before when it came to business endeavors.   But with the launch of AWP last summer and the subsequent test & launch of Affiliated Women this spring - I recognize that we’re slightly ahead of the curve on this one.

We knew that the firm foundation of business success, especially for women, is strong relationships that allow us to access each other’s sphere of influence once trust is established.  If you’re reading this & wondering about AWI, send me an email to learn more.

It’s great to ride the wave of revolution and know that you’re in the forefront of change that is rising like the tide. 

My encouragement for you today is to allow the wave to overcome you with strong bonded relationships that over time will yield considerable success - for each of you.

Have an awesome day!

Linda, a fellow journeyer