How To Build Authentic Business Relationships

You can’t operate a business without engaging people, and growing your company starts with establishing meaningful connections with others. Whether you’re building relationships with customers, clients, vendors or other business leaders, you should aim to connect with them on a deeper level. How can you show the people you do business with that you genuinely care?

Building authentic business relationships starts with recognizing the importance of viewing everyone as a person with their own desires, motives and interests. After this, you can use the following techniques for creating genuine business relationships. These 10 tips have been provided by Forbes Business Council members.

Forbes Business Council members share strategies for building genuine business relationships.

Photos courtesy of the individual members.

1. Create A Valuable Product Or Service

Every relationship starts with an introduction, and sometimes for businesses, this is the hardest step. I’m a believer in an inbound approach. It’s much easier to build a relationship when a visitor has discovered you from something valuable that you’ve created to help them. Play to your strengths. Do you want to catch flies with honey or do you want to run around with a net? – James Parsons, Content Powered

2. Identify How You Can Provide Additional Value

Find common ground and identify how you can add value with your time, resources, connections or expertise. Along with establishing a cadence of check-ins to connect (like setting reminders), these are all important to building authentic relationships. – Sindhu Kutty, Kuroshio Consulting

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3. Have Excellent Customer Service

Customer service is the No. 1 free strategy for growth and relationship building. Work on perfecting every interaction or moment of truth with your customers to leave them as raving fans about your business. Advertising is no longer as powerful as it once was. A referral army of fans that experience above-average interactions will go out of their way to grow your business. – Shaz Memon, Digimax Dental

4. Partner With Other Businesses

Honor your customers and show them your appreciation—don’t just speak the words. Add value by making them see how much you care. Additionally, support and connect with businesses that feed one another or work well together. If you sell food, promote a local wine shop! Think of businesses that you love, seek out their owners and find creative ways to bundle yourselves together because there is power in numbers! – Hoda Mahmoodzadegan, Molly’s Milk Truck

5. Focus On Mutual Success

Focus on the success of others and be honest. No one wants to work with someone who is in it for themselves. The best business relationships we have happened when we focused on mutual success and trust. We know that when times get tough, we’ll be in it together. – Scott Wassmer, Appnovation

6. Build Trust And Establish Credibility

The key to relationship building is trust and credibility. Authenticity is a given. At my company, we treat every single client and project like our own. We are absolutely committed to their success, and we walk the talk. If we meet a person or organization that might benefit from another connection, we make an introduction. That’s good old-fashioned networking. What goes around, comes around. – Angela Delmedico, Elev8 Consulting Group

7. Focus On Relational Value, Not Transactional Value

Cultivate your network and relationships each day. Don’t approach people in a transactional nature. Meet with them or call periodically. Get to know their needs, values and what drives them. Ask yourself, “How can I be of service and value to them?” Remember, it isn’t about you but about them. They will remember how you made them feel. – David Crean, Coast BioVentures LLC

8. Treat People Like Your Friends And Family

People buy from people they like. Treat them like you would treat your friends and family. Be yourself, be vulnerable and show a personal interest in the other person in addition to the business value that you already offer. – Marielle Dellemijn, CRM excellence BV / Fueld

9. Put Your Customer First

Put your customer first even if it costs you to do so in the short run. In the long run, your customer will remember what you did, and you putting them first will pay off handsomely over the long term. – Harris Kaplan, Red Team Associates

10. Stay True To Your Business Values

Clear and consistent business and personal core values help align all stakeholders, both internal and external. Being willing to hire, fire and lose money for your values communicates a strong brand promise and ensures a shared vision. The shared vision and aligned values serve as the basis of strong relationships with your employees—and with the right customers, prospects and other peers. – Victoria Lakers, The Lancer Group