What do you do if you're struggling to build rapport and influence with your clients?

Firstly, Take the time to learn about your clients' businesses, their industry challenges, and their competitive landscape. This knowledge demonstrates your interest and commitment, enabling you to tailor your communications, solutions and align to their needs more effectively.

Start by simulation for the client's concerns, pinpoints and goals and understand their actual needs. This needs to be done proactively before the client raises a complaint, this can be obtained by seeking feedback from the client for the past interactions, or through analyzing their strategy and goals to help build rapport and trust. After all, build a value-based solution that can meet the client's objective, solve their pinpoints and at same time reward you with their trust, and then ensure to deliver the solution and your commitment to strengthen the trust and go far in a win-win rapport. During all these processes and practices it is always mandatory to maintain the transparency with the customer from start until no end.

Be authentic and show that you really care about your clients' business by learning as much as you can about them. Make sure you clearly understand their challenges and show them how your product/service can make a difference.

For influence: Add 'value'. Understand what will qualify as value for your client stakeholders - Eg. Industry trends, Best practices from other clients in your portfolio, and True solutions (unbiased by your sales targets). Articulate it crisply and include quantifiable impact. For rapport: We are humans at the end of the day - Small things like sincere greeting, actually wanting to solve their problem, giving timely and effective responses to their emails/ queries, sharing something about your business (this may open them up) should help. Consistency is key here.

In my experience rapport is built on trust and authenticity. Don't think of the relationship as a "client & supplier" drop your guard, engage on a human level. Not every conversation has to be about business, take the time to find out about the individual you are trying to connect with and see what you have in common. Early on in the relationship be prepared to give before you get, do someone a favour, go out of your way to be a decent human being, stop thinking about the end goal of doing business and be yourself. Also, be patient, rapport can take time, there's nothing more awkward than someone inauthentically trying to build rapport too quickly.

Above all, stop having an end goal other than to hear what they are genuinely saying! Struggling to connect comes from a sense of not being heard, so you need to stop talking and focus. Use prompts to get under the skin of what you're hearing but know that is your only goal in this interaction.

Focus on what matters most to your customer. Make your customer successful and you will build the rapport, trust and long-lasting partnership

100% Chelsea. In B to B sales especially, customers can “quietly quit” you and it may be weeks or months this later that you become aware of it. Your sales rep’s self-talk is “Gosh, Acme’s business must be way down, they haven’t purchased anything in a while.” When in fact, Acme’s business is booming, but they moved to your competitor several months ago.

Ask yourself, are you listening to respond or are you listening to understand? Most of us are listening to sell our agenda, instead if we listen empathetically to understand from their perspective we start connecting with them personally. Then offer suggestions not conclusions and ask for feedback to level set. Ask clarifying questions to deeply understand their challenges and show them that you really understood. Step back from quickly offering solutions and wait for them to ask for help or advice. More importantly try to meet them in person to have a healthy human conversations, it goes a long way in building a rapport.

All of the above are important not just one, but it’s crucial to shift our focus towards genuine care and building corrective improvements rather than just chasing a quick profit. By prioritising this approach, we can cultivate strong and meaningful working relationships

A very important aspect of building trust and having a good rapport with a client is to continually ask for feedback, and ensure you stick to commitments. Clients appreciate clear, transparent and honest communication and having regular check ins will also help to keep those communication channels open.

Adapting your communication style is not just about personalization; it's a strategic approach to client management. Leveraging tools like CRM systems can help track client communication preferences and history, ensuring a tailored experience. Additionally, understanding cultural nuances and utilizing emotional intelligence can significantly enhance rapport. This approach fosters a collaborative environment, leading to more effective problem-solving and increased client satisfaction.

My approach is always from “what can I do for you”. The relationship will come as you show them it is about them. As soon as they believe this, they are more than clients. I learn more from them each interaction then they learn from me. Sometimes technology gets in the way of a good ole conversation.

Regularly ask for feedback on your services and how you can improve. Acting on this feedback shows that you value your clients' opinions and are committed to meeting their needs. Tailor your communication and service delivery to the specific preferences and needs of each client. Participate in industry events, workshops, and social gatherings.Invite your client into public speaking events, conferences at the appropriate time. Personal touches can make clients feel valued and strengthen your rapport.

Communication with a client is not just a business process. It's about building a personal mutual trust and even friendship. The same way we dedicate time and attention to our friends, we should also dedicate them to customers. Also, an important point is learning about client's country and mentality, in order not to occasionally offend the person due to the lack of knowledge. For example, some word expressions or gestures, or even styles of clothes may sound/look rude in certain cultures. And it should be taken into account as the matter of respect.

If you don't truly understand their needs and objectives, you won't connect with your customer and they will see you as "just another vendor." The goal here is to be credible and show that you deeply understand where they are and where they are trying to get to.

In unserem Sektor der Industrie-Dienstleistungen ist es hilfreich, den Kunden zu uns zu holen ins Werk. Durch einen Firmenrundgang real oder virtuell wird er selbst von M?glichkeiten überzeugt die in der normalen Unterhalten untergehen. Ebenso ist es bei ihm Vorort. Fachwissen unterscheidet und bringt Erfolg.

Na verdade para se estabelecer uma rela??o de confian?a com.os.clientes deve se investir constantemente no desenvolvimento dos times que atuam no pós vendas. Cuidar da jornada dos colaboradores e dar apoio na retaguarda para fazer com que o que foi combinado com o cliente de fato aconte?a. Esses cuidados geram confian?a nos times, que passam a acreditar mais na empresa e refletem na melhora significativa no relacionamento com seus clientes.

People buy from People. Make friends and understand their needs and wants. Let them know you are here to help and show them what you have to offer. It doesn't happen over night. This process takes time. Once you build the rapport it is much easier to do business.

Share relevant success stories, showcase your portfolio or case studies, and highlight specific skills or certifications. Provide insights and solutions that demonstrate your expertise. Consistently delivering high-quality work and staying updated on industry trends also reinforce your competence. Additionally, offering valuable advice or resources without expecting immediate returns can establish you as a trusted expert in your field.

We all understand that client satisfaction is pivotal to the long-term success of any business. It's essential to engage with your satisfied customers to identify what they appreciate most, while also delving into the reasons behind any dissatisfaction among your clientele. Remember to express gratitude to those who provide positive feedback and address any concerns raised by dissatisfied customers regarding product features or services. Clients must feel heard and see tangible actions taken in response to their feedback, so maintain an open and genuinely supportive attitude towards addressing their needs.

One way to seek feedback is to schedule quarterly feedback calls with clients. This will give them a chance to really be open with you. If you build the right rapport with the client, they will feel comfortable giving you feedback.

Your consistent presence and unwavering support not only showcase your professionalism but also play a crucial role in fostering trust and reliability. Clients value this reliability immensely, and it forms the cornerstone of building strong rapport and influence in any professional relationship. Your commitment to being there for your clients through thick and thin speaks volumes about your integrity and dedication to your work. It's these qualities that set you apart and contribute significantly to your success in building lasting connections and making a positive impact.

One thing that is important to consider here is actually acting on the feedback, even if it means telling your customer that it's not going to make the roadmap or be considered in the near term. I've found that by asking for feedback and not communicating anything back to the customer, it makes them feel unheard and that you don't value their feedback. Listen, discuss internally, and respond to the customer regardless of the Business decision. Transparency is key.

An example I have used in my role is to incorporate regular check-in meetings. These meetings are not just for basic follow ups on their progress but ideally need to be undertaken in order to motivate your client to use your product at it's full capacity, to make sufficient ROI and maintain retention. It also gives you an opportunity to discuss any concerns they may face and helps you proactively raise any issues with your developers to ensure the product grows from being the most viable product [MVP] to something that has multiples USPs and most importantly "solves" for the customer. :)

In my experience, we don’t celebrate enough small wins. Many people are working hard in support capacity that are never recognized and celebrated. One of my favorite things to do is giving maintenance staff kudos when the working environment is impeccable.

Celebrating successes and appreciating efforts is essential for fostering a positive and supportive relationship with clients. Acknowledge milestones, achievements, and progress made together, whether big or small. Express genuine appreciation for their collaboration, input, and efforts in achieving shared goals. This recognition reinforces mutual respect, motivates continued engagement, and strengthens the partnership over time.

Solemos estar tan enfocados en las metas financieras que debemos cumplir, que olvidamos que los clientes son también seres humanos, con malos y buenos días, y que eso puede influenciar en su comportamiento comercial. Soy experta en el manejo de clientes difíciles, y lo que me ha ayudado a vencer las barreras para llegar a generar un vínculo de relacionamiento redituable con estos clientes, es reconocerlos siempre como humanos por encima de su valor en revenue para la empresa. A través de herramientas como la comunicación asertiva y la empatía, es posible lograr mayor transparencia, comprensión de su comportamiento, sus necesidades, y una mayor satisfacción que se traduce en un vínculo fuerte y mayor compromiso de ambas partes.

One thing I utilise is reporting that gives me an overview of small measurable changes in usage.. are your customers using a part of tour product more, if so why? What has changed this engagement. Celebrate this change and let them see you are proactively looking into how they utilise your product for success.

Celebrar el éxito y apreciar el esfuerzo es fundamental para mantener la motivación y el compromiso de un cliente. Acá tienen algunas formas de hacerlo: ?Reconocimiento ?Celebraciones ?Premios ?Feedback positivo ?Beneficios y recompensas Al celebrar el éxito y apreciar el esfuerzo, no solo motivas, sino que también fomentas un ambiente de positivo y colaborativo.

Get personal, make them laugh, remember tidbits about their home life & have genuine curiosity when it comes to their well being. This goes so far with clients because at the end of the day, they are people! People desire love & attention.

When I realize that I'm struggling to build rapport and influence with my clients, I consciously do two things. First, I pay attention to their posture, tone of voice and hand gestures and try to mirror them to improve rapport. I then also turn up the volume in my ears and make it a point to do more listening and less talking. I want to focus more on their pain points, as well as their hopes, goals and wishes so I can actually hear and process what they are saying and be able to flip the information around and relate back something in common.

Acredito que relacionamento se constrói através de um conjunto de vertentes. Uma soma de a??es que contribuem para a aproxima??o do cliente alvo. Claro que o início de tudo é o estudo e pesquisa para entender as necessidades; os pontos fortes és diferenciais. Observar e ouvir s?o igualmente primordiais. Assim conseguimos nos aproximar já tendo ideia do que podemos agregar e mesmo construir para o cliente.

Improving rapport and influence with clients is an ongoing process that requires patience, effort, and genuine interest in their success.

Think carefully about your motives and what you are trying to do. Many think sales and customer interactions are about persuasion, or manipulating them into buying from you. No. Sales is about solving problems for your customers, not you. Ask yourself if you are solving a problem that matters to your client. Forget about yourself and your goals and objectives. Customers do not care about what you want to achieve, nor should they. Think about everything from your customer’s point of view. Their reason for not engaging will become clear enough.