Making Real-Life Connections With Your Customers

Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called “Spark an idea Thursday.” As part of this tradition, I’ll be sharing with you my experiences and interpretations for each week’s topic for those of you who sell products or services online.

I invite you to grab our image over there to the right and carry the tradition through to your own blog. If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

The theme of this week’s Spark an Idea Thursday is: Spark an Idea about making real-life connections with people you know online.

There is one extremely easy way to do this. But it might require you to channel your mother — or someone else who is kind of, well, old.

1. Pick up the phone. Really, it’s that simple. I offer a free one-time 30-minute phone consultation to my clients. I’ve been able to get to know them through hearing them speak, listening to their stories and sometimes just hearing the background noice.

I’ve even discovered a universal phenomenon this one: It doesn’t matter what part of the world you’re in, the minute you get on the phone, your kids will need you desperately. Even if they haven’t needed you for anything all day long (no matter how many times you ask or stick your nose into their business).

Of course, since this is the 21st century and all, we can connect with each other through our iPhones. And if we want to make a real-life connection with someone half-way around the world, then Skype will save a few bucks for everyone.

Whatever technology you use, speaking with someone, listening to her voice, getting to know her thoughts as she describes them is the best way to create a real-life connection.