Relationships take time, especially long term ones. If you want to build a strong relationship with another person, you need to establish a good connection from the very beginning.
In order to build rapport, trust, and loyalty in your relationships, you need to consistently express interest and support for the other person.
STEP 1: Get To Know Yourself And Your Client
The best way to build rapport and create trust is to understand yourself and your client. Take the time to get to know them, their needs and goals.
STEP 2: Keep in Touch and Stay Relevant
Once you've established a good foundation, continue to maintain that connection by staying in touch. If your client doesn't hear from you often, they'll start to wonder where you are.
If you're a freelancer or independent contractor, you should definitely set some schedule for regular communication. Make sure you communicate regularly, so clients and potential clients know you're still alive.
STEP 3: Ask Questions and Listen
As mentioned before, you need to listen and ask the right questions. Asking questions and listening will allow you to find out how others feel, and you'll gain insight into their thoughts, problems, goals and dreams.
Listen for clues about how you can help them, what they're looking for, and what they think is important.
STEP 4: Respond with Respect and Show Interest
You don't need to respond every single question or inquiry they send to you. But when you do, you should keep it short and sweet. Don't expect too much, give them the benefit of the doubt, and always be positive.
It's important to maintain a balance of positivity and feedback. Too much negativity can be off-putting, while too much positivity can be boring and unhelpful. Just keep things positive, authentic and helpful.
STEP 5: Give and Get What You Want
The final tip for effective communication is to give and get what you want. When you give your clients, you earn their trust, loyalty, and respect. When you get what you want, you also get closer to your goal.
The secret is to make the other person happy with whatever they give you. Give them what they want, even if it's only a thank you note for a job well done.
And if you don't receive what you want, be gracious. Say thanks, and then try to solve the problem to your benefit.
STEP 6: Start Again And Build New Relationships
Now that you've established a good base of solid relationships, you can start working on new ones. Use these tips and strategies to start building rapport with new people.
Once you've worked together and built a good connection, be consistent and reliable. If your clients see you as the perfect candidate for their next project, they'll always be willing to work with you again.