Relationships plus results equals recurring revenue. Creating purposeful connections that help further your business is just as important as creating a business plan or a marketing plan. This advice is even more important in the nonprofits industry where building strong relationships with stakeholders and donors is the key to ensuring continued revenue so you can continue to change the world for the better.
Supporting World Hope is a company that helps nonprofits and small businesses gain long term success. They consult on fundraising, marketing, management and leadership & board development to ensure nonprofits and small businesses are sustainable and achieve their goals. President and CEO Sabrina Walker Hernandez started the company from her hospital bed after being diagnosed with cancer. Prior to her diagnosis, Sabrina was the CEO of a nonprofit for 15 years having worked her way through the ranks. Through her experience she understands what it takes to run a successful nonprofit and leadership team and is now dedicated to ensuring nonprofits and small businesses achieve the success that they deserve.
Since the pandemic, it has been difficult for many businesses to make and maintain relationships. Today, Sabrina Walker Hernandez from Supporting World Hope shares her top six tips to build relationships that increase your revenue.
1. Face-to-face meetings with your stakeholders.
Although we have adapted to the online environment since the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face meetings are still the most effective way to build a relationship with your stakeholders. This is because face-to-face meetings allow us to read body language which helps to put stakeholders at ease and helps conversation to flow freely. If you are still facing in-person meeting constraints, start that relationship on Zoom. No excuses.
2. Telephone calls are very personal in nature.
Face-to-face meetings should be prioritized but sometimes they are just not possible to arrange.Telephone conversations are great for check-ins due to their personal nature and should be used over emails or text messages. This is because during a phone call we use intonation and tone to portray emotions in lieu of reading each other’s body language.
3. Newsletter & Other Communications
Providing a consistent newsletter will increase awareness of your services and what you have achieved. It will help stakeholders stay up to date with the business’s progress and help them feel involved. This is also true of social media, having an up-to-date social media and consistent posting schedule can help stakeholders and interested individuals stay in touch with your progress.
4. Events are an effective way to build relationships.
There are many events that you can host as an organization to help you to build relationships with your stakeholders. These include inviting people in for open houses, round-table discussions or hosting a mixer. The leisurely nature of these events allow your stakeholders to relax and enjoy themselves as well as mingle with other members of your company.
5. Volunteer opportunities.
It is important to make sure that your stakeholders understand the mission that you are working towards. There is no better way for them to gain insight than if they help you to achieve this first hand. Through offering volunteering opportunities, stakeholders become more connected with your business and your cause. People want to do business with real people with integrity and purpose. Volunteering, is a
low-cost way that ensures small business reaches as many people as possible.
6. Asking for advice or feedback.
Feedback is an important way to improve your business and learn about how your stakeholders feel. Through asking for feedback, it helps them to be involved in your business and have an impact. Feedback can be gathered informally over the phone or formally using a survey or meetings. Advisory boards can be great for nonprofits and small businesses. For nonprofits it can supply you with a source of not only great advice but also a pipeline for donors and members on your governing board. Small businesses you too will get great advice and allow you an opportunity to create relationships with Venture Capitalists before they invest.
If you are interested in building relationships that increase your revenue and achieving long term success for your nonprofit or small business, then contact Sabrina at Supporting World Hope via their Website or Facebook.
