One of my favorite quotes comes from Danny Meyer, New York City restaurateur, who says:
“Business is all about how you make people feel. It’s that simple and it’s that hard.”
Isn’t it true? We want to do business with people who make us feel good — whether it’s mentors who deeply care about our success, colleagues who are a joy to collaborate with, or clients who sing our praises.
Today I want to introduce you to my mastermind client Elaine Lou Cartas.
A grassroots organizer turned business and career coach for women of color, she is truly masterful when it comes to nurturing professional relationships. She also hosts monthly community-building events for female entrepreneurs in Los Angeles — and recently transitioned to completely virtual!
I’ve asked her to share her top three tips for creating meaningful business connections.
Take it away, Elaine!
1) Surprise people with a personal video message.
As Selena mentioned, I host virtual Color Your Dreams events. Curious how I get a 45-55% show up rate? I create personal invitation videos with the app, Bomb-Bomb!
Here’s a screenshot of the video I sent to one of my invitees, Sara.
I use a simple script like this:
“Hey Sara! I hope you are staying healthy. I was just thinking about you and wanted to invite you to my free Color Your Dreams event this Saturday from 9am – 11am PT. Are you free? Let me know and I can register you!”
Although this does take some time, it makes people feel special and instantly creates a much deeper connection!
➡️ What are some ways you could use personalized videos to wow your clients?
2) Send a handwritten thank you card to show your appreciation.
In today’s world, most of the mail we receive is junk mail. So it’s really refreshing to receive a beautiful card with a thoughtful, handwritten note!
Just recently, I sent a thank you card to Tiffany Neuman, my brand strategist, for participating in my new website reveal via Facebook Live. Here’s a copy of what I sent:
Tiffany thanked me for the card, and told me how it made her feel really special and appreciated. She also commented on how rare it is to receive a personal note like this!
➡️ When could you send a personalized card to show someone you’re thinking about them?
3) Send an unexpected gift to welcome clients to your community.
When a new client invests in my mastermind program, I send them a branded mug. They can put their coffee in it to keep them going as they take powerful action in their business — plus, it serves as a visual reminder that I’m there supporting them!
Other examples of gifts you could send include flowers, chocolates, or a scented candle.
They’ve put their trust in you and made a big investment, so providing them with a thoughtful gift makes them feel welcomed and appreciated.
➡️ What are some types of gifts you’d be excited to receive that you might send to new clients?
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Elaine encourages us to lean more on relationships during times when we can’t see each other.
As Maya Angelou states, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
So are you ready to make your clients feel special and appreciated?
Which of these three tips will you try first?
1) Use a personalized video invitation message.
2) Send a handwritten card or letter.
3) Delight new clients with a surprise welcome gift.
Let me know right here on Instagram!
Can’t wait to hear from you!
Selena
