Like anyone, your client likes to feel they are special. Read on to find out how robust communication practices can make for stronger relationships.

Communication is one of the most important aspects of creating and growing a business, especially if that business relies on people to enable operation, and clients to purchase your product or service.

Robust communication internally can mean the difference between a productive and happy workforce with high morale and a vested interest in the success of the company, and people who don’t want to get up in the morning and come to the office.

Likewise, strong and efficient communication with your clients and stakeholders can mean the difference between growing your business and struggling to get by. Communication is at the core of relationship building, and combined with a strong product or service, a solid relationship will keep clients always coming back for more.

With the internet playing such a huge role in communications these days, and the higher you get, the more you communicate through other people — secretaries and assistants — old fashioned, personal communication can become a rarity. But don’t let it! It’s important! Forget the modern phone system – call up, get business out of the way and hang up so you can get onto something more productive, and remember a call is a chance to make contact and build a relationship!

So how can you bring some personal communication back into your business?

1. Emails
This may seem like a strange one, as on screen can possibly be one of the coldest forms of communication around. But with new etiquette being created every day for electronic communication, it is important you know what you’re doing, and make your communication as effective as possible. Besides the obvious ones — staying away from uppercase, carefully checking your tone so it isn’t misunderstood and steering clear of obscenities, there are a range of ways to ‘soften’ your email communication. Firstly, make sure you always greet at the start of the communication, it seems obvious, but many people forget! When building relationships, ask an introduction question relating to something you know about the person — how was golf on the weekend? And always conclude with wording that conveys your sentiment or role — warmest regards, your faithfully.

2. Meetings
Face-to-face communication is your real chance to make an impression — but remember, first impressions count. When meeting with someone, be accommodating and hospitable, polite and warm. Greet them openly, be transparent in your conversation, open and honest in your tone, and show your client your great personality through your facial expressions and body language.

3. Events
Like meetings, events are your chance to shine, and given they aren’t completely business focused, but also include an element of socialising, they are a good opportunity to build relationships. Like in emailing, create a personal connection with your client, by talking about something you both relate to — other than work — and again, be hospitable — make sure they have a drink, food and are well looked after.

4. Phone calls
When it comes to calls, old fashioned communication with new technology is the way to go, and your business phone system makes all the difference! Get yourself an office phone with video, or use Skype to talk to clients, so you have the added benefit of expressions and face-to-face communication to make a call more personal, and almost as effective as a meeting. The client can see you are focusing on them and the conversation, not doing other things while you talk.

5. Global
If you have clients across the globe, make an effort to make communications as face-to-face as possible. Use Skype, or invest in some good webinar software so you can talk, show examples, share charts and resources – cutting down the distance between you!

Author Bio: Tom Mallet is an Australian freelance writer and journalist. He writes extensively in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the US. He’s published more than 500 articles about various topics, including business phone system.