My amazing Relationship Marketing Mentor - Mari Smith
How often do you feel really valued as a customer? And as a business owner, how often do you make your customers feel really special?
This week one of my amazing mentors, Mari Smith who is well known the world over as the “Queen of Relationship Marketing and Social Media” made me feel like I was the most special person on the planet!
Ok, I’m sure there were several people who got the same treatment but when a package arrived at my house, wrapped in Mari’s trademark turquoise and sealed lovingly with a sparkly butterfly sticker – I felt like a little kid at Christmas!
I could see from the address label on the outside of the package that it was from Mari but I was genuinely surprised to be receiving anything from her.
As I unpicked the wrapping and revealed a gem encrusted version of her new book “The New Relationship Marketing” I was totally gobsmacked… and then imagine my complete and utter delight when I opened the book and a whole load of sparkly stars fell out like fairy dust to make the message Mari had written to me even more magical! I think I actually squeaked with joy! Lol!
Mari wrote “To Michelle. You are a Star! I believe in You! :) Love Mari x” – well to say I was completely bowled over would be an understatement – Mari genuinely made my day!
Now – I have been known to post all manner of items to potential JV partners or clients who were high on my wishlist (see below the box of cupcakes I sent to Dr Joanna Martin as part of a pitch – once I had the “yes” answer I was hoping for from her, I sent these just to seal the deal and sure she didn’t forget about me! Yup, it’s kookie, but it did the trick!) I had them decorated in her company colours and included a reference to her company name Shift Lifestyle… I had them delivered by courier and Joey now sometimes tells people about it when she presents which is pretty cool!
Oooh – ask me about the time I sent a box full of goodies to Simon Cowell’s Management Company 19 when I was singing professionally by the way – anyway – I digress… even though I am constantly trying out all sorts of ways to stand out and to make people feel super special – when I received this package from Mari I actually shed a tear!
You see, Mari had tapped into conversations that we’ve had as part of my mentoring process with her – she’d remembered things that she knew would really mean something to me, things that would resonate… and she’d used those in her gift to me.
I’m sure you can probably imagine that with this one gesture, Mari Smith has turned me from an already raving fan into a total and utter evangelist for her! And I’ll probably never go to anyone else to coach me about Relationship Marketing because a. she’s TOTALLY on my wavelength, b. she is sooooo good at it! c. I love her to bits! Why would I?
So ladies, I want to ask you today – when was the last time you put together a well thought out, heartfelt email or direct mail campaign to your customers or potential customers just to let them know how valued they are and how well you understand them?
The cupcakes I mailed to Dr Joanna Martin as part of a pitch!
People like Mari are out there daily WOWING everyone she comes across from the heart, as a result she STANDS OUT! She positively SHINES!
I want you to stand out for the amazing woman you are too! So shine your light! Make sure people know exactly what you’re about and how much they matter to you! Let them know you’ve got their back! Let them know you believe in them!
If you do, I promise you, you’ll create a tribe of raving fans who will tell everyone they know how wonderful you are – imagine that! With the internet and social media at our finger tips – this is word of mouth on super sparkly steroids! And we all know how important word of mouth is right?
Now go and love your community!
If you’ve enjoyed this post I’d be thrilled if you’d leave me a comment or if you’d share it with your tribe! Thanks ladies! 
