Going the Distance: Our Approach to Client Relations
I’ve had the opportunity to be a cross country parent. As a lifelong runner, it is an absolute JOY to watch kids run their hearts out, and get to know them by volunteering as a parent coach.
While I’m by no means the fastest or most hard-core runner, there are so many things I love about the sport – the grit, motivation, discipline, highs and lows. And as a community, runners are inclusive, encouraging, and exemplify the best qualities of sportsmanship. Just watch a marathon, road or cross country race.
I often do my best thinking on runs, and was recently musing about some of my clients when it struck me: there are so many similarities between what it takes to be a runner and what it takes to grow a successful client partnership.
Developing relationships with clients is one of the best parts of my job, and I know many of my Approach colleagues share this sentiment. So here is my take on four lessons from running, and how the Approach team comes alongside our clients as coaches, training partners and cheerleaders.
Consistency is key. A successful running plan requires consistent training – and it helps to have a partner along the way. For Approach clients, we have a dedicated account team serving as the long-term partner. This account team gets to know the client in and out, and there is always a consistent point of contact and team working on the business. We develop deep partnerships with our clients – even considering ourselves part of their team – and this reliability ensures steady momentum and progress.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Running is not a sport of instant gratification. In the same vein, a great client relationship takes time. At Approach, we start every client relationship developing the right strategy upfront…asking questions…getting to know the client and industry inside and out. We are with you for the long haul, and taking time in the beginning to establish the right plan helps us deliver quality, consistent results.
Tailor your training plan. A great running coach knows how to tailor a training plan to the runner, and that’s how we coach our clients at Approach. We come to the table with a unique plan to support our client’s goals. And you can’t just do the same old thing and expect different results. So when our client’s goals change, or something isn’t working as expected, we come in with new and fresh ideas to make sure the work is having an impact.
Celebrate the wins. Running can be a grueling sport. But the feeling of crossing the finish line at a race or hitting a personal goal is unmatchable, and what sustains runners to keep at it. In the fast-paced marketing world, it can be easy to get caught up in “what’s next” that you forget to celebrate those big moments – a stellar media placement, an aspirational influencer partner, a social or digital campaign that drives huge traffic to your website. Whatever it is, we promise to celebrate with you…and then use the win to set our eyes on the next big goal.
Are you looking for a partner that will go the distance to help you reach your marketing goals? Drop us a line at hello@approachmarketing.com. We’d love to run alongside you.