Building a relationship with your readers takes a “one day at a time” process. It's not a “one night stand” type of relationship.

Remember when you first met your spouse/partner to be?

You didn't jump into living together right from the time you met, did you?

You need to take it slow, study your readers like you do your better half and discover what they like and dislike.

One way to do this is to listen.

Be available to tend to their needs, to hear their cries, their problems, their loneliness, and see how you may be able to help them.

Put yourself into their shoes and see how you would feel. You can't really expect your reader to automatically like, trust, or be kind, considerate, and supportive of you.

They have been hurt by others who promised them the answers to their needs, desires, wants and problems. Only to be taken for a ride… left broke and broken.

Feel their fears and take the lead to help them overcome them.

Make yourself available through email, FB, twitter, and other social media sites. Make it easy for your subscribers to contact you any time of day or night. For some reason you may not be able to tend to their needs right at that moment, make an autoresponder email message that will automatically respond for you.

State that you care about their concerns, but you are not available at the moment, and you will get back to them as soon as possible. This lets them know you care.

Please, whatever you do, even if you can't help, contact them and just be an ear that hears and make them feels you are there… most of the time, that is all that is needed—just a should to cry on, someone to confide in.

Letting them know you care is a major step in earning their trust and eventually liking you.

If you have a blog, make sure they have access to it. Let them commit. Ask them questions.

Create surveys on what they would like to learn about.

Get them involved in what you are doing.

This lets them feel useful.

When your readers tear down that wall of distrust they have towards you and trust takes its place, they want to somehow repay you for your kindness and friendship.

When this happens, you can slowly start to soft sale to them. Be gentle, they are still new to this trust in you thing. Hard selling will only scare them off, and they will never come back to your sites again.

Continue working one day at a time on your relationship with your readers just like the way you do with your spouse/partner and children. You’ll see, your effort will be worth it.

Start positive and continue to stay positive, people can sense these things. Positive attracts.

Stay tuned for more tips & techniques in building a relationship that will last and spread like wild fire throughout your online and offline businesses.

A few years ago, my family and I went to visit family in Cass WV. The day was a beautiful sunny day, and we had a great time reminiscing on past events.

Before we left to go home, my mother asked my dad to drop by a cousin of hers. Now that I think of it, my mom must have this whole thing planned before leaving my grandmother’s house.

When we pulled up in from of Jeanette’s house, my mom jumped out and said she would be right back. A few moments later, she came out and asked my dad if she could have a dog that Jeannette was trying to find a home for. Giving my dad tidbits of story about the sad event leading up to getting rid of the dog…

…he said no.

“You sure”, she asked as she slowly walked back toward Jeanette's house. “I'm sure”, he'd replied.

“OK then”, was all she said.

With a sneaky smirk she reappeared a couple moments later carrying a small frail looking, black and white puppy. The little thing is so cute, so lost and scared.

The moment my dad said yes, the pup seemed to automatically perk up, wagging her little tail and licking him in the face…

What a precious moment.

Did you notice what happened?

My mom used an old marketing technique on my dad.

Can you guess what that technique was?

If you've said building a relationship, you are correct.

Mom knew my dad’s likes and dislikes, his ins and outs, his resistance levels and everything about him. She knows what buttons to push and which ones to leave alone.

Mom knew that if my dad would just take one look at this puppy, he was hooked. He would fall in love with her…

… and he did. He ended up naming here Trixie and she was his best friend for many years.

Whenever I remember that instance, I thought about how my mom really knew what she was doing. It was not just a random thing. I believe she had it all planned.

“WOW, a superb marketing technique!”

I didn't know it then, but mom had just taught me the very first lesson in email marketing. Building a relationship with the people on your email list is the key to email marketing.

But how do you build trust through emails?

After research, I have come across 3 proven methods that seem to work time and time again. Here they are:

Be You: Let people know who you are. Get real with them. Give your potential prospect a peek into your personal life.

Some of the most profitable emails are written around actual events that have taken place in life, like the story you've just read. Talk about a movie you and your family saw and tie it into your email. Somehow, a funny thing that just happened to you or a life lesson you've learned is a good start. Sit down and brainstorm, you can come up with some great ideas to share with your reader. Make it personal.

When sharing bits and piece about your life, you are sharing and slowly building a relationship with your readers. They will begin to like and trust you.

Honesty Is The Best Policy: Don't tell lies–. Don't say you got rich while sitting on the beach doing nothing when actually you’re sitting in a rundown house eating ketchup sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Lying will only lead to more lies and you’ll eventually get caught up with it. Once people discover the truth, they will never trust you again.

Give Something Of Value: Give your list something that will help them achieve something in their lives. Even if you just boost their moral. Helping them to think positive of themselves will help them believe. When they begin to believe, good things will happen.

Make sure your emails offer something that’s helpful to your readers. It can be a content-based series that teaches or the answer to a certain want, need, desire, or problem they’re experiencing. Don't promise them something you can-not deliver. Do research and see what ways you can help your readers.

There you have it. These are just 3 ways you can help build your relationship with your readers. There are more techniques to come. So stay tuned to this blog.

To Your Success!

Malisia