“Give value, give value, give value, and then ask for business.” – Gary Vaynerchuk
To build strong relationships with your audience, give first. A value first approach is about enriching your audience’s lives with value, creating a reservoir of goodwill and trust, before you present your ask. This approach is not just ethical; it’s incredibly effective, paving the way for sustained relationships and brand loyalty.
Consider the approach of Pat Flynn, the mind behind Smart Passive Income. Pat emphasizes providing consistent, high-quality content that genuinely helps his audience in navigating the world of online business and passive income. He offers a lot of free resources, podcasts, and articles, addressing the varied needs and questions of his audience, building a relationship of trust and value. It’s this relentless pursuit of adding value that has garnered him a dedicated following, transforming casual visitors into loyal fans and customers.
This principle of ‘Value First’ is foundational for every brand and entrepreneur. It’s about understanding your audience’s needs, desires, and challenges, and addressing them with genuine, valuable solutions. It’s about being a source of enrichment and empowerment for your audience, cultivating a relationship based on trust, respect, and mutual benefit.
Action Step: Identify the core needs and desires of your target audience and create content that addresses these aspects genuinely and effectively. Be consistent in delivering value, making it the forefront of your interactions.
Placing value at the core of your interactions transforms the brand-audience relationship. It turns transactional interactions into meaningful relationships, fostering a community of engaged, loyal advocates for your brand.
To learn more about the value first approach, and how you can apply it to your business, be sure to check out our book of the week: “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook” by Gary Vaynerchuk.