Blackburn Accounting - Centres of Influence

Influence is Power

Building your Business with a Centre of Influence Strategy

Influence is power!

We can influence and be influenced!

To begin consider these key questions,

who are the key players that influence your Business?
is your Business built on referrals as a valuable source of growth?
are you always looking for sources of prospecting to attract new customers to gain income and market value?

Let's look at this more closely.

Influencing others begins in the Business, the first source of influence is you!

Your leadership, leadership by example is the benchmark built on critical skills: organizational intelligence, team promotion, trust building and leveraging networks. Skills that when applied have the ability to positively influence. You and your Team can use them to effectively influence others.

Harnessing the power of influence. On a broader level, in today’s operating climate one strategy is finding and leveraging the power COI’s (‘centres of influence’) or simply Influencers. These are people connected to or around your client group making them well placed to potentially engage, refer or introduce you to new customers, markets or prospects.

What influences your Business?

Who, what do you rely upon to help make your Business successful, to grow.

Firstly, you and your Team have the power to influence. You influence the experience of your Customers and potential customers through your actions or inactions.

Customer satisfaction achieved by listening to and understanding your customers needs influence their shopping habits and behaviours. Attention to detail, personal service, being helpful and friendly will ensure they leave with a great impression.

To be exact, you influence the outcomes. Happy customers return and usually spend more. Providing quality services and building trusting relationships fosters loyalty. Loyal, satisfied customers with the power to influence your Business positively, by spreading the word, sharing their ‘good’ experience.

Then there is the unknown potential of other opportunities, markets and new prospects.

This begins with building Business and understanding the importance of connections:

Building your Business comes by connecting with wider Business circles. Networking, joining Business groups, attending and participating in Industry seminars and events is critical in seeking and making meaningful connections. It’s about building relationships, opportunities to mix, mingle and tap into leads and influential others.

You are your best promoter and salesperson. Tell, share your story to cultivate healthy productive connections. This is a two-way street; you can influence others and be influenced by engaging with a professional COI.

Professional COI (Centres of Influence) include Brand ambassadors, business advisors and reciprocal referrers who regularly interact with your client type or target group. They are influential, key people you can utilize to help grow your Business. Leveraging their power in marketing can be cost-effective, timely and bring quick results.

They can be found on Social media, online forums and you can connect through Business Meetings, Boards, Professional and Networking groups.

Adopting the Centre of Influence marketing in your Business.

The best approach to reap and enjoy the benefits is to choose your COI partners wisely. Don’t rely on one, try and test a few then engage with those best suited to your needs and deliver great results. Importantly know what each expects and wants from the relationship.

Create your own Centre of Influence

6 Ways to Influence Customers and Grow Sales