The biggest reason for failure - you've got no relationship with your market

Okay this is more of a note for myself but thought I'd make it public too.

What's the one reason why people & companies fail to make an impacy in business?

Poor sales technique? Bad products? Poor customer service? NOPE!

It's my view that the biggest reason why some businesses fly high and some businesses can't seem to get anywhere is simply their "friend factor" in the market.

There's a lot of talk about building relationships and all that stuff but I really want to make this simple as pie - the more your company can appear to be a 'friend' of its customers, the more willing its customers will be to buy its products no matter how bad they are.

This is not only true for IM and Internet business but is also true in the "offline" world - the more your business can appear to be a company that knows its customers and can help them, the more business it will do with them.

The more it can become a "friend" to its market, if you will.

Think about all the top names in IM - they've all got their own little things going on which makes them such high profile figures because everyone wants to be their friend or wants to sit down and listen to what they've got to say.

They've created a "cult" aroundt themselves which make people warm to them and buy their products. And it's the same with offline business too.

Think about the brand "Virgin" and it's owner Richard Branson - every time I've seen him, he appears to be a cool guy who a LOT of business people want to 'befriend'. Look how successful his business is.

Now think about all those people on the likes of "The apprentice" they aren't that likeable so they don't fly as high as others... no matter how good they say they are.

Don't know what you guys think but I think success is down to how much of the "friend factor" you have in your market - how much your market wants to hang out with you and listen to your ramblings.

Rich