As a sales or marketing executive, your ability to relate to your customers in a way that creates a strong sense of understanding and trust is vital to your longevity. You can learn how to build rapport with them so they not only buy the products or services you're selling, they also buy into the reasons your business exists. In other words, they support your mission.

Communication in the workplace is sometimes complicated. No matter how many employees you interact with on a daily basis, you'll almost always find an assortment of unique personalities and backgrounds.

What's the right thing to say? What's the right thing to do?

Technology has made it easier than ever for businesses to process sales. Consumers are able to connect with brands via a variety of touch points like telephone, email, direct mail, social media, and website chat. But are those brands using each method to optimize their customer service experience?

Who writes by hand anymore? Business owners, smart marketing managers, and customer service connoisseurs who want to create a personal connection with their customers.

You know the feeling you get when you receive a hand-addressed envelope in the mail? It's likely the first thing you'll open because it stands out amidst the stack of ordinary mail you get on a daily basis. The envelope is more personal and more interesting. The fact that someone put pen to paper for you captures your attention.

When it comes to business etiquette, it may seem like there are a lot of dos and don'ts to be aware of. And there are. But by following a select number of basic tips, you'll be sure to conduct yourself appropriately with a high level of professionalism when you're in the workplace.

Here are some business etiquette tips to follow and quotes to use to help you successfully navigate the terrain.

By the end of this decade, there will be about 400-million luxury consumers worldwide. When you're marketing to them, you'll need to understand who they are and what they're looking for in a luxury shopping experience. Then you can create personalized, high-end marketing materials that are sure to drive engagement, and ultimately, produce satisfied customers.

You've probably heard the retention marketing adage:

It costs more to acquire a new customer than it does to keep a current one.

Well, it's not just an adage. It's a researched fact. The figures fluctuate between five and 25 percent according to the Harvard Business Review, but just about everyone agrees it's an important element for any business.

We're living in the "age of the customer." It's a concept in which consumers are more empowered than ever before. They have access to an internet full of information about almost any of the products and services they desire—whenever they want it. So, it stands to reason that treating them as the most important part of your business is not only a good idea, it's essential to your success.

Want to increase the value of your company? Retention marketing holds the key. Companies that increase customer retention levels by 10% increase their own value by an average of 30%. Yet in an effort to continuously attract new consumers, many companies neglect their customer base, and in the process miss out on a lifetime of profits. Don’t be one of them. To build relationships, retain customers, and grow profits, follow this simple guide to retention marketing.