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Further
Reading ...
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How To Automate Your Web Business And Save Time - David Coyne
Whether you sell products or services on the Internet, you should get an autoresponder as soon as possible. It’s an immense time saver. And for most online entrepreneurs time is in short supply. What is an autoresponder? Without getting too...
Direct Marketing Strategies for Holiday Email Promotions - Richard Cunningham
Tis the season to leverage customer interest data for successful email marketing. All of the information gathered throughout the year from customer purchases, customer feedback surveys, and other behavior offers direct marketers necessary...
Affirmative Inaction - Gary Whittaker
One of Abraham Lincoln's claims to fame is the fact that he is best known for abolishing slavery. While he may have felt some personal satisfaction from liberating the Negroes from their bondage, Economy was the main reason why he made his...
The Credit Card Offer - David Berky
One day I got a call from my credit card company asking me if I would like to increase my credit limit by borrowing up to $9000 at their special rate of 15.9%. The operator stated, "Your credit card rate will then be a low 15.9%. How much would you...
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Clients..... Do You Really Need Them?
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Written By:
Lorraine Pirihi
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Running a successful business takes a lot of energy and there are so many areas that as a business owner you need to pay attention too.
It's not enough to spend heaps of time, money and resources into getting buyers for your goods and services and then leaving those clients/customers to their own devices.
If you want to work less, have more time and make more money one very important aspect you have to take care of on an ongoing basis is nurturing those people who are prepared to spend their money with you.
You cannot afford to take their money, sell the goods or perform the services and then hope they will call you when they need too.
The Hairdresser
A couple of weeks ago I visited my hairdresser for my regular appointment. Now I have been loyally going to this hairdresser for at least 2 years, approximately every six weeks.
On this particular occasion there were a couple of clients having their hair coloured and the owner and another assistant were fawning over three kittens which had kindly been supplied by the local vet.
Apparently the vet was looking for a good home for the kittens and John,the owner and another staff member were going to take them home. The kittens were staying the afternoon at the salon for the benefit of their new owners (my hairdresser and his assistant).
So here we were in an upmarket salon, with three kittens running around and the staff paying more attention to them than the clients.
The second incident that occurred happened after I had my hair washed. I was left sitting in a chair waiting whilst John who is my hairdresser casually took his time looking at another client's holiday photos. That wasted at least 5 minutes. (Some people may not be bothered about having their time wasted, but unfortunately for John, I wasn't one of them).
When he finally comes over, instead of asking me how am I going, or commenting about the condition of my hair, he proceeds to tell me all the details about his life (as he usually does) and is so focussed on himself he was oblivious to the fact that without people like me (a paying client), he wouldn't be in business.
It doesn't end there. The final straw came when his mobile phone rang in the middle of my haircut. With no apology or saying to me "excuse me, I must take this call ", he answers the phone and wanders off for another 5 minutes.
By this time I was ready to explode. Instead, being the cool, calm and collected person that I am (sometimes), I took some deep breaths and vowed I would - continued below ...
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continued ...
never go there again.
How Much Money Do You Lose?
As a regular client who had an average spend of $110 every six weeks (that's for a colour and cut), I would be worth around $900 a year plus any product I would buy.
And that's another thing, John often complained about not having enough income, yet he never trained his staff how to sell additional products. People (particularly women) would readily purchase shampoos, conditioners, gels etc. if his staff would proactively recommend it.
They only sold product by default, when a client mentioned they had run out or asked questions. I was one of those clients who asked questions about the various products and was ready to buy, except they were always out of stock! (See how being disorganised affects your income!)
Focus on What Counts
Being a great hairdresser, accountant, coach or anything else for that matter doesn't automatically mean your clients will continue to invest their money with you.
You have to pay attention to them by being proactive in looking after them and not reactive when they complain.
In fact most people will not tell you if they are unhappy with your goods or services, they will just take their business elsewhere. They'll also spread the word by telling other people about their experiences with you thereby damaging your reputation and potential for future clients.
The Final Word
Look at how your business is run. Survey your clients and find out how they really find your goods/services, customer care, follow up service etc. After all, wouldn't they know how good you really are? You and your team may think you're great but it's what your clients think (and pay for) that counts.
It would also be worthwhile investing in a great book by Keith Abraham entitled "Creating Loyal Profitable Customers' - 47 ways to turn your customers into passionate purchasers (available from our office for only $24.95 plus $5 postage).
So don't delay. Get yourself organised so that you have time to focus on what really counts.
Have a great week
Lorraine Pirihi
About the Author
Lorraine Pirihi is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist, Leading Life Coach and a dynamic presenter.
Contact Lorraine today on 03 9532 5497 and she'll show you how easily you can get motivated, find direction and take action to improve all areas of your life!
lorraine@office-organiser.com.au,
http://www.office-organiser.com.au/
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| _Additional Resources ... |
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The Benefits Of Incorporating Your Business - Kate Smalley
What do General Motors, Microsoft, AT&T and many other major businesses in America have in common? They’re corporations. A corporation is a separate legal entity that functions separate and apart from its shareholders or owners. You can...
Packaging Success - Arleen M Kaptur
If success and achievement came in a package or a bottle, what would it look like? Would it be wrapped in satin and tied with a 14-carat ribbon? Would the bottle that contained achievement be as deep as a ruby or as clear as an emerald? Picture...
Are You Hearing Everything Your Customer, Peer, Boss, Supplier Isn't Saying? - Linda Talley
Only 7% of what we say is verbal! The other 93% is nonverbal! How do you think Dr. Phil got his start? Reading the nonverbal communication of prospective jurors as a jury consultant. And that's why he's not afraid to call someone on a lie on his...
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