The Perfect Clients
In this blog I want to explore the idea of the perfect client.
Is there such a thing as a perfect client? I think so yes, If it is a good fit for both parties it just works.
When the goal is clear for both parties and how and when that goal will be met is agreed, understood and achievable it all makes for a great project all round.
So how do you find the right supplier or client for you? To start with be as clear as you can be with what you are looking to achieve and equally as important understand why. The reason I suggest understanding why is there are times when you think you need a particular service or product just because that is what you have always done, but it might just be the case that something different or nothing at all is in fact a better solution for whatever reason.
Understanding why you have a goal enables you to then value the service or product or you buy or if you are the supplier it enables you to be sure this is something that is going to be valued.
When both parties are confident that the product or service being provided is the right thing, it makes for a much better experience for everyone.
This may mean taking more time with your prospect and doing your homework and asking the right questions to ensure they really understand that this is going to take them forward and meet their goals as well as making sure you are the very best people to supply your product or service.
The other thing to consider is their expectations. Does your new client understand enough about what you are going to be providing? Do they understand the costs and how it is broken down, also any additional costs that may occur for what ever reason. Then there is the time implications, how long is it expected to take, when will the work be done and what may go wrong and affect both cost and time? And the very last one but probably the most important one, what is expected of the client to enable you to do your job to the very best of your ability? If all of the above are implemented and everyone is clear and happy, even when things go wrong (and sometimes they do) everyone is clear why and how it can be resolved.
When the communication flows, the updates are frequent then in general everyone is happy. This communication needs to continue long after the initial job is finished as well.
This makes the customer feel valued and the experience was a good one. Then and only then can the magic happen.
The magic is when you feel so confident in the experience your customer has had, you feel no hesitation when asking for a reference or referral. You know the kind I am talking about, we have all had at least one. How many can you count now?
In tomorrows blog i will discuss the cost of a bad client, but for today understanding that clear and consistent communication along with managed expectations and a clear why this is the right product or service will set you on the path to a long and successful relationship.
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Author- Speaker - Consultant. Passionate about all things digital.