Mar

12

Clients Gone Wild (and How to Tame Them)

Filed Under Customers 

I bet you have lots of stories about working with clients, and with each story comes a lesson learned.

There are many reasons for these lessons, among them 1) the need to succeed in business, and 2) the rule that says “do everything possible to please the client.” However, there’s a line between service and sanity. Clients often test us with the latter.

Here are three problems that are easily tamed by staying within guidelines that keep business on track.

1. “Can You Leave the Baskets Here?”
After a presentation, some clients want to show your gift baskets to co-workers who were not able to attend the meeting. This may seem like a reasonable request, but do not leave that office without your baskets, or you will not see them again.

Your gifts are so gorgeous that they will magically appear in the office of other firms that your clients want to impress. What if there are spoiled items inside of the basket? You not only must explain your client’s mistake, you also may be liable for any illness that occurs due to the spoilage.

2. “Show Them to my Secretary.”
Presentations with people who cannot sign the order form is a waste of time. I keep a sign in front of my desk that says “only make appointments with the decision maker,” because sometimes I can be in such a hurry to open opportunity’s door that I forget to ensure I’m meeting with the right person. Meet with the check signer, and no one else.

3. “We’ll Mail You the Check.”
One designer was told this as she delivered gift baskets. The check never arrived. She called the person in charge, wrote letters, and kept records of everything she did to collect her money. When all efforts were exhausted, she went to the town’s sheriff, who accompanied her to the non-paying firm that was forced to pay her in front of the sheriff.

If payment is due on arrival, get the money before the goods are placed in the client’s hands. If this sounds harsh or strict, then program the sheriff’s number in your speed dial, because you’ll call him often.

You love what you do, and you also make money. Clients can sometimes test your patience, so make them play by your rules, and they won’t go wild.

Visit this page for 10 more steps, the type that explain how to create a wildly-successful business.

Technorati Tags: , ,

Read these related articles:

  1. Taste Test Promotions, Library Marketing, What Clients Say
  2. What Corporate Clients Want Now
  3. Containers, Take Clients to Lunch, Overcome Obstacles

Comments

Comments are closed.