Your opportunity to build a stellar client relationship starts with managing the gap between your perception of how things are going and your client's.
Begin the process here . . .
--Know who your ideal client is.
Minimize problems from the get-go by targeting clients you want to work with and clients you would enjoy and have fun working with.
--Ask the right questions.
Craft questions that will help you manage client expectations early. If you offer a service, ask how the client will measure results, what criteria he will use.
--Trust and act on your intuition.
When you feel something is "off" with a client, confirm that feeling by engaging the client in conversation. If your intuition says this is not the client for you, be bold and refer him on to someone who would be a better fit.
--Get your needs met so you don't need your clients.
Accept clients because you want to work with them, not because you need them to make your next mortgage payment. Build cash reserves so you can always make a choice.
--Challenge your assumptions.
Confirm your assumptions before acting on them. It will save you from making costly and potentially irreversible mistakes with your client.
--Survey your clients early into the relationship.
Check in after the first meeting to verify/clarify that you are on target then follow up often.
--Increase your knowledge base.
Learn as much as you can about your client, his business, his industry, his customers, his problems and concerns. Learn new ways of doing things, new techniques and technologies. Learn how to use new tools to serve your client better.
--Build trust.
Be reliable, honest and dependable. Keep your client's interests in mind. Avoid political situations that could undermine your relationship with your client.
--Learn to negotiate.
Possibly the second most important skill in managing your business, mastering negotiation skills will give you a sense of power in constructing a client relationship that wins for both of you.
--Anticipate and initiate.
Look for opportunities to help your client achieve his goals. Include your client's goals in presenting new ideas. Step back and see how your client might see a situation and respond accordingly.
The more you know about what your clients really want, the more effective you will be in managing the relationship.
Author: http://www.JamesBurchill.com
Customer service today is getting worse. Win customers over and... Read More
Client satisfaction starts with meeting or beating the contractual obligations... Read More
Many years ago, I was a first year apprentice assigned... Read More
You want customers. I want customers. We all want customers.... Read More
If you've called for customer service recently you're familiar with... Read More
Customer service is an integral part of our job and... Read More
"I am writing to complain about the widget I bought... Read More
Some businesses have slow paying customers or past due balances... Read More
What I am about to tell you may seem very... Read More
Customer Service is a blessing and a curse; a blessing... Read More
"Hi this is Randy. Leave me a message after the... Read More
Delight = Customer Expectation plus 1. This was the simple... Read More
*********************************************Know Thyself - Socrates*********************************************I'd like to start this article with... Read More
Have you ever called a company and been greeted with... Read More
Do you know you can open, answer, close and report... Read More
1) Being placed on hold endlessly. Don't you just love... Read More
Your opportunity to build a stellar client relationship starts with... Read More
The Call Center world is an intense pressure-driven environment continually... Read More
Background The company was experiencing an increase in the number... Read More
If you think customer relationship management is just a piece... Read More
Customer satisfaction is valuable, but customer loyalty is priceless. In... Read More
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is one of those magnificent concepts... Read More
Over promising is a problem only when you under deliver.... Read More
Having been in business a number of years, I'm amazed... Read More
Listening to complaints, whether they're reasonable or not, is a... Read More
Prime directive: Make sure your claim is reasonable! Otherwise, forget... Read More
Have you seen that thing on TV where the gal... Read More
1. Hire people who have a service attitude. Some people... Read More
I wish I had a nickel for every time someone... Read More
Given the choice of dealing with a positive, upbeat employee... Read More
Businesses like to brag in their advertising about quality of... Read More
I will not make sales. I will make Customers.I will... Read More
You've been going 6-to-late; exhausted by running the supersonic treadmill... Read More
The President of a 200+ store division of a major... Read More
Customer service is the most vital asset for Business either... Read More
With Some Tips on How to RespondTt has probably happened... Read More
Who was it that said - "The customer is always... Read More
"Hi this is Randy. Leave me a message after the... Read More
Yesterday I went to buy a sandwich at a franchised... Read More
Newsletters can be wonderful tools for communicating with your customers... Read More
May people these days have a problem with mounting debt.... Read More
Another sad fact of life is that these days, very... Read More
It may come as a surprise to you to discover... Read More
At 8.30 am a wealthy client (on his way to... Read More
Every business owner should have a picture of his or... Read More
There are five techniques that have been proven to be... Read More
Listening to complaints, whether they're reasonable or not, is a... Read More
It's bound to happen sooner or later ? yes, even... Read More
A few months ago, I wrote about ingenious styles of... Read More
Nobody likes to get complaints. They make you question your... Read More
Customer Service Customer Service |