Many marketers will give you strategies to keep the client while you have them and they're good and they work! I've tried several and they do, in fact, make a difference. What about when the client "needs a break" and wants to "try it on their own" for a bit?
First, don't believe the hype. You've done nothing wrong! As we grow in any area of our lives, we want to try new things and explore new approaches - because we've grown. And if you've helped your clients do just that, congratulations! It's like sending the baby bird out to create its own nest!
Second, you want to create happy, healthy clients. If they stay stuck and tethered to you, then you haven't been of service to them. You've been of service to you. And that's not client attractive!
So embrace their departure, wish them success and stay in touch. Not in an obtrusive way. How you may ask?
If you truly want to retain loyal clients who sometimes need a break, you can use some of these strategies:
- Add a follow up day to your calendar, just for past clients. Every other month, send an email just to say "what's up", "how's it going with X?" That you remembered "X," or whatever they worked on with you, will invite them to reconnect with you on a deeper level. They'll feel like you cared about them not just the client/service provider relationship you shared.
- Use a tool like "Send Out Cards" to stay in touch. Create a card that is personalized by incorporating their logo or something you've helped them to develop.
- Host a "past client only" conference call and talk about new trends in your industry. Creating "sense" and connection out of so much information we're all exposed to helps them look to you as an expert and someone who continues to help them grow.
- Offer a quarterly strategy session to ensure they're still moving forward in their life and business. Sometimes our past clients feel that there's no easy road back to you and this provides them with a way to learn how you can help them continue to grow as well as the opportunity to discover new products, programs and services that they can take advantage of.
Some entrepreneurs may bristle at "giving away time" to former clients, however this strategy can create enormous client loyalty and believe it or not a higher rate of retention. Why? Because very few service professionals will stay in touch in this way and it makes you memorable.
As your clients grow, new challenges surface for them and they'll be looking for someone to help them. Using these strategies, you'll be the first they turn to and that's exactly where you want to be!
----------------------------------------------------
The business mentor to the service professional who is ready to thrive as an entrepreneur, Chris Makell shows her clients a different way to "Think Big…Play Bigger" so they create profitable 6 & 7-figure businesses. Claim your free special report "5 Critical Steps to Get High Paying Clients, Today" at http://ChrisMakell.com/specialreport/
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=198232
No comments:
Post a Comment