Do your customers “know, like and trust you”? If not, why not? If you aren’t sure, you need to read these tips on 15 ways to connect with your customers. If your ideal client doesn’t know you value him or her, they will look for a new person with whom to work who does value them and who “gets” them.
Every business owner I work with has clients they adore and they have clients whose emails they avoid and they wince when they see a missed call from that person. How well do you know your customer? Wouldn’t you like to work with people who bring you joy? Then you need to ensure you’re bringing joy to them in all your interactions.
15 Ways To Connect With Your Customers
Who is your ideal customer?
They value you above and beyond the fee they pay
They are long-term clients.
They are your biggest advocates.
They continually buy what you have to offer.
They know what they want and you get right to the point with them.
They pay their bills on time.
How do spot that less-than-ideal-client before you sign them?
Even in initial conversations, they are never satisfied.
They continually ask for more but want to pay for less
You are continually in money-chase mode with them
They don’t value what you do and how to do it
They bad mouth the people they worked with before you — this is a red flag because you know they will bad mouth you.
What steps should you take to jettison these clients? Be aware though that these tactics will work against you when they bad mouth you to their new service provider.
Raise your prices
Be unavailable for their phone calls or meetings
Offer them an introduction to a business partner who may be a better fit
Be direct. “I just don’t think we are a good fit.”
Have you ever had to break up with a client? Did you stay with a client much longer than you should have just because you needed the money? We get it. It’s not easy but you do need to weigh what they’re paying you with the energy they are draining from you.
Conferences are being planned and with them being in-person again after more than three years of virtual events because of coronavirus. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people, find new clients and learn new skills. We have put together 3 ways to get conference ROI — if you’re spending the money to get to and from the conference, stay in a hotel and the fee from the conference you do want to ensure you see a return on that investment.
Regardless of whether you travel cross country or even day a day or two out of your office to attend a local networking event, you want to ensure you’re getting value from it. If you’re not, then why did you take time away from growing your business?
3 Ways To Get Conference ROI
Know who will be speaking, what they will be speaking on and whether it’s content you need to help with your business growth. Note the sessions you want to attend and what you hope to get out of it. Know what questions you want to have answered and how those answers will impact your business.
If there are pre- and post-conference events, plan to attend. Most of the best networking occurs in these more relaxed settings. You will also be able to connect with other attendees and you just might bump into a speaker with whom you want to connect.
Follow-up is key to conference ROI. If you collected business cards or connected with people, email them when you get back. Remind them what you talked about and why you’re connecting. Take the information you learned and blog about it, share on social and tag the person who shared that info.
If you are attending any in-person events, how will you measure your return on the investment you’re making?
Know what you want. If you’re taking on clients or tasks that you don’t want or that aren’t your area of expertise you go off on a path that is a slog in your business. You need to know your area of expertise and stay in your lane. If you want to expand, consider hiring contractors to fill the gap.
Where will you work? A separate room in your house? A corner of the kitchen table? A coffee shop? If you’re just starting out and if you’re not welcoming clients into your workspace, find a place that suits your needs when you’re in the start-up phase. In the future, you may find you need, or want to rent a space or find a co-working situation. You may want to rent a PO box or rent a box at a UPS store that provides a street address – this amps up the idea to clients that you are a thriving entity.
Keep moving forward. It’s easy to throw your hands in the air and give up, especially if you lose a client or don’t sign the client of your dreams. What will separate you from other solopreneurs is your ability to keep moving forward and overcome challenges.
Network with others in your situation. It’s easy to give up if you feel as though you’re the only one doing what you do. That’s why a co-working situation is ideal for some. Network online or attend in-person events.
Make sure you have a business plan. It doesn’t need to be hundreds of pages long, but it does need to have your financial goals written down, it should have a plan for ebbs and flows in business. It should have your mission and vision statement, the ideal client for you and your area of expertise and even a statement of those clients with whom you don’t want to work.
Don’t skimp on the tools you need. If you’re going to be in front of the computer all day you need to have a computer that will perform the tasks you need. You will want an ergonomic set up. Don’t invest in low end products because you will eventually need to replace them and it will cost you more in the long run.
Automate the tasks that you do repeatedly. Don’t waste time on duplicate efforts and tasks.
One of the benefits of being a business owner is the freedom that comes along with it. It is easy, though, to take too much of that freedom and put yourself behind the eight ball and on the verge of missing deadlines. Enjoy being your own boss but keep your eye on the prize — a successful business.
Have you ever wondered what to call yourself when you’re at a networking event? Are you a solopreneur or an entrepreneur? There are subtle differences, but there are also similarities for anyone who wants to run a successful business.
At its core, a solopreneur is an individual who runs his or her own business and “does it all.” A solopreneur doesn’t have partners and typically doesn’t have any kind of support staff unless they hire contractors for specific tasks. An entrepreneur may have partners, a team and leverages capital to achieve business growth.
Are You A Solopreneur Or An Entrepreneur?
A solopreneur wears all the hats. They are the boss and the employee. They are typically the one who has all the interaction with their clients. Not all solopreneurs know how to do everything, and the savvy ones will hire out and delegate those tasks in which they don’t excel. An entrepreneur hires staff so he or she can focus on business growth.
A solopreneur holds all the financial risk, but they typically start smaller so their risk may not be as great as an entrepreneur who is hiring staff, renting space and more.
A solopreneur typically focuses on one specialty. An entrepreneur has a specialty of business growth and hires staff or contractors to bring that growth to life.
A solopreneur may start as a side gig with the idea of growing into a full-time business owner. An entrepreneur typically jumps in with both feet and seeks fast growth that is as profitable as possible as quickly as possible. This is not to say that solopreneurs cannot take their solo endeavor to full-time and more than a profitable business.
Both solopreneurs and entrepreneurs need to bring in customers. Without customers, there is no business.
Regardless of whether you’re a solopreneur or an entrepreneur, you could benefit and thrive under the tutelage of a knowledgeable business coach. If you’re looking for higher growth, are stuck in a rut or simply want a sounding board, reach out to Rex Richard and his team.
Ooommmmm. Whether chanting or mantras or yoga are ways you relieve stress or if you need a brisk run or a long back, we have 5 ways to relieve stress. Entrepreneurs, parents, employees… almost anyone can experience stress and finding healthy ways to cope with it can help you live a longer, happier life.
Self-medicating with alcohol or other self-destructive behaviors is not the way to go or to cope. Let’s face it because life happens, and stress happens. In every life, there is a chance for stress. If you have a friend who is never stressed out, I’ll be that person has coping mechanisms which he or she deploys and that help alleviate their stress.
The way in which you deal with stress can make a difference in every aspect of your life, health and productivity.
Here are my tips for dealing with stress in both work and life:
5 Ways To Relieve Stress
Get out of the house or the office. Simply being in nature alleviates my stress. It doesn’t matter if you sit and look at water, take a hike, walk a dog or sit on the grass and relax, nature brings clarity. Get out of those four walls. Also, if you’re out and moving you’re giving your body and mind a dose of a healthy habit.
Take a deep breath. When people are stressed out they take shallow breaths and that leads to more stress. If you can’t get out of the office, stand up, and breathe in deeply. Breath in for the count of five, then slowly out for the count of five. Pay attention to whether your shoulders are relaxed or up around your ears. Relax. Breathe.
Eat good foods. A healthy diet will benefit both your body and your mind. Stress may not be alleviated by eating kale but eating potato chips when you’re anxious will certainly not be any kind of benefit for you either. A healthy diet boosts your immune system and can help you deal with stress better.
Get a hobby. Don’t scroll through Facebook (called doom scrolling) because that will make you more anxious. Find a hobby that relaxes and challenges you. Train dogs. Swim. Crochet blankets. Get away from the television and get involved in something else.
Stay connected. Isolation was a literal killer for those during the pandemic and it even made illnesses worse for many. Talk with friends. Go for a coffee. Zoom with out-of-state family. Just pick up the phone and connect — don’t just rely on texting. with your friends. When you’re in a highly stressed state it is tempting to isolate yourself but that will make your stress worse.
If you find your stress continues at all time high levels, talk with your doctor or a professional.
