While some new business owners face the issue of not enough customers, others face the issue of too many customers/clients. Both are serious issues and must be dealt with carefully. There are many lists on how to find new customers/clients. Here is a list of 10 ways to deal with a rapid influx of new customers. The goal is a steady flow of just the right customers/clients.
1. Know the customer/client that is right for your business.
Get really clear about your ideal client or customer so you can be selective when there are too many business opportunities and you do not have time to accept them all.
2. Have a specialty that you are known for.
Specialize so that you get really good at what you are doing. You can then service more customers/clients quickly.
3. Eliminate clients who drain you.
If a client/customer takes too much of your time, that client/customer is costing you money. Look for ways to predict who will be a time-consuming customer/ client and avoid them. Find ways to eliminate those customers/clients.
4. Create systems to support you.
Examples are: a good business development system* that provides you with the customers or clients you need, a good bookkeeping system to keep track of expenses and revenue, a customer/client tracking system with a database of customers/clients names, addresses, and other useful information. *Even though it may seem like you have too many customers at the moment, that flow will stop unless you keep marketing.
5. Off load routine tasks to others.
What are the repetitive tasks you hate to do but which you know are necessary to run your business? Many administrative tasks are easily taught to a support person and by doing so you make more time in your day to see customers/clients.
6. Leave time in your day for reflection and self-care.
Doing the tasks of the business is of course necessary. Many get so focused on their task lists that they never have time to take a strategic look at the business. Putting aside time every week helps you to find more ways to work with the customers/clients you want to. Leave some time too for taking care of you. This means making time for doctor's appointments, hair care, massage therapy, exercise, meditation and anything else that provides for your health and well being.
7. Set firm boundaries.
Don't allow a client/customer to play on your sympathies and convince you to do something you know you should refuse (i.e. too time consuming, not your specialty and/or for free). Doing favors for others is not a favor to you!
8. Raise fees.
If all the clients/customers coming to you are your ideal clients/customers then it is time to raise fees/prices. This will sort the clients/customer that are willing to pay more for your services and those who are not. Revisit your fee/price structure at least once a year.
9. Refer to others.
When clients/customers are not your ideal clients/customers or when your ideal clients/customers cannot afford your fee, have a list of other business owners to whom you can refer.
10. Hire someone to help you do the work.
Once you have off loaded all the repetitive tasks it may become necessary to hire another worker who does the work that you do to work with you.
Alvah Parker is a Business and Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. Parker's Value Program© enables her clients to find their own way to work that is more fulfilling and profitable. Her clients are managers, business owners, sole practioners, attorneys and people in transition. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com. She may also be reached at 781-598-0388.
Copyright © 2004 all rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce in its entirety including copyright and contact information.
RELATED ARTICLES:
My 7 Most Important Business Lessons Millions of people start new small businesses in the United States every day. Many fail at running a small business every day. Ten Steps To Better Listening Talking is the least important half of any conversation. Listening is the real skill. Shaking Your Money Tree: Seven Ways to Make Quick Cash Does your business have a money tree you can shake when a little extra cash is needed? Every business should have one! What I mean by a money tree is something you can do to quickly generate revenue when you need it. Where can you find a money tree? Although you can't buy one at your local garden store, they are more common than you might imagine. Are You a Project Manager Or a Project Mangler? Which one are you? An effective IT project manager, able to deliver software on time, according to specs, and within budget, or someone referred to by your peers as a project mangler? Find out with these Top 10 Signs You're a Project Mangler.10. Brainstorming! The Key To Wealth Advertising executive Alex F. Osborne first coined the word "brainstorming" in the early 1940's. How To Finally Unlock Your True Potential And Discover The Secret To Lasting Success Did you know that there is one critical difference between average businesses and super-successful businesses? Many of the success experts who are quoted time and time again refer to this one common characteristic as the big differentiator between being mediocre and actually unlocking your true potential. Take a look at the following popular quotes and see if you can identify the common thread that ties them all together. The Top Ten Qualities that Allow Business Operations to Grow Easily My husband and I were enjoying our dinner meal one evening while discussing various plans and ideas. I was sharing that I wanted to submit articles and ads to a huge number of ezines to market my eProgram in a big way, and I wanted his help to make this happen. How to Apply the 12 Steps for Managment Conflict and Resolution 1. Admit there is a problem. Entrepreneurs - 7 Business Mistakes You Must Avoid Many mistakes can be made in business and if you are able to avoid some of them by reading and taking note of these warnings, then the time taken to put these together will be worth while. Here are some business mistakes that are common to many entrepreneurs. Seven Keys to Get Out of a Rut Rut -- a routine procedure, situation, or way of life that has become uninteresting and tiresome.. Sales Marketing: 10 Tips On How To Promote Yourself And Generate Sales A lot of people are insecure about buying something or doing business with strangers. To make people feel comfortable to buy from you or do business with you, give them a little information about yourself or business. 7 Tips To Increase The Success Of Your Online Business 1. Outsource what takes you too long to do? When you don't have time to do something, you either don't do it, or do it faster and make mistakes. The Top Ten Ways to Attract Buyers, Not Just Visitors to your Web Site Have you put a lot of effort, time, and money into your site and are frustrated with low sales? If you are like many professionals out there, you know your subject; you are excellent at your craft. You have a great service and maybe a great product to sell. Managing Your Major Sales - 7 Steps That Could Change The Way You Pursue Business Ever lost a sale you thought was in the bag? Not an unfamiliar feeling for many businesses large and small. No matter how good you think your product or service is, everything finally boils down to your ability to convince others that it is good for them. The Benefits Of Helping An Online Business Newbie Do your remember when you first ventured out in the online business world? You probably had questions and problems along the way. Wouldn't it have been easier if you had help? When a newbie asks for your advice, educate them; answer their questions and help them solve their online business problems. Top 10 Items to Review & Build Your Business Now! In building and runnng an independent private practice or small business, there are many items that need to be monitored closely and should be reviewed periodically. Year-end is a traditional time do this, and this week's Letter is a "Top Ten" of items to review as the year draws to a close, or whenever you decide to pause, reflect, take stock and re-assess. How To Use The Power Of Focus To Build Massive Momentum In Your Business Getting focused on what you want to achieve and creating an action plan for making it happen are critical skills for you to master. As bestselling author Napoleon Hill once said, "Every well-built house started with a definite plan in the form of blueprints. 7 Reasons You Want Referral Business and How to Get Them Studies have proven that there is one reason why people don't do more referral business: they don't ask. There are two reasons why, they forget or they don't have a strong enough relationship with their clients, so they don't feel comfortable The truth is every professional should strive to have all of their business be referral because the benefits of referral business are undeniable and extensive. Management, Balance & Time - 10 Tips for Managing Overwhelm in your Business How many of us have been in a position where we have more to do than can realistically fit into one day, or week. So we spend all of our time feeling rushed, being rushed, and wondering how on earth we are going to manage. 7 Reasons Why Training Doesn't Produce the Desired Results and What You Can Do To Seven Reasons Why Training Doesn't Produce the Desired Results and What You Can Do To Improve Your Results OverviewAbraham Maslow said, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." As managers, leaders and change agents, we want to improve our organizational performance. |
Akron City Directory
www.AccessFreedom.Does.It
www.Akron.Has.It
www.NoGas.Drives.It
|
auction news and listings for Akron, Ohio Akron crafts and hobby news center Advertising and promotions Akron, Ohio The Akron blogging news center Akron Ohio web site design news Akron Mortgaging and refinancing Best Home Remedies and do it yourself tips
|
|
HOME |
SITE MAP
© 2012 - 2024 All Rights Reserved |
||