No matter how much you try to please some customers, at the end of the day, they might leave you. Don't take this personally. There are so many reasons why they might not see the value in what you are doing for them. Chances are that you are actually spending more time and energy on them than they pay for. Below you will find a few reasons why customer relationships break down.
You Did Not Qualify Your Leads
One of the things we tell our new sales funnel clients is to ensure that they qualify their leads. If they don't, they will end up causing more trouble than joy. You have to create a strict criteria for your leads, and only invest as much time as they are worth. You don't want to be busy with meetings that lead nowhere or make you do extra for no extra money. For example, I just had a chat with a business coach yesterday and we agreed that one of the warning signs is the client starting to negotiate your price before they would know what you offer. Do yourself a favour and walk away as soon as you can.
They Are Not Your Ideal Clients
If you are not clear about whi your ideal clients are, you will never get to where you want to be in your business. You have to ensure that you don't end up in a bad relationship. Before you would start dating someone, you will make sure that they tick all the boxes, or it will end in tears. The same applies to enrolling new clients.
They Have Unrealistic Expectations
Before you take on a new clients, you will have to have a clear idea about their expectations. Are they realistic about their goals? Are they willing to share information with you, or are they looking for the easy button and the cheapest price?
The Communication Channels Are Blocked
Once you take on a new client, you will need to encourate communication. However, soemtimes clients neglect their responsibilities, and this leads to all sorts of problems. When this happens in our business, and clients go silent or cancel meetings, claiming that they are "too busty", we know that there is an issue. They are not stepping up their game, and not sharing their insights; in other words; they are not letting us help them.
You Didn't Focus Enough On Transparency
New businesses are so keen on closing a new client that they forget to communicate the timeline, the cost, the expected results, etc. This can lead to misunderstanding. It is better to underpromise and overdeliver than the other way around.
What is the main reason for losing clients in your business? Is it the lack of qualification or communication? Share your insights below.
Supporting small and medium sized businesses in the North West to make the most out of their online marketing.
