Comments on: 20 Questions Away From Your Best Client Ever! http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html Business-Building Secrets for Growth-Obsessed Companies Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:09:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Lara http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html#comment-2114 Lara Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:15:22 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html#comment-2114 Thank you Julie - terrific advice! Thank you Julie - terrific advice!

]]> By: Julie McManus http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html#comment-2111 Julie McManus Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:55:04 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html#comment-2111 It is a good question... but I'm not sure you'll like the answer.  When I first started working for myself, I took on many clients that caused me heartache because of the reasons I shared.  And I kid you not when I say firing a client is one of the most difficult desicions you'll make.  Simply because it's hard to turn down income and we often have personal and friendly relationships with the people we work for, but in the end you have to determine how much opportunity you're losing by working for a difficult client.  Many of my first clients had 3 or 4 of the 7 traits going for them, but then were severly lacking in the others.  So a company could have a huge marketing budget, but wasn't willing to provide the resources that were needed.  Or on the flip side, they were eager but didn't have the budget to sustain efforts that would lose money initially.  Then I've also been in the situation where the client just didn't have the technology in place to accomplish what we set out to do.  So, with that said it's easy to find clients that possess some of the 7 traits.  But hard to find those that possess all 7... but they can be found.  In my experience small to mid size companies where the owner takes a very active role in the businesss (and makes him or herself easily accessible to you) present the best opportunity. It is especially beneficial if your key company contact is the owner.  Don't give up trying to find them, but also take some clients that don't possess all 7... but know which of the 7 they're lacking before going into the relationship.  By asking the right questions, you can determine what not so great traits you can live with.  And frankly you learn what works for you by doing.  Hope that helps and keep the questions coming. Julie It is a good question… but I’m not sure you’ll like the answer.  When I first started working for myself, I took on many clients that caused me heartache because of the reasons I shared.  And I kid you not when I say firing a client is one of the most difficult desicions you’ll make.  Simply because it’s hard to turn down income and we often have personal and friendly relationships with the people we work for, but in the end you have to determine how much opportunity you’re losing by working for a difficult client.  Many of my first clients had 3 or 4 of the 7 traits going for them, but then were severly lacking in the others.  So a company could have a huge marketing budget, but wasn’t willing to provide the resources that were needed.  Or on the flip side, they were eager but didn’t have the budget to sustain efforts that would lose money initially.  Then I’ve also been in the situation where the client just didn’t have the technology in place to accomplish what we set out to do.  So, with that said it’s easy to find clients that possess some of the 7 traits.  But hard to find those that possess all 7… but they can be found.  In my experience small to mid size companies where the owner takes a very active role in the businesss (and makes him or herself easily accessible to you) present the best opportunity. It is especially beneficial if your key company contact is the owner.  Don’t give up trying to find them, but also take some clients that don’t possess all 7… but know which of the 7 they’re lacking before going into the relationship.  By asking the right questions, you can determine what not so great traits you can live with.  And frankly you learn what works for you by doing. 
Hope that helps and keep the questions coming.

Julie

]]> By: Lara http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html#comment-2106 Lara Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:24:16 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html#comment-2106 John asks an excellent question, thank you. This is my biggest stumbling block currently - finding clients who pay and understand the value of marketing.I think with more articles like this and more legwork on my end, I will find them. Thanks for sharing Julie! John asks an excellent question, thank you. This is my biggest stumbling block currently - finding clients who pay and understand the value of marketing.I think with more articles like this and more legwork on my end, I will find them. Thanks for sharing Julie!

]]> By: John Scola http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html#comment-2103 John Scola Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:27:29 +0000 http://www.makepeacetotalpackage.com/julie-mcmanus/20-questions-away-from-your-best-client-ever.html#comment-2103 <strong>Are the Best Clients Rare?</strong> Julie, Based off of your experience, what percentage of businesses have you declined to take on because of the reasons you stated above? Thanks, John Are the Best Clients Rare?

Julie,

Based off of your experience, what percentage of businesses have you declined to take on because of the reasons you stated above?

Thanks,

John

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