Monday, September 24, 2007

Ask Early and Often

By Daniel Flamberg Too many of us are reluctant to really engage our clients. Fearful that clients are demanding, needy, mercurial, edgy and under enough management pressure that they could snap at any moment we forget that they actually hired us, use our products and services and generally have ideas about what’s good, bad or ugly. My Granny always said, “If you don’t ask you don’t get.” So now you are officially on notice — ask your clients what they think and how you can do better. You’ll be surprised at what brand loyalists and advocates the people who break your balls each day actually can be. After the initial sale, which often requires the imprimatur of an economic buyer, the day-to-day users and technical buyers drive the bus. Working with you they determine the need for add-ons and upsells much more than any salesperson ever will. In many cases your client power users know your product or your system as well or better than you do. Its an insight and a perspective you are not ignore because they generally can cue you about the next product or service needed and can objectively see, beyond your internal politics, who should do what to whom. Clients also care more than you think. Once they are working with you happily, they are invested in your success since your failure means they’ll have to explain, change, scramble and adjust; things everyone hates to do. Ask them how they’d position, message or sell your product or service. Ask them how they made the buying decision. Ask them how they do on-going competitive assessments and evaluations. Ask them if the value you think you are providing is the value they are receiving. Sometimes this alternate perspective is enough to rock your world. Then ask them if they’d like to talk with other clients and peers. Almost every client is dying to know how other non-competitive buyers are using your stuff. There’s a ton of practical things your clients can learn from each other and in some cases your clients sell your product or service sets to each other faster and easier than you can because they share common interests, needs and processes. So don’t be bashful or reticent with your clients. Ask them early and often. Don’t be thin-skinned or defensive. They are eager to tell you. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Flamberg http://EzineArticles.com/?Ask-Early-and-Often&id=507684 phentermine no prescription us phentermine 30mg no prescription order phentermine without prescription buy phentermine cheap 37.5 mg no doctor contact no rx
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