Regardless of what type of business you own, you deal with clients. Maybe not directly, but they somehow filter up (or down) to you at different times. Clients are important and nowadays it’s especially important to take good care of them. That’s exactly why I don’t accept every client interested in working with me.
First, let me clarify – I don’t make this statement with any self-righteous intent. I proclaim it because I care about the success of my clients and every prospect client who comes to me.
Every new client is gaged purposefully – are they a good fit for the business, do personalities match and is their success guaranteed? To me, it can make the difference of having a delightful working relationship or the possibility of ending on difficult terms.
For the Business
My business offers a wide range of services from copywriting to web design to social media marketing and management. But that does not mean we are capable of handling every client who comes to us. Perhaps the prospect client is too big or does not want to spend the money necessary to achieve their goals – these circumstances are fair game for declining an offer. There are only so many hours in the day and everyone has bills to pay.
Personalities
It is important to get a feel for the person you will be working with. Are they open? How do they communicate? Are they business-oriented? Do they seem straightforward? For my business, it is important that real relationships are made with our clients and sometimes that means saying no to working with a difficult one. A difficult client can be anything from someone who has a defensive/tough personality or who is interested in making unethical decisions to reach their goal. I’ve had social media prospects want the quick fix by buying followers or purchasing lists and audiences. And I politely declined, this is not what my business is about.
Success
I pride my business on not just being a single digital solution for small business owners, but also being a resource for small business owners. If a client comes to me looking for services I do not provide or cannot adequately provide, then I am honored to refer them to someone who can. Over the years, I have been blessed to get to know many professionals I feel confident recommending.
While making money and paying the bills is very important, I am thankful to have reached a place with the business where I can be discerning about who I work with. It is crucial for the happiness of the work week and the prosperity of the business. Don’t be afraid to say no, sometimes it’s the best answer.
Now it’s your turn! Do you agree or disagree?