There is a reason why a lot of online marketers will tell you to learn who your ideal customer is. Ever try to find a needle in a haystack? It’s not easy pickings.
However, if you narrow down your customer base, it might make it just a bit easier to reach that customer. You will have a better idea of their likes/dislikes, personality, or buying habits. This you can use to your advantage when marketing.
When you are marketing to everyone you are marketing to no one.
~Says all marketers everywhere.
When first starting out though, some new businesses may not immediately know who their ideal customer is. And if you don’t recognize this early on, you could end up wasting a lot of time and energy on people who are not a perfect fit.
In the Virtual Assistant world the same is true about knowing your ideal clients. The problem is that most VAs start out with a ‘general’ business model before narrowing down to their niche.
There are positives and negatives to this approach. But sticking with the current topic, how do you know when a client is not a fit for your business?
Well when you don’t know who your ideal customer is, you can still tell when there are some customers who are just not a good fit for your business. Here are some examples of a few of those.
These individual behaviors and initial interactions are the perfect examples of people who are NEVER your ideal client.
Run (far) away from these types of clients
Treat your service-based business like a product-based business
There are some clients who feel like if they remove 1 service from your package, that there should be some type of dramatic price drop in your offering.
But what about the price of value? What about the cost for experience? What about your track record of proven results?
These aren’t necessarily things that we can list as a line item when delivering a service package, but these are included when a client purchases from us.
When a client starts trying to remove items from your package offerings in order to meet their budget, do some reflection before you agree to the changes.
- Ask yourself if the client is making a reasonable request.
- Do an evaluation of your service packages.
- Are multiple clients asking for the same changes? If yes, think about creating a new package offering with fewer services included. — Ensure that the new package still provides value and sufficient income for the time that you will spend on the project.
Sometimes the clients may be making a reasonable request. But if a client constantly does this before you have a signed contract, imagine what it’s going to be like when they become a paying customer.
Spend unearned time
These clients are the ones that want to go back and forth with you about your rates, want additional work for no added cost, or need to check in constantly (whether by multiple phone calls or email requests).
When time is money, stop wasting it with price hagglers, micro-managers, and energy drainers.
Time should be considered currency in service based businesses. If people are spending your time, they are costing you money. Either they pay for your time or you stop giving it away for free.
If there are people who always want to ‘pick your brain’, you should consider adding consulting to your list of services. For those who want additional work that wasn’t included in the original contract, create a contract amendment and forward it to your client with the additional tasks (only if they are unreasonable) and charges.
Treat you like an employee versus a business
Some clients want to tell you when you can and cannot work, when you can take time off, or how you should be spending your day. These types of clients are looking for an employee and not a business entity.
Unless this client is paying your taxes, providing medical insurance, and setting you up with a 401K, they don’t have the authority to do any of it.
In your business, make sure you are treated like the CEO and not an employee. Mutual respect should be given between client and contractor. Set boundaries early, so that clients aren’t confused about your business relationship.
If they want to be able to control your schedule and your day-to-day, they should provide you with a W2 versus a 1099.
Makes everything an emergency
With these clients, the building is always on fire.
If you like high-stress, constant panic situations, then by all means, this could be your perfect client.
But, if constant chaos is not your thing, steer clear of these types of clients or if you miss the signs in the beginning, do not renew their contract. Just tell them it’s not you, it’s me.
Find your ideal client/customer
Instead of working with all these different ranges of clients, take the time to figure out who your ideal client is. In the beginning, as you are learning more about who you are and which services you prefer to work on, make note of the things that excite you and the types of clients that you would love to work with.
At some point, I am going to take my own advice and niche even further down than I am today. But, in the process I will try my best to stay clear of these types of client. I don’t want those types of client experiences to scare me away from continuing to build this business and share my skills with those that need me.
One thing I do know for sure is that my ideal client is one who understands what I bring to the table, including my creativity, experience, and work ethic. If you think that’s you, set up your FREE Discovery Call today!!
Your VA – Virtual Asset @ Outsource Mondays