Publication: Tayo Solagbade’s Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Page (PSIP) Newsletter
Date: Monday 1st July 2013
No:96
Title: Amaze Clients By Being Extraordinary!
Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [234-803-302-1263]
Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog
Archive (For E-mail only version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view
Archive (For Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here
Hi,
Please find below the latest issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter.
10 Fruits You Eat That Leave Useful Peels/Skins Behind (FREE PDF DOWNLOAD)
E-mail your name, country, mobile number, occupation, & facebook/twitter URLs (if any) to tayo at tksola dot com, and I’ll send you a FREE copy of my detailed PDF report titled “10 Fruits You Eat That Leave Useful Peels/Skins Behind.”
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO LEARN…
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No. 96: Amaze Clients By Being Extraordinary!
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NB: If you ever find yourself wondering what else I’ve written, some days after you’ve read THIS Speaking Ideas newsletter I send out on a Monday, here’s what you can do to find out: Point your browser to www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule
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What you’re about to read is a simple – but very effective – formula for impressing people who pay for your services.
People who do extraordinary things often get called “amazing”. If YOU can learn how to habitually deliver extraordinary results, clients will call YOU amazing! It’s that simple.
This issue of my speaking IDEAS newsletter describes a 3-part strategy you can use to achieve that goal.
1. First Agree a Scope of Work Using a FRS
In carrying out projects for clients, always agree a scope of work to guide you. This is always a good thing to do.
It gives a clear idea of what the client has paid for, and when it is to be delivered. That way, you avoid the uncomfortable situation, in which extra UN-PAID work, outside what was originally agreed, gets added to your schedule (i.e scope creep).
I learnt from painful experience never to leave that aspect untreated. As a result, today, most projects I work on for clients are based on a Functional Requirements Specification (FRS) document.
That instrument provides the formal basis, on which the client is to assess the final work I deliver.
And I found that clients who engage me often align their expectations to what we sign off on the FRS.
They rarely expect anything beyond what is on that signed document. And they also often accept that the job will be finished within the duration specified e.g. 20 working days.
2. Then Use The FRS as a Guide to Over-Deliver (3 Tips)
Now, the above state of mind YOU get the client into, is what eventually provides YOU with a unique opportunity to impress him/her. You just need to look carefully for those viable aspects to explore.
Here’s what I mean…
In the FRS, the delivery duration and specific deliverables (tasks to be accomplished) are outlined. As each one is delivered, the client is able to verify and tick it off.
Opportunity A: Firstly, what if you deliberately worked to deliver the finished work 5 working days earlier?
And I mean, the finished job – free from errors or defects that could cast doubt on your work quality.
Wouldn’t that be a pleasant surprise for the client? Quite likely!
Opportunity B: Secondly, what if you also threw in one or two extra services s/he knows would have cost a handsome sum, as a bonus – FREE?
Imagine you did this without saying you would. In other words, let it come as another pleasant surprise benefit to the client – who was not expecting it.
This would be a client who was already happy with what s/he was getting for the money s/he paid YOU.
Judging from my experiences, that bonus is like to make her feel even better about choosing YOU over any other person s/he may have considered.
Should the need to do so arise in future, it’s likely she’ll want to choose you, to feel that way again!
Opportunity C: Thirdly, what if in implementing tasks on the FRS, you went an extra mile for each one?
For instance, as Burt Dubin recommends to experts-who-speaker, after doing your normal program, you offer to do a FREE breakout session at no extra charge?
Or as a writer, instead of ten 700 word articles paid for by the client, you wrote twelve – and let her have the extra two write-ups at no extra charge? Plus, you made sure the articles you wrote were so good, that s/he could not help calling to say:
“Wow, they were all so beautifully written! I honestly cannot thank you enough. You’ve really exceeded my expectations. God bless you!!”
Wouldn’t that be a great feeling to have…in addition to that which would have come from getting paid your desired fees?
It certainly would!
I’ve had that experience more times than I can count. And I know it’s a great way to do what one loves.
Indeed, I’ve already had that experience many times since arriving here in Benin Republic 3 months ago.
Here’s an example in form of a real email compliment from a web marketing client in Cotonou:
3. Make Sure You Have the Competence to Over-Deliver In A Manner That Attracts Such Feedback!
To elicit such extremely positive reactions from clients, you must FIRST be really good at what you do.
The question therefore to ask is: “Are you that good right now?”
If you’re not, please DO NOT try to over-deliver for now. Instead, start working to improve yourself.
There’s a saying that “one must learn to crawl first, before trying to walk”. I recommend you do that…unless you don’t mind making yourself look like an ass
Then again, some people actually learn how to be amazing that way too. It just happens to be more painful!
But if you are already reliably proficient at what you do, you can get started using this strategy I’ve described. Creatively develop variants to suit the way you work, or the people you serve.
Final Words: Be Consistent, and You Will Be Rewarded
This is a strategy I use with clients I serve, in my different areas of expertise e.g. Web Marketing Systems Development, Freelance Writing, Spreadsheet Solutions Development etc.
I developed my ideas mainly by studying and adapting advice provided by Burt Dubin in his writing, to suit my needs.
Burt used basically the same strategy, to rise from zero to success in real estate, sales/sales management, public speaking, and mentoring.
That’s why he strongly recommends delighting one’s clients in a similar manner i.e. by delivering incomparable performances, and unexpected extras.
Keep your fees intact. But give more than anyone who does what you do would in their right minds.
Do that consistently, and sooner than later, they are bound to call you AMAZING!
Need More Details of How to Make The Above Ideas Work for YOU?
If you need more specific details of how to make use of the ideas I’ve shared in this newsletter, send me a message using this request form – with “Re: Amaze Clients By Being Extraordinary!” in the subject line.
SD Nuggets Blog™
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New posts from last week that may interest you! * |
Public Speaking
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Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:
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Self-Development [Wednesday]: |
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Career Development [Thursday]:
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Parenting [Friday]:
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Writing/Blogging [Saturday]: |
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Have a lovely week!
Tayo K. Solagbade*
Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist
*Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa
Mobile: 234-803-302-1263
http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com
Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a multipreneurial freelance writer providing zero risk article and report writing support for website owners, while travelling slowly across West Africa as a Location Independent Entrepreneur.
He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide.
In a previous life, before leaving to become self-employed, Tayo served for seven years as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer, to Training & Technical Development Manager, then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.
When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Self-Development Nuggets™ blog, and Public Speaking IDEAS newsletter (which he publishes to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).
For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more.
Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.
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Have you been undecided about whether or not to become a paid speaker? Or have you been trying to get your speaking career off the ground with little success?
Here’s a tip: Burt Dubin works with people who want to be speakers, and with speakers who want to be masters. Click here to visit his website NOW and submit a contact form message telling him what challenges you’re facing, and how you’d like him to help you. Tell him I sent you, and you’ll get a pleasant surprise offer from him.
Comments?
What do you think of the above message? Do you have any personal experience to share on this subject? Are there some other points you feel can be added, to help persons looking for answers? Please share your thoughts!
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You can choose to purchase Burt’s mentoring at any of the three (3) levels listed below:
Burt’s three mentoring packages can be likened to the seating options offered by airlines: Budget Delight (Economy); Mid Range (Business); and Top Shelf (First Class).
At least that’s how I like to think of them!
All three will get you to your desired destination of “speaking success-ville” – so long as you meet the requirements/play your part well (your fare, abide by the set guidelines etc). During the “flight”, the seat you have will determine how much personal service attention and preference the provider will accord you. It’s that simple
So, make your choice:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]
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