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NB: This newsletter is published every Monday. Point your browser to www.tayosolagbade.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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IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS newsletter is published online on the “reincarnated” version of my Self-Development (SD) Nuggets blog. I continue to put finishing touches to the content. If you encounter ANY bad/dead links, and you can spare the time, email them to me via tayo at tksola dot com. Thanks in advance
No. 180: 3 Key Strategies for Making Clients Want to Hear From You
We all have people we LOVE taking phone calls from, getting emails from, or even having visit us. Typically, they command our ready attention and interest because they make us feel good. I explain how to make yourself that kind of person.
To put it the Science of Getting Rich (SOGR) way: they are advancing personalities who create the impression of increase in our minds, by leaving us “feeling” better off EVERY TIME than they meet us.
I outline below, 3 key strategies for making people want to have you around…digitally or in person…be it in your personal or work life.
a. Provide people useful information and education:
This works like magic.
Done right, it will make people choose to signup for your newsletter, join your mailing list, LIKE your Facebook fan page, add you on Google plus, follow you on Twitter, subscribe to your Youtube channel etc.
Anything to stay connected with the good stuff you churn out!
As an expert in your field, article marketing via blogging is a very effective way to do this. You can take it a step further by publishing special reports, books and other information products.
b. Provide solutions to people’s problems:
This is what Americans call a “no-brainer”.
We all love being around people who know how to solve problems. The guy or gal who often has the answers. Now, imagine that YOU become that kind of person, as an expert in your field. So much so that apart from clients, even your professional colleagues seek you out for help?
Yes, it is possible to be that way, and if you can develop yourself enough, it will make others LOVE having you around, and/or calling them.
The late Herman Holtz was referred to as the Consultant’s Consultant – because he epitomized the above.
Another person who perfectly fits the above mould is Burt Dubin. His tagline reads…
“Burt Dubin works with people who want to be speakers and with speakers who wants to be masters.”
Do YOU want to be a speaker or master? Click here to learn more about how Burt can help you.
C. Be considerate – better still, be emotionally intelligent, in dealing with people: Go the extra mile to help them
I consider this the most important strategy – because too few people do it today. So anyone who does it will readily stand out, and get LOVED for it. I know this because I enjoy that benefit.
Too many times I see the service provider, vendor or business owner who fails to put the interests of his/her target audience into consideration, in taking decisions about how to operate.
I learnt a long time ago, well before I became self-employed, to proactively investigate and identify potential obstacles that those I “served” could come up against.
Due to my versatility and quick learning ability, I seldom encountered problems in getting my work done that stumped me. But that was not the case for many of those I had to work with – in my department as well as other parts of the brewery.
However, I had been trained to always see the big picture, and I knew that if I did well and others did not, the company would not do as well as it could.
So, rather than leave others to deal with issues that cropped up on their end alone, I actively went out of my way to put my multiple skills and knowledge at the disposal of others (often surprising many who knew they would have done the opposite!), till they succeeded.
Over time, my demonstrated attitude won me extensive goodwill that led to repeated career advancing cross departmental secondments.
Example 2: Today, as an entrepreneur, I constantly think up ways to help clients save money, time, effort and resources in achieving their goals.
For instance, earlier today, I exchanged text messages with, and later called Abdul, a Kano based client, who has purchased several solutions from me, over the past 5 years.
I’m currently developing a Web Marketing System (WMS) for his agro-consulting outfit. When he asked about the DVD I’d promised to send with a copy of the Poultry Farm Manager software he’d taken up via last December’s promo offer, I wrote back as follows:
“…Like I told you, I want to record tutorial videos for your webmaster on how to update the website & blog contents. To enable you watch the videos offline, I want to add the videos and PDF webmaster guide to the DVD along with all the Poultry Farm Manager files. That way, you make the most of the payment you made…”
The client readily expressed his appreciation for this option I’d adopted, saying it would save them having to stay connected (and paying for connectivity) to watch the videos online.
You will agree with me that I did not have to do any of that.
Indeed, I know many IT service providers do not even bother creating ANY video or PDF guides of any sort for their clients to study – talk less of trying to save them money in using such resources.
Yet, my experiences as an entrepreneur have proven that when a client sees that you consistently going out of your way to help him/her do better, s/he will LOVE having you around (by giving you repeat business) – and will tell others about you.
Example 3: Most of my clients, and even my subscribers, yet to buy from me, readily take my calls and respond to my emails.
I’ve met VERY few of them in person over the years, but many have both my Nigerian and Benin Republic numbers stored on their phones, so that when I call, and try to introduce myself, I’ve been surprised to have them say “Yes, I know it’s you, Mr. Solagbade.”
In the last 2 months, I’ve been sending out FREE copies of some of my information products to my subscribers – personalized with their names on each.
I tell them it’s my way of thanking them for considering worthy of access to their inboxes. And for those who bought from me, or referred buyers, I gave gifts of my software etc.
I ask NOTHING from my clients when I do the above…
Since I already send them articles at zero cost, via email, it becomes obvious that I’m giving A LOT away, providing them very little, if at all ANY excuse, to NOT want to stick around on my mailing list, or want to hear from me.
It may seem to be no big deal, but people notice your efforts, when you act as described above, and if asked WILL gladly tell others about you
I say this from personal experience.
For instance, In case you’ve not heard him, or read his testimonial, my demonstrated attitude in this regard is what made a Clinical Audiologist client say the following in an impromptu video testimonial I recorded in his office last December (2014):
“(Tayo Solagbade) is somebody that when you enter into conversation with him, you ke(ep) on talking without having to end it. He’s good. Good.” -. Simeon O. Afolabi, Clinical Audiologist, BSA Hearing & Speech Centre, Lagos/Abuja – Nigeria Click here to read the full testimonial transcript or watch the video
Final Words: It goes without saying, of course, that there will be exceptions to the above…
Some clients, no matter what you do, will never appreciate your efforts.
It’s just the way the world is.
My advice, however, from extensive experience handling quite a number is: WALK AWAY before they drain you dry, of the enthusiasm you need to serve those who will value it!
If you need help putting the ideas shared above to use, let me know HERE.
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Learn about Burt Dubin’s speaker mentoring products (books, audios etc) below…
If you need help purchasing ANY of Burt’s products (like “Presentation Magic”), call me on +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic, my base) or +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or email tayo@tksola.com
Have a great week :-))
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