There’s no better way to get over a business disappoint or mistake than to learn, move on, and go after the next big thing. There’s nothing that leads to downfall of a potential business deal than giving up and in turn being forgotten. If there’s a perception out there, you have potential to rewrite it. If there isn’t one, then your efforts have been for nothing. So here, we’ll look at how you to connect with new clients and ensure you’re not forgotten by existing clients.
Have a Strong Presence
When approaching clients, it’s always good to have some kind of reputation preceding you. People look on established names with a lot less scrutiny than unknowns. That’s true even if they’ve never dealt directly with you before. So, how do you make sure you have some presence before you make the connection? It’s all about visibility. Be sure to attend conferences, trade shows in your industry, and networking events. Meet some people. Pass out some business cards. Make sure that your website is updated and add it to your business cards. Network with others in your niche. As a small business owner, you need to be ferocious in reaching out. And you need to have confidence when you do.
Know Your Business
When you head out to a networking event or client meeting be prepared. Have your elevator pitch ready. If you are not used to public speaking, get some practice. Prepare a presentation that identifies answers to questions that they may ask. However, you don’t want to read from cue cards, and you don’t want to sound rehearsed. You should know your business well enough to wing it if you have to. Only use the slides as a guide. Also, have some questions of your own for your clients so that you can understand their needs. The goal is to sound like you are an expert at your craft.
Make Your Business Sound Professional
It’s an unfortunate truth that new and small businesses are going to have a problem getting the kind of impact they want. One of the reasons is that many think they have to be totally honest about the inner-workings of the business with their clients. It’s not necessarily true. All they need to know is what you can offer and that you can reliably offer it. So don’t be afraid to offer a little embellishment here and there. For example, if you run your business from your home, your customers don’t need to know that. For mailings and contracts, you can use a professional business address from a service like https://www.yourvirtualofficelondon.co.uk/london-mail-address-business-services/mail-forwarding-london/. It adds validity. You might not want customers to know your home address anyway.
Be Sure to Follow up
Once you’ve had your meeting with them, you need to strike while the iron is hot. Always follow up. However, you don’t want to be overbearing and demanding. If they catch a whiff of desperation, it can nix the deal. Just send an email thanking them for meeting with you that includes a summary of your meeting. Ask them to get back to you if they have any questions, or they wish to move forward. Add some links to your website that contain relevant information. Check out more tips on http://www.thedesigntrust.co.uk/15-creative-ideas-to-follow-up-successfully-without-making-a-nuisance-of-yourself/.
Don’t Give Up
It’s easy to get a bit down when things are not going your way, or if deals are falling through. But, don’t let that discourage you. You have to learn from your mistakes, figure out what you need to do differently, and try again. Keep a goals list. Put things that you want to strive for or get better at. Keep it moving.
Image is important, but don’t forget that you need to be able to back it up with action. Being ignored is bad, but being preceded by a bad reputation can destroy a business. Walk the walk as well as talking the talk. This is a lesson that we all need remember.
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