Let’s be real about this, to have a successful business, you need to have clients — so why not make it your goal to attract the ideal client? Clients, like everyone else in your life, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some are great to work with, others, well, not so much. Those “less than ideal” clients can cost you time and money, not to mention a healthy chunk of your sanity. So rather than struggling to ‘fit a square peg in a round hole’, it makes much more sense to focus your marketing efforts on attracting clients who will allow you to do your best work and for whom you can create the best results.Here are four easy steps to attract the ideal client:
Step One: Know What You’re Looking For
It’s easy enough to know that you want the “ideal client” for your business. But before you can attract the ideal client, you need to have a clear idea of who this individual is. You can’t effectively market to everyone, so you need to narrow down to the characteristics of ONE specific individual so you can cater your solutions to solving specific problems s/he is facing.
Step Two: Know What EXACTLY You Can Do For Them
There’s a no-fail formula for success: Doing what you love to do while you meet your clients’ wants and needs in a way that solves their pressing problems. In my opinion, you should want to focus on using your talents to make a difference in the lives of your clients. At the end of the day, what is it you can really do for them? Why should your clients choose to work with YOU? Once you’re clear on this, be sure to communicate this in your marketing materials and in conversations with prospective clients.
Step Three: Know Where They Hang Out
Aim to connect strategically with your clients online and offline. The goal is to develop a relationship that leads to trust and connection, where you get to know their needs and how best to meet them. The more connected you are, the easier it is to offer the solutions your clients need. It’s all about becoming the “go-to” resource your prospects and existing customers know and trust. You want to be “top of mind” when your prospects are ready to engage the services you have to offer.
Step Four: Make It Easy For Them To Say Yes
It’s important to package your solutions in a way that your clients and prospects will find appealing. This means offering different choices, price points and payment options so they can choose a solution that best fits their needs. Make it easy for them to say “yes” and they will!
Every business has unique criteria as to who is an ideal client. It’s important part that you set aside time to clarify the details of YOUR ideal client profile. You can’t and shouldn’t market your services to everyone. So, narrow down your target market to a single ideal individual and customize your marketing to that ONE person. You’ll wind up with more than enough clients to fill your schedule and you’ll likely find a tremendous amount of satisfaction through using your gifts and talents to make a difference in other people’s lives.
What do you think?