Tweet

How to Find Clients Who are Tailor-Made for You

Written by: Tracy Needham

Article Overview: Clients come in all varieties and sizes--but most are not a good fit for you. Finding the ones who fit like a glove will make your small business more fun and more profitable. Here's a simple process for doing that...

How to Find Clients Who are Tailor-Made for You

Clients are a lot like pants.

* Some seem fine in the store then end up constantly rubbing you the wrong way until you can’t wait to tear them off.
* Some require a lot of fussing and tugging—and never stay comfortable for long.
* Many fit fine, there’s just nothing particularly special about them.
* And then there are your favorite pants…a few pairs that seem to be tailor-made just for you. And you can't wait to put them on because you know both of you will end up looking good.

Getting dressed would be so much easier if you had a closet full of your favorite pants…and so would your business.

The trick is finding out who those perfect-fit clients are. Here’s one simple process for doing it:

1. Print out your client list—-everyone who has actually hired you to work with them--past and present.

2. Rate your clients--using A, B, C or 1, 2, 3 or will things fairly simple. Then jot down a few positives and negatives that immediately come to mind by the client’s name. Consider things like:

* Were they easy to work with?
* Did they know what they wanted from the start, or did they change their mind a lot?
* Were they knowledgeable or need a lot of educating?
* Did you look forward to doing the actual work? Why or why not?
* Were they enthusiastic about your work?
* Did they follow-through (if relevant) and implement?
* Did they get good results?
* Did you work with one person? A team?
* Did they balk at your estimate? Pay promptly?
* Did they volunteer a testimonial or refer others to you?
* Are there ongoing opportunities to work with them? Or just a one-off project?
* Would you be excited or reluctant if they called today and had more work for you?

3. Pick your ideal client. If none of your clients really get you jazzed then think about who you would LOVE to work with. Pick a specific person you know of and jot down all the reasons why.

4. Now analyze your notes. What consistently came up in the negative or positive columns? Overall, which projects and clients did you like the best? Why?

Which of those traits could be easily found in others? Do people in their industry or profession need (and want) your services? Or people with similar life experiences (e.g. working moms, people nearing retirement or who practice yoga)?

Finally, once you’ve identified some concrete traits to look for, then get busy finding more clients just like them…and soon you’ll be looking at a closet full of clients that are tailor-made for you.

Related Articles
  The Ultimate Source for Marketing Information
  How Do I Find Clients For My Bookkeeping Business?
  How to Uncover a Hidden Goldmine in Your Business
  More Questions, Better Questions
  Do you make your clients feel safe?

Article Tags: jot down, pairs, perfect fit, testimonial, wrong way



Related Forum Posts
Re: Who Did You Learn Most From and Why? - Hi Martin, You missed out on the most essential community that helps you grow - Your Clients. Well, I believe that my Initial Clients have been the ones who have given me the moments of 'aha' in my business. They have stood by me even when I was a starter and that has helped me shape and build my stand. They have helped me grow as an entrepreneur, learn to have loads of patience and make the most of what comes across. They have also helped me to strengthen me as a person. btw, personally speaking, my Grandfather always kept me on track and lent me emotional support when I was down in any matter - be it business or otherwise.
Coaching Women vs. Males - Tami, Do you have any clients from Eastern Canada? I was wondering if Coaching Clients from either Coast was any different. Also is it different coaching women entrepreneurs vs. males?
Internet Marketing is the best business in the world - I have 7 reasons for saying this 1. You develop it once an sell it many times 2. You have no inventory. 3. Clients pay you before they download your product 4. You earn money 24/7 5. No face to face selling 6. You can outsource the production 7. You can do it in your room
Re: Best way to start a business? - Find a good mentor.
Re: How can I promote my site? - I agree that SEO is the best way but you should not rely on it solely. Find a few different methods that work for you and use them together.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

How to Write Your Articles for Better SEO

BUILDING A HIGH PERFORMING TEAM

Soda Vending Machine = Energy Hog

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.