There are some customers and clients you can’t afford.
They cost you more time, money, and stress than they’re worth.
For example, some customers already plan on refunding before they purchase your online course. And since credit card and Paypal processing fees aren’t refunded to you, it means you’re literally paying for them.
But that’s just money. And you can remove those people from your list. It gets a whole lot worse.
Your time is much more valuable…since you can never get it back.
I’ve mostly avoided ‘expensive clients’ over the years, but I’ve heard quite a few horror stories from my clients and friends.
For example, one client experienced a web design client who complained about both the text and the copy on the rough draft of their website.
They did so without providing any kind of feedback, saying that providing any direction about what they wanted would be like having to do the work themselves. Talk about flying blind.
Multiple clients have dealt with overly-demanding clients who wanted an instant response to any concern they had at all times of the day and night. Or they feel you’re now their tech support because you’re offering any type of digital service.
Here’s one I’ve heard so many times that it’s almost funny…if it weren’t so sad. A client claims they have a vital deadline. The service provider asks for an important detail, but the client takes weeks to give them the answer just hours before the deadline. Then the client freaks out that the service provider doesn’t finish by the deadline.
There are clients who are rude, pay late, or change the work delivered and then blame the vendor for the results.
So how do you avoid clients from Hell?
Here are a few tips…
#1: Talk About Your Ideal Clients
Share stories about clients in emails and other content.
You don’t need to share names.
Case studies are a great way to demonstrate the problems you help clients solve while also calling out the ideal clients you serve.
Your ideal clients will open and click your emails, because you’re talking about their needs.
#2: Disqualify the Wrong Clients
Repel those who aren’t a good fit for you.
I don’t want clients who expect to earn $10,000 next weekend without a list. So, I make fun of that kind of thinking.
I constantly talk about the Internet Lifestyle. Clients with a hustle mindset who would expect me to respond immediately or on a weekend know I’m not right for them.
In addition, figuring out who you don’t want can often help you better target who you can best serve.
#3: Be Clear About Expectations
This is a biggie.
Be specific about what someone can expect. I tell people upfront that I respond to clients Monday thru Thursdays by email. And we schedule calls through Zoom (or Skype). I don’t use any type of ‘instant messenger’ and you can’t call me without scheduling in advance.
Think about any bad experiences you’ve had.
How could you have managed the expectations better upfront?
It shouldn’t come as any surprise to a client that I ask them a lot of questions about their ideal audience, use the Golden Glove to improve their messaging, want to improve their positioning, and expect them to communicate consistently with their email list.
There are other things we discuss of course, but some of the expectations are obvious because that’s what I write emails about all the time.
If you’re interested in my personal help with your business, you can find out about my one-on-one coaching here…
Enter your name on the waiting list there. I will be accepting a few new clients on Monday, August 7th and will only email that list.
This will be your last opportunity to join coaching in 2023.
