Yellow Dog Consulting

Sales & Marketing Consulting for solo-preneurs.

Well, Did you Ask?

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IMG_6622_2I’m amazed how often people don’t ask questions.

Do you have any questions about the 10 page contract I sent you?

Do you have any questions about how I work with clients?

Do you have any questions about this huge invoice I just sent over?

It’s weird to me, but people sure don’t ask as much as they should. so ask for them. when I go to a client meeting the first agenda item is “news and updates” what’s going on with them? What do I need to know about? What’s driving them crazy right now and can I help?

As you know, one of my mantras is: I can’t help you if I don’t know what you need! 

And it’s true, ask questions don’t just take information at face value. If you don’t see what you want on a website, don’t assume they don’t do it (if it’s in the same realm), ask them!

Don’t Follow Directions? Don’t Get the Sale!

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tumblr_m7grwd7BNV1qzt48ao1_400Why are people so incapable of following instructions?

Earlier today my client emailed me asking my input about an advertising opportunity. We decided that it wasn’t the right fit at this time. And in my email to her I suggest she tell the ad rep that they contact me as I’m helping to manage these efforts for my client. My client responded to the ad rep, CC’d me on the email, introduce me to him and said “in the future contact us both and we’ll discuss and get back to you.”

And so the idiot ad rep responded immediately to my CLIENT and not me. And he went on and on about how they use to advertise and don’t now. I don’t know, maybe they dropped because you’re desperate and begging here?

Because she’s a great client she immediately forwards the email to me with a note “So – here is where I have no patience.  He already didn’t follow my directions which were to contact BOTH of us!”

And so now this poor ad rep, who is clearly not great at his job, has lost another sale and will have to do a great job of being on top of it in any future communication with us, because we’re both suspect of his competency level.

Sales Folks: It’s simple, follow directions & get the sale. Ignore directions or requests, lose the sale.

And if you’re thinking “gee Elizabeth, lighten up and give the guy a break,” I do hear you, but I am of the opinion if you want my money or need something from ME, make it really easy for me. He’s not damned for life, but there will definitely be a red flag next to any endeavors with this publication and person in the future…

Take the Meeting

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IMG_6567I’m squatting at a friends office today because Comcast decided that home internet wasn’t on the agenda for this afternoon. I told him later this week I have a bunch of non-client meetings. It can be great, but you don’t know till you get there. I hate that, the unknown. Lately I’ve had a great streak of meetings and calls that turned into clients or great referral sources. But you just don’t know till you get there.

So, here’s what I do- I trust the people who send me introductions. If it sounds like it may not be a good fit I’ll try and make it a phone call instead of in person, but you never know how it’ll turn out.

I’ve also made sure to have enough time this week to get my work done. I can afford to be out of the house for an entire day not making money because The day before I’m home and getting all the work done I need to.

I still don’t have this down, and you know I’ve posted before on this topic, but if you trust the folks referring and making introductions, it’s probably worth taking the meeting.