Yellow Dog Consulting

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Simple Ways to Keep Clients Happy

07.28.2013 by Elizabeth // Leave a Comment

032812_swe4_1_MISSA few days before my birthday I stopped at the ATM to get cash. I punched in my pin, did my thing, and as I was waiting for my cash to come out, the screen popped up and said “happy birthday!”
BRILLIANT. How easy is that?
I also got my email from Starbucks since I have a gold card (and yes I am rubbing it in) I get a free drink for my birthday.
Birthday’s are an easy way to celebrate a customer, and in a B2C business, it’s a really smart way to do it.
But in a B2B business, how do you thanks/support/celebrate your customers? How about this:

*My birthday month means clients get a gift
*celebrate the anniversary of working together
*Celebrate a random national holiday (i.e. National Donut day- take the client donuts)

It’s never a bad time to thank your client for their business, and sometimes it’s easier than you think. Chase didn’t actually give me free money, they just remembered it was my birthday. Starbucks gave me a free drink (so about a $75 value…) it doesn’t have to be something expensive, or even cost you, but make sure to remember the simple ways to keep your clients happy.

Categories // Branding, Lessons Learned, Sales

Don’t Negotiate

07.11.2013 by Elizabeth // Leave a Comment

images-1I’m not a big fan of negotiating. I know that sounds weird if you know me, and as someone in sales. And, I LOVE a good deal. But in business, I’m not a fan of negotiating or discounting rates. Your rate is what you have decided you’re worth. And, your clients are paying you for that, so it’s proven that your rate is valid. But negotiating your rate makes it look like you don’t think you are worth what you say you are.

I recently raised my rates, and instead of negotiating or putting clients on a sliding scale, as their contract came up, I simply said:

“I’ve recently reviewed my rates and found you’re getting a great deal! I have looked at what others in my industry are charging and have increased my rate to $XXX, when we setup your next Statement of Work, it will be at this rate.”

No room to negotiate. Have a lost clients? One. And the next day I talked to a new client who didn’t flinch at the rate. I also had a client email me and say he’s not leaving unless I fire him. I want clients who want to work with me, and have the budget to do so. I don’t want clients who will stress out every time my invoice shows up in their inbox. I’ll gladly negotiate the work we do and the hours of work that happen, but you have to pay me what I’m worth.

Categories // Branding, Lessons Learned, Management, Sales

Be Nice A**hole

07.09.2013 by Elizabeth // Leave a Comment

imagesWhy is it so much easier to be a jerk and complain than it is to say NICE things about a company or person? I was just talking to a new client and we were discussing Yelp reviews. It’s entirely too easy for us to complain about the one time we have horrible service, but do we ever think about the store/restaurant/office we visit weekly or monthly that is consistently amazing? No we don’t.

How about this rule: for every nasty review/comment/tweet/blog you leave, you need to go leave one NICE review to another company.

Categories // Branding, Lessons Learned

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Yellow Dog Consulting is a sales and marketing firm located in Hillsboro, Oregon with clients around the world. We work with small business owners who love what they do, but the sales and marketing part of their job sucks their will to live.

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