Tag Archives: customer

Bully clients

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Jon Stow

Most of us hate bullies. One day I might write about my school days if I can bear to think about it. At school we were largely trapped and felt there was little we could do about bullying. In business … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer relations | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Shooting the messenger

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Jon Stow

I had a client “sack” me last week. He did not have the grace to tell me in person. Actually he telephoned to check my email address, which he had used many times, and when I asked after him, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer relations, management | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cheapskate prospects

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Jon Stow

Well, a cheapskate is not really a prospect, as why would you take on a client who was not prepared to pay you a proper fee or have any respect for what you can do for them? The other day … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning, Customer relations | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

No time-wasters?

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Jon Stow

I do not like having my time wasted. However time-wasters are hard to avoid when they telephone to try to elicit free information or professional advice, even though they should know that free advice is not worth the paper it … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Promoting your start-up business and attracting customers Part 2

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Jon Stow

    The first press release You need to make the announcement that you are open for business. Ideally you should get your press release out before you open your doors, but of course there is no reason why you … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning, marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Losing an ungrateful customer

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Jon Stow

Usually we are not happy about losing a client. Sometimes it is our own decision of course when keeping them on is not cost-effective. They might be very demanding but will not reward us by agreeing a higher fee. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer relations, Customer service | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Adapt, change or your business will die

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Jon Stow

I have had my own business for nearly eleven years. It hardly seem possible. However, it is not the same business I started. In the beginning I hardly used email to correspond with clients. It wasn’t that I was an … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning, Sales | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sometimes losing customers is not our fault

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Jon Stow

We have all lost patrons of our business, or, if we have only just started, we will lose customers in the future. When someone leaves us, it is always important to get feedback. Has something one wrong in our delivery? … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning, Customer relations | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Why we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover or a colleague or prospect either

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Jon Stow

First impressions First impressions are important. When meeting someone in business for the first time I am sure we all do our best to present ourselves well. That is simple commercial sense. Sometimes if we get a poorer impression of … Continue reading →

Posted in Business planning, Customer relations, networking | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Stupid inconsiderate people

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Jon Stow

You come across people who don’t think about their fellow human beings all the time. There are those who play loud music in their gardens on sunny Sunday afternoons when their neighbours want to have a peaceful time and read. … Continue reading →

Posted in Customer relations | Tagged , , | Leave a comment