How to attract new clients
More from our ongoing Q & A series on becoming a professional organizer and running your business.
To see all the Q&A answers, click on the category in the right hand column.
Q: How to attract new clients? from jmirish in Rochester, NY
Q: Any advice on how to market my company? from Samara in Michigan
A: There are an infinite number of ways to attract new clients. Marketing your business is merely telling people about your service. But it must be the:
Right product with
The right message delivered in
The right channels at
The right time.
– Jenny Schmitt at www.cloudspark.com
You start by knowing your audience and identifying what they want. That will help you come up with the right product/service/package.
You need to know what the results are that they’re looking for beyond the physical. What are the emotional benefits? No one cares about your process or how you became an organizer. They just want to know what you can do for them.
The right channel is how they receive the message. Do your ideal clients use the web and trust it? Do they do social networking? Do they listen to their friends? Will they listen to a message in an advertisement? Pick the one or two channels that influence your clients most to deliver your message.
And the right timing is very important. People buy things when they’re ready. They may not be ready the first time they see your name, but they might the 4th or 5th time. No is not really no, it’s actually “not now.” If they like your message, keep delivering it and they may eventually buy what you are offering.
It can be very hard for some people to get their first paying clients.
I attribute this primarily to a lack of confidence on the part of the organizer. About ¾ of the population could use an organizer?!
In 2010, The National Association of Professional Organizers found that 91 percent felt they could be more efficient at work if they were better organized. Overall, 71 percent indicated their quality of life would improve with more organization.
So be confident and approach everyone knowing you’re bound to know more than they do. And honestly, even organizers learn from one another, so just about everyone will have something to learn from you. Even the most organized people will appreciate someone seeing their space (and other issues) with fresh eyes.
Your first clients may be friends and relatives. They can compensate you by allowing you to take photos and by offering you testimonials.
After you build up confidence that way, go for the gold… getting paid!
To spread the word about your business without spending a lot of cash that you don’t have yet, consider letting your friends and acquaintances help you. Write an announcement letter, announcing your business, benefits, and fees (all very concisely.)
Invite them to become part of your team and that you’re able to show your appreciation when they send you new clients. Offer them a percentage, a flat finders fee, a gift card or even organizing services for those that need it.
On a similar note, we get this question from amarcil from Ottawa, Canada
Q: How do you get your first clients?
A: I got my first clients by joining a professional networking group and showed members the value of being organized. I offered them a special price to get in the door. But I let them know they were getting a special price and my true value was XX so they could tell their friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. They truly built my business at the start.
Then I began speaking immediately to show my expertise to small groups.
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