Running a business requires fascinating alchemy of hard work, savvy, talent, and luck —just a few of the ingredients necessary for your success. But there is one other element that doesn’t get quite enough press, and that’s finding the right kind of customer.
Whether you run a printing press or a marketing agency, not all customers are created equal. Sometimes it is better to let go of “bad” customers and focus on the ones that are good for your business. But where and how do you find those “good” customers? From being results driven to trusting your gut, here are six ways to attract better customers to your business.
- Never Work for Free
According to Nicholas Reese, there are four types of clients, and the ones you can avoid with this first tip are those that are so overly cost focused, they demand almost everything for free. High-maintenance and bottom line-driven with little concern for results, this type of customer is the worst to work for.While doing work on the cheap can be helpful when you’re just starting out — after all, you do need to build up a reputation — working for free almost never ends well for the person doing the work, which is why it isn’t worth it for you to do it. The kinds of customers who resist paying for a product or service aren’t customers who will keep you in business, so why bother working to please them anyway? Thankfully, you can usually avoid this type of client by charging a competitive price for your products and services.
