I have recently been reading the “Meatball Sundae” by Seth Godin where Seth touches on in any business there is the 1% rule. 1% of your clients in your business who are so thrilled, elated, and over-the-moon with your product/service that they shout it from the rooftops, tell everyone they see how great you are, and are your true “champions” for you and your business.
1%??? What is happening with the other 99%?
If you take an honest look at your business and your client base what percentage would you say are over-the-moon happy with the product or service you provide? Another way of asking this is, how much of your client base is being insulated from your competition? If only 1% are shouting your name from the rooftops (saying good things, not bad) then the other 99% of your clients are potentially up for grabs from competitors.
As 2009 gets underway here’s what I would like you to ask yourself:
- What percentage of my client base is elated with the product/service I provide to them?
- Who is my 1%? Why are they?
- How often do I connect with clients for a coffee or a lunch as a thank you (not to talk shop or try and sell them) for being a client? (Insulatation and building rapport on a personal level)
- Do I know why my clients decided to buy from me rather than the competition? (This can be useful information for you to use to gain more clients and can also give you insights into your 1% > 99% ratio)
- Do my clients know “how” to refer business to me? Do they want to?
- If a client is not one of those who is apart of the ”1%”. Why not? What can I do to move them to that elated group?
Cheers,
L.
