Hey everyone.
It’s been a strange week due to RL. I’ve been a bit out of sorts so if this blog post isn’t as catchy or coherent as you would like I apologize in advance.
I’m working on the Virtual Breadwinner book but I like to take current examples of the principles and ideas for blog posts so you can see how these things all tie together.
A couple of different things came together this week which could fall under the generic category of Customer Service, but what it really boils down to is Taking Care of Your People.
Let’s face facts.
Unless your last name is Chung or you are really bad at math you aren’t going to have the best prices in town.
Your service, your ability to Take Care of Your People, is what’s going to allow you to build a profitable Estate.
Again, let me repeat.
You are not going to be able to compete on price alone. Don’t even try.
Your customers will come to you for a reason. You can call it Customer Service, or the Personal Touch, or whatever you want to call it, but what it boils down to is people like to feel Important.
Without being too New-Agey about it, you have to love your customers.
They pay your bills, they put food on your table, they pay more for your services than they would at WalMart, take care of them.
Love them.
Respond to them when they need you.
It’s not rocket science folks, but it’s little things that make a big difference.
I recently lost a long term customer from my Estate due to price. I don’t blame him, the savings he found is dramatic.
But because I took care of him over the years, he came to me first. He let me know what he had found, let me know he was considering moving, and gave me a chance to keep his business.
That was awesome.
Unfortunately, he is paying a rate now that I would love to be able to pay myself, let alone offer to my customers. There’s no way I could match it and still run a profitable Estate. So I told him so.
He left on good terms, will send business my way, and who knows, he may be back again in the future.
You’re not going to keep every customer.
That’s reality.
Just do the best you can.
Take care of them and they will take care of you.
I was quickly able to re-rent his land to another long term customer, who is very happy to have the land at a price that makes sense.
Everyone is happy.
As you build your Estate keep an eye on your bottom line.
Don’t make losing deals.
Keep your business in profit.
Take care of yourself, so you can take care of your people, who will take care of you.
Have fun, and good luck!
Lizard
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