No matter the kind of services you offer, I'm sure you can't be the only one rendering such in a town or a city, but if you are lucky to have that power called monopoly, it's either you stay in a very rural area or you are the real inventor of your business. But if you are not that lucky, then this practical steps should mean something to you.
Getting patronage is one of the major preoccupation of any business. Business owners are daily scheming on how to retain their existing customers and possibly win some more customers over from their competitors. That means we are back to the old days of survival of the fittest, but fortunately for us, survival now is neither by strength nor by might, it's a mental process. How do I outwit my competitor? that's what's up now in this 21st century. If we are to use physical strength as it were, someone like me would have become a long forgotten memory.
So, how do I get more patronage when my competitors prefer to die than allow their customers walk away? Life happens and it shall continue to happen, one of such happenings is the reality called relocation. In life people relocate from time to time for various reasons; change of status, change of job, security reasons, crazy neighbors, rent increment, overbearing Landlords and many other reasonable and funny reasons. So once a relocation occurs, a reshuffling follows naturally and it gives room to a little redistribution of clients and customers.
Naturally, an average human is reluctant to try new things, especially when they have one that is currently satisfying their needs. I could remember that for a long time after moving to my new area after spending 10 whole years in my previous area, I will always travel back to my former hood, to have my haircut, slim fit my new shirt and do some other funny things. Yes, I said travel, because my old neighborhood and my present hood are nothing less than 10 kilometers apart. I did this for almost one year until I suddenly realize that I've not gone to my former hood for over 3 months. Then I realized Brother Ojo, the Tailor and Mr. Authe, the barber has stylishly converted me from a neighbor to a customer. On studying the 2 of them, I realize a common denominator, which is humour and I can categorically tell you it is applicable to your own business or profession too. So here are the 13 things I have learnt from my Tailor and my Barber;
The first six steps focuses on how to make genuine and respectable friends with the new neighbor - How do you make friends with someone you just bump into once in a while, maybe on his or her way dashing out of the house to the office or coming back home tired? You have a little time to create an impression, because wisdom dictates that you don't try to delay them in such circumstances, that might give you the kind of reception you won't fancy. So, how do I secure a soft spot in someone's heart in less than a minute or two.
1. Smile Warmly and greet them as courteous as possible. If they are far away, don't rush to greet them as that might naturally put them on the defensive side. Don't appear desperate.
2. If they are close to you and within reach, shake their hands firmly, with a broader smile while you maintain direct eye contact. You may have to thread with caution when doing this, especially with someone of the opposite gender or someone who is hesitant.
3. It's either of two things, either he or she wants to shake you or not, If he or she turns down your handshake, genuinely and politely apologise. No matter how rude he or she was in turning down your hand shake, don't lose your broad smiling face and let him or her know you are used to such mode of greeting, then apologise again.
4. Introduce yourself and tell him or her what you do. Don't try to market yourself at that moment, just introduce yourself and what you do while welcoming him or her to the neighborhood.
5. Turn back immediately and walk purposefully, don't lurk around even if you are less busy, pretend to be busy and discharge him or her instantly.
6. Maintain respectable distance and be as friendly as possible from that distance. Wave, smile, hail him or her, but never move too close for comfort.
One sure thing is that if you do all the above and your business is always opened, sooner than later he or she will need your services.
7. Do whatever he/she asks you, to the best of your ability.
8. Don't make extra effort to impress, make him or her feel welcome, but comfortable as well.
9. Attend to them as a friend not a customer yet. Laugh, gist, crack jokes but don't be distracted from delivering the best and doing so in good time.
10. The chances are that the first job they will give you will be something minor, I could remember the first thing Mr. Authe did for me was to shave me, after that, I allowed him carve my hair before I eventually got comfortable enough to allow him barb me. So don't be bothered and don't let that affect your friendly disposition.
No comments:
Post a Comment