Yeah, You’re Not My Target Client And That’s A-OK.

One of the first questions I ask a professional I’m meeting for the first time is, “Who is your their ideal client?”   Nothing makes my teeth clinch more than when the answer is, “Anyone who… or…Everyone who…”  Grrrr.  This ubiquitous description is both killing my teeth and your business – of this I’m certain.

soucre: Lotus via Nickburcher.com

What I’m not 100% certain of is whether this is a chronic practice for the naive business person or a desperate plea from one who’s business isn’t doing well.  In my experience, its a 5o-50 split and neither is seeing the results they truly want.   The desperate business person is emotionally speaking from fear of not knowing or feeling confident about when their next client will buy.  The naive, is just that, or they believe that to be successful you must be able and willing to work with – - well – - anyone and everyone.     I’m here to release you from your conventional thinking and guide you to be the superstar pro you want to be.

These are unconventional times, you simply need to get clear, specific and most importantly own it.  Unabashedly.    We’re working with our MBAA partners on doing this very thing the entire month of February.  It’s as easy as knowing your A,B,Cs.

Invest qualitative time to review your past and present “favorite” clients.  These are the people who you are totally jazzed to work with.  You look forward to seeing them.  Working with them is sheer bliss.  Look them over. What is it about them that jazzes you?  They pay you the big bucks?  Are always on-time?  They make you laugh, think, whatever?  Have fun, go crazy, but most importantly be specific.

What are their Attributes?
What are their Behaviors?
What are their Characteristics?

Watch the similarities begin to appear.   Pay special attention to the commonalities among characteristics, or what I call the nitty gritty.  Meet your ideal client.    To the others, you can humbly and gratefully say, “Buh-Bye.”   That’s not who you work with anymore.  That’s A-Ok.

When I first started my personal fitness practice at SMO Ventures I had a pretty good idea who I thought my ideal client was.  Healthy women, age 30 and above.  That’s what I got. Along with some occasional surprise excess baggage.   The excess baggage included:  whiners, drama queens, cheap skates, no shows, chronic cancellers, unmotivated.  Blah!   One poor woman embodied it all (I hope she’s OK now).   The excess baggage was sucking my spirit, effectiveness and love for what I do.  It didn’t take long for me to reassess and set it straight of who I work with.  Still healthy women, age 30 and above but with the added: high achieving professionally,  motivated personally, proactive in their personal care, adventurous, and committed, to name a few.  Guess what – - I adore every one of my personal fitness clients and none of then show any signs of  excess baggage (oh they wouldn’t dare.)

The clearer the picture you create of your ideal client, the easier the path is for them to reach you.    To explore more catch our upcoming monthly 1st Wednesday FREE teleseminar, “Get More Clients – FAST!”

In the meantime, let us know how it goes and what changes transpire for you.    We love success stories.   My teeth are feeling better already.