Congratulations!
You have completed the first block of the Working ON My Business program – WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER…
I hope you already noticed how your thinking and working have changed (for the better). Now it’s time to use the mindset and strategies you learned in the last few weeks to start working on the next block of the program…
Your Ideal Clients – Part 1
To get you started with the process, please watch this Business University lesson: WHY Ideal Clients and How to Define Them:
Let’s start with your MINDSET…
WHY Ideal Clients?
In the video above I gave you 7 of MY reasons why I would choose to work with Ideal Clients…
This video was taken a few years ago, when I believed we should invest 80% of our energy, time and resources on the 20% of the clients we consider Ideal.
That’s no longer the way I see it, but it might be a very good starting point for you.
For full disclosure…
Today, we choose to work ONLY with Ideal Clients.
So, 100% of our energy, time, attention and other resources is dedicated to those that we consider our Ideal Clients.
And… if someone proves not to be an Ideal Client based on our new definition, we gently, but firmly let them go.
Our plan is to keep working with each Ideal Client for minimum of 5 years, supporting them through their business growth, and teaching them to become resilient and thrive in a world that becomes increasingly unstable by the minute.
And… Our plan is to stop ANY marketing or sales activities, so 100% of all new clients will come referred AND recommended by our current Ideal Clients.
It was scary to make this decision and commitment, and I can’t share yet about the long-term effects of it… but I can honestly say, that I have never been happier in my work and business relationships.
Take some time to think, IF introducing an Ideal Clients Strategy is a good idea for you and for your business, and if yes – become very clear on the WHY… and the WHO…
And if you decide to go for it, then…
Set your GOAL for this week…
Here’s a great goal for you:
I am going to become the Ideal Provider for my Ideal Clients.
How’s that for a 5-day challenge?
Choose the STRATEGY you will use…
If you have never clearly AND explicitly defined and communicated an Ideal Clients Strategy (or policy), here is the 5-step process you should follow:
- Find your compelling WHY
Why is it important for YOU to focus on Ideal Clients?
Some ideas are in the video, but make your own list; - Define WHO is your Ideal Client
See our (Open Circles Academy) example in the video; - Commit to your VIP Club/Inner Circle/Ideal Client Program
What part of your business will be serving only Ideal Clients?
E.g. 100%, 50%, 20%, only new clients, only for a specific product/service, etc… - Transform your “everyone else” clients to Ideal Clients
What can YOU do to “push” those who are not yet Ideal Clients – to become more ideal…? - Let go of your “flop” clients
How will you “get rid” of those flops?
E.g. say “goodbye” by the end of the year, say “goodbye” now, refer them to someone else, give them an “ultimatum” to change/take a certain action and if they don’t – say “goodbye”…
And again, we’re going to use… the Idea Generator
Remember – your brain is an answering machine… so each day of the week, we’ll give it another question (see the Implementation part below).
PLAN your actions in your agenda…
Your next step is to physically plan this process in your agenda.
Plan to invest 10-15 minutes EVERY DAY in the coming 5 days to follow the process above.
AND… You will need to plan 2-3 hours to actually implement the first phase of your Ideal Client Strategy.
Now it’s time to IMPLEMENT…
Take 10 minutes, right now, and…
- Day 1 – come up with at least 10 answers for why do you want to work with Ideal Clients and make a decision IF Ideal Clients is what you want to go for;
- Day 2 – come up with at least 10 ideas for WHO is your Ideal Client (qualities/behaviors) and choose the 3-5 qualities that are most important for you;
- Day 3 – come up with your commitment for Ideal Clients
E.g. from now on every new client must be an Ideal Client, or 50% or only for specific product/service, etc… - Day 4 – come up with at least 10 ideas how to ‘transform’ your “everyone else” clients to Ideal Clients and choose your preferred strategy;
- Day 5 – come up with at least 10 ideas how to deal with your “flops” and choose your preferred strategy;
In your 2-3-hour Implementation Session – put it all together:
- Prepare your communication to your Ideal Clients (let them know that they are, and your plans for them) and commit to HOW and WHEN you’re going to send it;
- Prepare your communication to your “everyone else” clients (what steps you/they should take next) and commit to HOW and WHEN you’re going to send it;
- Prepare your communication to your “flops” (whatever you chose to do with them) and commit to HOW and WHEN you’re going to send it…
Each day share with us in the comment box your ideas, actions and commitment.
My commitment to you…
- I’m looking forward to read your process and ideas below;
- I will be there for you on Wednesday to support you with any question, challenge or setback you encounter;
- I’m looking forward to celebrate your progress and results on Friday (I’m curious to hear the strategy you’ll come up with).
Live fully, stay awesome,
Nisandeh
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MY Goal for the week: I AM GOING TO BECOME THE IDEAL PROVIDER FOR MY ideal clients
Day 5 – This is how I wish to deal with my flops
1) I reject flops from the beginning, explaining why I reject them so they can choose to come back once their attitude has changed
2) I make my services flop proof (payment up front, communicating my business rule clearly etc)
3) I use platforms which ensure that flops are dealt with in the correct manner.
4) I make use of brokers who ensure that my assignments are assignments of ideal clients
5) I write my communication towards ideal clients
6) I describe my products and services using words of my ideal clients
7) When using mailing lists I ensure I have removed all previous flops from it
8) I ensure that only my ideal clients are interested in my products and services (based on my houserules/business rules/sign up criteria's, payment terms and conditions etc.)
9) I check previous reviews of my customers if there is any and ensure that the one with a negative review are not accepted
10) I communicate clearly which customers I work with and which I don't.
11) Should a flop enter my process unexpectedly, I review my proces and adjust where necessary to prevent future flops.
My preferred strategy;
2) I make my services flop proof (payment up front, communicating my business rule clearly etc).
3) I use platforms which ensure that flops are dealt with in the correct manner.
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MY Goal for the week: I AM GOING TO BECOME THE IDEAL PROVIDER FOR MY ideal clients
Day 4 – How do I intend to ‘transform’ my “everyone else” clients to ideal clients
1) I'll amend my products and service where necessary to attract my ideal clients
2) I'll communicate openly what my ideal client is and thereby creating consciousness amoungst my clients
3) For my Airbnb and Happy Villages I'll communicate more on social media to attract my ideal clients
4) I'll gently but firmly guide my present clientbase in the direction of the ideal client
5) I reject flops from the beginning, explaining why I reject them so they can choose to come back once their attitude has changed
6) I'll make a choice to use platforms which facilitate my ideal clients
7) I'll make a choice to work with brokers who are the preferred supplier of my ideal clients
8) I'll observe closely at what point a possible ideal clients turn into a flop. Once identified I'll look into the possibilities to amend the process ensuring that the customer becomes an ideal client.
9) I'll provide clear instructions on my expectations towards my customers and what they can expect from me when entering into a partnerschip. In this manner I'll expect them to be my ideal clients. And if not, I will remind them of our agreement. If they still do not act accordingly (I have never experienced this), I will break the connection immediately.
10) I'll make arrangements where possible to have customers pay up front. I do this with my B&B and this works perfect choosing a payment methods which works for me. For my OptimizePeople customers this is not possible. They make use of backwards billing system but sofar I've always got paid.
11) I amend my services according to customer feedback thereby making myself and my services more attractive to my ideal clients
12) I'll make sure I always overdeliver and make my customers feel very special which will create great reviews and referrals.
My preferred strategy is
11) I amend my services according to customer feedback thereby making myself and my services more attractive to my ideal clients
12) I'll make sure I always overdeliver and make my customers feel very special which will create great reviews and referrals.
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Day 5. Let go of your “flop” clients
There are no 'flop' customers. In a webshop you cannot refuse customers. Though ofcourse there are customers I would rather live without. I cannot get rid of my 'flop' customers, but I CAN try to make sure I attract top customers. Customers that get where I am at. So what I am trying to do is focus on getting my message out, my philosophy and in doing so trying to attract likeminded people.
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Since a was on holiday (they certainly under delivered badly… ) I’m doing the exercises from last week now. I’m really happy with this exercise since my new program ‘FIRST LEGION’ is build on the thought of getting only ideal clients.
Day 1 – Why do you want to work with ideal clients
1. Gives me energy
2. My best products fits them better
3. Makes me want to work harder
4. Will attract more ideal clients
5. Less of a costumer/supplier feel but more a ‘together’ feeling.
6. Progress will be much faster for them
7. Progress will be much faster for me
8. More quality students which makes partner training of much higher quality
9. Don’t have to repeat the same stuff over and over again because they will listen
10. Will do the home work I give them
11. Respect the process
12. Gives meaning
Day 2 – Who is your ideal client
1. Wanting to be disciplined or having discipline
2. Show respect to co-students and teachers
3. Act on their commitment
4. Age 16-26
5. Follow instruction without question
6. Don’t need endless supervision to keep training
7. Pass an entry test
8. Don’t smoke or have other unhealthy habits that reduces their capabilities sport wise
9. Don’t see my trainings as a fun way to procrastinate but really as a way of training body and mind.
10. Refer me to people like them.
11. Respond to questions I ask them
Day 3 – Your commitment
My new program ‘FIRST LEGION’ is already based on 100% ideal clients. At this moment I feel I lack the right marketing tools/means to reach them. So, it looks to flop right now but I don’t believe it will be the program but my marketing right now. If I can’t get it off the ground this season, I’ll go for it next season again. Once this is up and running, this group needs to take over the majority of my students. Want to end up within 4 years with 80% ideal clients.
Some people advised me to lower the bar. I’m not going to do that. At least not in a way that breaks my commitment to gain ideal clients.
Day 4/5 – How to ‘transform’ your ‘everyone else’ clients into ideal clients and how to deal with your ‘flops’
1. Kicking the ‘everyone else/flops’ out
2. Don’t accept flops from the beginning. (try-outs)
3. Notify them that in 2 years the ‘everyone else’ training will stop.
4. Creating a new program in which the majority of the ‘everyone else’ fits as ideal clients.
5. Pushing them into the LEGION training and letting them quit by themselves if they no longer like it.
6. Combining most, if not all, ‘Everyone else’ into one group training.
7. Giving discounts to people who check certain ideal clients checkboxes.
8. Giving discounts to students for referrals which comply with the ideal clients' checklist. (now every referral counts for a discount for as long as the new member stays on)
9. Refer them to other martial arts schools that fit their needs better
10. Talk openly with them about my goals and which way I’m heading and ask them where they see themselves in that trajectory.
11. Ask them what they need to become ideal clients as well
12. Create a course that helps them to become the ideal client
It will be a combination of multiple things. I don’t want to work with ‘flops’ and I’m very clear about that in a nice way. I do have too many ‘everyone else's'. Flops in my school rarely last longer than one season.
Once FIRST LEGION is a success, SECOND LEGION (first year) will start the next season. Will be the same day/time as FIRST LEGION (second year). Don’t want to spend more time but will create time by how I make the program work for me. By the time the THIRD or FORTH LEGION will follow, I’ll push my adults and youth into one group so I can make space for the next LEGION-only students. Slowly LEGION will take over most of the time and old students will step over to LEGION or stop at my school. Probably I’ll have by then another recreational program I can transfer them to. One which they will be ideal clients too.
Implementation Session
I’ll have to plan this implementation session for the near future. Probably next week I’ll make a list of the current ideal clients. For the ‘everyone else’ I’m not sure WHAT and WHEN I want to send them. Too much on my mind since next season is coming close to fast, and these clients won’t change into something profitable for me to spend time on them now. Later on, I can make time to make sure that the action I’ll take then results in some kind of profitable solution.
At the end of last season, 2 flops left my school. I’m now left without flops.
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Day 4:
No idea how I can transform a normal client in an ideal one. Ideal ones are companies (bigger numbers and amounts). I can't tell a private customer he/she needs to accept minimal pieces. They are a completely different world with completely different needs.
For non-ideal clients that are companies: lead them to the tools that helps them to be better informed about our advantages.
Day 5:
1. Use the words of the ideal customer in communication
2. Communicate the way of working to our email list (mail ready)
3. Be clear in personal communication
4. Charge the real complete cost for small orders
5. Make a decision structure
6. Transfer ideal customers over to a new email list
7. Create clearly defined service levels
8. Limit product options
9. Limit product types
10. Think about setting a minimal order value
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Hi Guy,
In order to attract your ideal clients (bigger companies and turnover if I understand you right) you might wish to look into the pain they have and how you can help them solve it. Big companies often use preferred suppliers or assign people by means of tenders. Find your ideal clients (clients who fits your picture of an ideal clients and whom you can help with your offering), find out who their preferred supplier(s) is/are and get in contact with them. Read tenders set out by those companies on the tendersites, in order for you to identify the needs of the companies and use all this knowledge to your advantages once applying for an assignment.
I use to by a management consultant in my former days and these are some of the tools we used to find the painpoints of our customers so we could use it in our communication. In this manner we spoke the language of the customer, clearly showed we new what they where dealing with thereby creating good will and trust.
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Hi Marie-Louise, yes, I've found how this works now (finding answer in the mail and then going to here).
Thank you!
I don't do tenders anymore. That is really purely price driven. I cannot beat the international competitors on price. One of them is even a company of the group of Warren Buffet. They have tons of money. And I've even been beaten directly by a manufacturer in the past.
Filling out tenders is also extremely time consuming. The very unhealthy margins, the enormous work and the very low chance of winning, made me decide not to do tenders anymore.
Being a preferred supplier is indeed much more interesting and that is want I want to become.
Thanks for the tip about still reading the tender requirements and then adapting my message accordingly to their needs.
I don't have much contact with the company buyers. I mainly have contact with the people that realise the project and it are these people that contact me for the items they need. When I can help them, I do a proposal and when this fits their technical needs, they tell their company buyer to create an orderform with the details they provide to their buyer.
Last week I've even sent a few (low cost) items with their order for free as I understood that their order was missing two little parts to make all the items of that order working together. I couldn't let them run into trouble because they forgot to order two cable adapters of a few euro.
So my contacts with the people in the field are good. Now I would like to come into contact with the buyers too to see if I can help them to source more items, so I make their work lighter. It is as you say: language of the customer and making the customer feel understood is key. That works perfectly for the technical people as I know what they are doing, but I would like to know more about the issues the company buyers are confronted with to also understand their challenges and to speak their language.
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Day 3
80 % must be an ideal client.
The rest of the 20 % is welcome when the time cost is shorter than 5 minutes to process.
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I prepared now 2 mails. The first will be send tomorrow and the second about 2 weeks. In the mail I describe in a way with whom I prefer to work with. And in the mail I wrote the changes that will come in my company that will start january 2023. I will start a half-year-traject only with my ideal clients.
I am curious how many will give themself up in the few weeks.....
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Day 5: These are addressed as part of transformation, which is from too much towards less anyone else clients and dump flop clients (if any) and form less ideal clients towards more ideal clients as discussed in day 4. In general I will finish the work of my flop clients and focus to replace them with ideal clients. Then to rate and assess my clients will take some more detailed over-thinking.
Putting stuff together (putting it all together in 2-3-hour Implementation Session), yes sure because this is not scheduled on Friday it will be done on Wednesday next week. In general:
1. Spent time on ideal clients will make my time distribution better and in time lead to higher revenue, this is based on:
o They do not talk about budgets and tasks but ask to think about what you can offer and what it will take money, time and mutual responsibilities. (picked)
o They refer you to other customers. (picked)
o The promote you and your work internally (their organization) and externally. (picked)
o They are fine if you use their name and the projects done for your own personal promotions. (picked)
o They say and mean it at the same time they what to establish a long term relationship. (picked)
2. For will assess all new potential clients and run the 20/80 rule and decide if s/he is a waste of time or a potential investment for something else (gain necessary knowledge or contacts/network).
3. On the balance between ideal clients and flops:
o Phase everyone else client out, so finish what the job and do no solicitation for more work and or tell them sorry to busy the next time. (chosen)
o Analyse the current client base and focus on the (near to) ideal clients first, so if this takes more time, automatically the everyone-else clients can get less time. (chosen).
o Change update product-service market portfolio to make it better match my ideal client viewpoints and experiences. (chosen)
I’ll dedicate 2+ hours next Wednesday to work on this, that is: prepare communication (+ commit how and when to send) towards them (ideal clients, everybody else and flops) and will celebrate this Wednesday evening.
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I like your list Marcel. You have a clear implementation strategy in mind. Good luck with implementing.
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Day 4: Ideas to transform your “everyone-else” clients to ideal clients and chosen preferred strategy.
1. Phase everyone else client out, so finish what the job and do no solicitation for more work and or tell them sorry to busy the next time. (chosen)
2. Discuss the matter with them indicated that ‘my’ expectations around the partnership are different and ask what their observations are and if they are willing to change it.
3. Analyse the current client base and focus on the (near to) ideal clients first, so if this takes more time, automatically the everyone-else clients can get less time. (chosen)
4. Update the material on web-site and other material to better fit the demands of ideal clients.
5. Explain current (all) clients what is my ideal business and ask for contacts that better fit the purpose.
6. Master the saying No part of business if a non-ideal client calls and for sure the flops.
7. Change update product-service market portfolio to make it better match my ideal client viewpoints and experiences. (chosen)
8. Spent more time on marketing and acquisition to improve the clients portfolio.
9. Raise prices to drive out non ideal-clients (everybody else and flops).
10. Change the business focus to improve getting a higher percentage of ideal clients.
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WEEK 6, DAY 5 - Let go of your “flop” clients
At this moment I don’t have flop clients. I did have them in the past, for sure. And I do have flop people in my maling list. So these are my ideas.
1. Make clear to myself what flops are for future purposes
2. Identify every flop client in my MailChimp mailing list (put the flops in MailChimp in a different segment)
3. In the fall of this year I will delete flops in MailChimp list.
4. I wil also segment my ideal clients and everyone else in MailChimp
5. New clients that turn out to be flops: I wil refer them to someone else
6. Preventing new clients from turning into flops: state clearly what I am all about and what is expected from them.
7. Say no to possible clients who have ‘flop’ written all over their faces.
8. Good clients showing flop behaviour: challenge them into certain action
9. Get rid of flops in my LinkedIn connections
10. Get rid of flops in my life - in a loving way :-).
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Love your list Manny.
Clever to identify the flop clients in your MailChimp mailing as well as segmenting your ideal clients. Look forward to hear your progress in your Buddy talk this week.
PS! Please do take a picture of the client who has FLOP written all over their faces - I would love to see one so I know what to look out for :-).
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I've got new clarity due to not wanting to commit to a vip version based on 1:1. I will do outer circle based on buy from me, inner cercle based on learn from me and let's build it together.
My ideal clients so far fitted the buy from me list. You need an assessment for your permit? You buy one. That is however not me and not exciting. It is making a living.
My true ideal client wants to hear my visionary stuff and pay for new tools, methods, sources of information. They want to be my engaged public and my test rabbits, for they know that what I deliver, is what brings them their gain.
That is how the launch marketing was kinda set up. Will go over it again to see where it needs tweeks to get this "new" message across.
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Hi Sin,
that is a very interesting clarity you've got. I like the idea of differentiating based on the inner and outer circle. That offers a new product range for your knowledge sharing. You yourself will gain alot of insight into your customers by offering this. Love it.
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WHO is your ideal client
1. They have an international business
2. They want to improve the way they do business
3. They want to change their habits and their attitude towards clients
4. They are willing to learn from me
5. They have a positive attitude and empathy
6. They want to understand how their clients think and act
7. They are aware of the importance of good communication
8. They appreciate what I have to offer
9. They want to grow their business
10. They want to build a good relationship with their clients
The 3-5 most important ones:
1. They have a positive attitude and empathy
2. They are willing to learn from me
3. They want to improve the way they do business
4. They want to change their habits and their attitude towards clients
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WHY do you want to work with ideal clients
1. They have positive energy
2. They are fulfilling to work with
3. They are open-minded
4. They are easy and fun to work with
5. I learn from them as much as they do from me
6. They see the value of my services to them
7. They pay me well
8. They are less hassle to deal with (less returns)
9. They will buy more often
10. They will refer me to their friends and business relatives
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Day 5 - How to deal with “flops”
The way I capture my Mastermind clients works as a filter, because they have to join a free 3 hours workshop very hands-on and stay till the end before I sell, and they can only buy then, during that event.
But I will in addition:
- Establish rules of engagement during onboarding
- Remain mindful during the 3 months we work together to monitor any attitude or behavior that would indicate "flop" and how is breaking the rules and will apply "friendly reminder" y "friendly warning".
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Day 5 – come up with at least 10 ideas how to deal with your “flops” and choose your preferred strategy;
How to deal with my flops:
1. Be open to them and tell them in a one to one meeting that it is time for something else, something I do not offer.
2. If possible give them an advice, a person /program-name they can go to.
3. Tell them that i have decided to change the way I work and therefore don t have time for this part of my business anymore.
4. Organize a webinar and let them answer questions I prepared. The answers will lead them in another direction, away from me. And I will clarify that I have decided to work in a different war.
5. In my take- in - session with them I will ask questions. If the answers DO NOT fit with my ideal client profile, I will tell them honoustly I can not work with them.
6. With my existing flop clients I will also talk one to one, making rapport with the clients, and asking them whats up in their work or business, and check if they have any leads for me, since they know how I work.
7. Find out if there is a possibility of working together, if the flop client works in an area- related business
8. Systemize my quwstionnaire for flopclients a. Be intetesed in the person, b. Interested in their work or busineds
C. Draw honoust concusions to their answers:a goodbye as a client.
9. Ask them for honoust feedback on my business and tell them i want to learn from them.
10. By develloping and systemizing questionaires after every event or session, I will soon find out if Some one is a flop client.
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What will I do with flops:
I had some more but just lost text while copying/pasting, will change it tomorrow morning.
Don't accept them in the beginning, following my intuition and even if I don't know why rationally;
So only accepting people which I feel won't become a flop in their behaviour, investment etc.
BUT: from time to time I could let enter someone if I hesitate, also to check if my intuition is 'sharp'
Ask initiative during a training for example. And if I don't hear from them, skip their contactdetails from my p.r.-machine;
Explain to them that in my opinion their input is a flop and explain why and aks them to think about it and what they woud suggest themselves as a good solution.
If they come with a good proposal and change their behaviour and input, they might get a last chance;
Tell them: stop, untill here and not further, and explain or not explain why;
Build in in a new training a kind of 'test-fase' and if they don't give enough input, don't let them subscribe tot the program;
My prefferred strategy to choose:
Don't accept them in the beginning, following my intuition and even if I don't know why rationally;
So only accepting people which I feel won't become a flop in their behaviour, investment etc.
BUT: from time to time I could let enter someone if I hesitate, also to check if my intuition is 'sharp'
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Day 5
How will you “get rid” of those flops? E.g. say “goodbye” by the end of the year, say “goodbye” now, refer them to someone else, give them an “ultimatum” to change/take a certain action and if they don’t – say “goodbye”…
How will I get red of the ‘flop’ clients?
1. I will spent less time for these clients.
2. I will spent less time engaging with them through mail, through chats etc
3. I will spent less time making blogs or posts for these clients
4. I will ignore these clients
5. I will say in a nice way that I only work with… and that it costs….And take it or leave it
6. Don’t give them special discounts or offers.
7. Be honest with them
8. In a certain time I will let them go, don’t know when, maybe never ….. maybe in a few years when I only want to work with ideal clients, have a new brand or company and maybe also this company (!)
9. I now realize I thought I had some ideal clients. For example I had a woman as a client. I like her very much. She is intelligent, good looking, fun. And I had a call with her. She is interested to work with me more. In my head I had some plans for the future. But she paid her bill for the membership after a few months and after several reminders! I hate that! So now she is no more on my digital ideal client list. So what I do with clients like her? Nothing, unfortunately. Recently she asked my if I will work with her and her student on a project. My first reaction was ‘Sure! Send my the info!’ But now I think I must be honest with her and say I can not work with her.
10. Some of the potential clients are on my social media friends list. When I notice the are a ‘flop client’ I can remove them from my friends list.
My strategy? I will think about it when I will combine it all together this weekend, on sunday
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day 4: What can YOU do to “push” those who are not yet ideal clients – to become more ideal…?
1. To let them see the value that I deliver
2. Keep them more in picture, I mean I pay more attention to them so it will be the other way around
3. Let them know with whom I prefer to work with
4. Let them pay first and not after the service
5. Ask them want they want from me so I can serve them more in a way the I think I can deliver value
6. Let them know what I my plans are in the future, and they can let me know if they are interested
7. Let them know that I love to work with them but it cost a certain amount
8. Ask them more questions about their pain and their wishes, aks what they want, and then say or let them know that I have it what they want
9. Offer a strategic call for free and give a form first, and with a sentence that I only work with clients who filled that form and is on time on the scheduled meeting and that they have to be prepared so they know what I want and what to expect
10. I must make myself more easy to find. And I must show myself more as an expert so my ideal clients will find me.
11. I have a list of clients who are almost ideal but still not. They pay every year a membership. And I have ‘good payers’ as clients. I now think I can pay them more attention. Send them more valuable information. Organize for them a free training. Give them extra’s. Organize a special VIP meeting or something. When I do first the extra’s and the give aways, the clients will stay on these membership. When I will organize a paid high quality VIP meeting, I will see how are now my ideal clients.
My preferred strategy?
I think I will keep it still in an easiest way. Like more posting about what I do and what my future plans are
And what I wrote in the last step. Give the clients who are in the membership and the clients who are ‘good payers’ more attention.
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I will only focus on 100% ideal clients. Ofcourse mr and mrs perfect do not exist. Focussing on a niche makes me recognizable.
So no more everyone else and no flops. It saves me time and energy and it keeps me from doing things reluctantly. Possibly less business and even that is not sure. I think I can recognise an ideal client in an early stage.
329 comments
WOMB WEEK 6, JULY 29, DAY 5/5 ideal clients
How to deal with your flops?
Although I commit to 100% ideal client strategy, I think that there is the possibility that ideal clients may become flop clients. When that happens, I want to be prepared:
1. Create a ”Flop Funnel”. When certain behaviors (or lack of them) start to show up, kindly and firmly invite clients to take certain actions or go
2. Explain what behavior is not longer acceptable and why
3. Explain why is not longer a sustainable/ positive business relationship for both sides
4. Contact my competition and ask for a special discount/ offer for the clients I can not longer serve (no details explained off course)
5. Refer flop clients to competition
6. Ask them to commit to a certain process or next back end. Inform them that if they are not willing to do so is totally fine but then is also time to split
7. Inform them about the new terms & conditions and ask them kindly to make a choice: sign or unsubscribe (leave)
8. Ask them to pay all the unpaid bills or leave (when affordable loss)
9. Send them a gratitude and best wishes letter/card/ note
10. Explain that I can not longer help them thrive
329 comments
WOMB WEEK 6, JULY 28, DAY 4/5 ideal clients
How to transform your “everyone else” clients into ideal clients?
Although it certainly will not be possible to transform all existing clients into ideal clients, these are my 12 ideas of how to make them “convert” 😁:
1. Create a strategic “transformation” traject
2. Invite them to participate in transformation Front End
3. Send them a survey to find out what their level of commitment/ quality/ behavior is
4. Clearly communicate my compelling WHY
5. Have a telephone call, online meeting or coffee with the strong ideal client prospects
6. From their level of engagement see if they will further commit by buying my next back end
7. Send a personalized message to tell them why they are ideal clients (if they don’t feel identified, they may leave by their own initiative)
8. Ask them to become ideal clients (VPI Circle)
9. Ask them to refer a friend with ideal client profile and make sure to create a fun and meaningful accountability body system so that they both can thrive (irresistible offer)
10. Create meaningful milestones (gamification, creative rewards, elevating events)
11. Use the methodology of Apreciative Inquiry
12. Ask investigative questions about what my products and services mean to them (their why)
92 comments
Day 4: Ideas to transform your “everyone-else” clients to ideal clients and chosen preferred strategy.
1. Phase everyone else client out, so finish what the job and do no solicitation for more work and or tell them sorry to busy the next time. (chosen)
2. Discuss the matter with them indicated that ‘my’ expectations around the partnership are different and ask what their observations are and if they are willing to change it.
3. Analyse the current client base and focus on the (near to) ideal clients first, so if this takes more time, automatically the everyone-else clients can get less time. (chosen)
4. Update the material on web-site and other material to better fit the demands of ideal clients.
5. Explain current (all) clients what is my ideal business and ask for contacts that better fit the purpose.
6. Master the saying No part of business if a non-ideal client calls.
7. Change update product-service market portfolio to make it better match my ideal client viewpoints and experiences. (chosen)
8. Spent more time on marketing and acquisition to improve the clients portfolio.
9. Raise prices to drive out non ideal-clients.
10. Change the business focus to improve getting a higher percentage of ideal clients.
329 comments
WOMB WEEK 6, JULY 27, DAY 3/5
ideal clients, COMMITMENT
From now on, every new client most be IDEAL. (100%) I believe this is the right way to go. Since I am starting a new business from scratch, this is a wonderful opportunity to implement ideal client strategy from the beginning.
However, I would like to consider a margin of 20% in certain products and non essential services (baby clothes and frond end events) in case of referrals. This in order to give people a chance to become ideal clients.
108 comments
5. Let go of your “flop” clients
• Announce and tell the customer about a dramatic price increase, offer them a solution with suggesting other companies.
• Be straight, tell them that I am not interested in continuing to work for them
• Tell them I am not offering this service anymore
• Offer only the top package
• Tell them you are out of staff
• Charge extra for the extra work that he/she is creating
• Rescheduling the work you are doing
• Charge them extra if they pay late
• Send them an email: “After reviewing my [business goals/your needs], I’ve decided we aren’t the best fit anymore. After this project is ended at the end of the month, I recommend you go to my colleque . I will provide you with all your data and relavant information. Thank you for your understanding.”
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DAY 5. How to deal with non-ideal (flop) clients (first would be the preferred strategy)
1. Give a set of choices regarding interaction modes (more ideal client commitment and behavior = more service and benefit, less ideal = the opposite), each of which you are fine with. Tell them that there are no other options, other than the option to stop.
2. Make it more difficult or expensive for clients to maintain less desired behavior.
3. Emphasize the disadvantages of less desired behavior.
4. Be normative in your own behavior and examples, to set a standard for what is “normal” when dealing with you.
5. Be simply clear in your communication about what you expect.
6. Provide insight/examples regarding effects of more desired behavior.
7. Ask stimulating, eye-opening questions, that trigger self-steering.
8. Build up pressure that people are monitored in their less desirable behavior.
9. Make desired behavior even more rewarding or fun.
10. Set an ultimatum by when to permanently change to more desired behavior.
85 comments
Day 2
1. Open
2. Honest
3. Enthousiastic
4. Willing to learn
5. Being grateful
6. Friendly
7. Sense of humour
8. Authentic
9. Visually oriented
10. Trustable
85 comments
Day 1 (delayed because of holidays)
1. More fun
2. More energy
3. Being 100 % my true self
4. Better relationship
5. Easier referrals
6. Less discussions
7. Less extra work
8. Less costs
9. More inspiration
10. Easier marketing
576 comments
How to transform my current clients into ideal clients
Ok this is hard because the first things that come up are “teach”
And “show” and j think it would be much better to see if I can help themselves.
What else can I do?
1. Communicate my ideal client clearly everywhere. I’m still a bit looking for my why for the “engineers”. I click with them but that’s not easy to sell:)
2. Make it clear what my own why is - it will help them choose. So far, btw most of my clients are engineers but they’re not all having sustainability as a thing. (And I don’t have a lot of clients anyway)
3. Make a list of my former clients and offer the ones who fit something they can’t refuse
4. Make my products more specific so it will fit those who are my ideal clients
5. Create benefits especially for ideal clients (if they’re working on sustainability it will pay off)
6. Create a program together with my ideal clients
7. I can’t turn normal clients into ideal clients if they’re for instance too small. So I’ll let them go.
8. I could offer my services to a stichting who’s interested in how to improve their online meetings
Sigh. I can find many ways on how to get more ideal clients but not how to turn my normal ones into ideal ones and I’m also not sure if that’s the right way for me since I only have 3 clients yet 🙂
For new ideal clients also JVs would be great.
178 comments
Day 4 – come up with at least 10 ideas how to ‘transform’ your “everyone else” clients to ideal clients and choose your preferred strategy;
Be open and honest;
Explain to clients what are the ideal characteristics which they can develop to be ideal clients who get the most out of f.e. training;
Explain to clients what it takes to implement and develop those chacteristics;
Explain why it is important for them to develip those characyeristics, what it will nring them;
And what it will bring me;
That ideal clients make me a better teacher, coach and that vice versa;
Explain to clients what I expect from them;
And be kind ánd strict in that;
Be very clear about concrete appointments what to do, exercise,
Help them to get their goals clear and investigate which steps are necessary to reach tbose goals
Break steps into smaller steps to make implementation easier;
Tell them about my own experiences in trying to be an ideal client and what it brings me and how i improve myself in being an ideal client;
My choice:
Explaining to my clients what it takes to become an ideal client, why its important for them and for me, and give concrete guiddlines about how to train this.
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Thursday week 6
ideal clients
One of the biggest realisations these days are that I have and had ideal clients.
I did not celebrate them or myself with
their presence enough. Being on guard for transference processes. One of my aims is empowerment
How to combine this with my personal needs?
I know also how ideal clients can turn into energy consumers.
This week I got more clearity. Thank you all for that.
Basics is a win -win connection in wich I from my side express my needs and goals too. Not only focussing on what my clients need and what I can offer.
For the first time I am including this on my website for instance. Beforehand and not during the contact.
108 comments
DAY 4. Transform your “everyone else” clients to ideal clients
I will need to teach my customers what value I bring. Leveraging my customer data to show them what results they realised. Offer them more which will bring them even more value.
Ask for feedback and find out if there are any fields that I could improve upon.
145 comments
Day 4
Strategy to transform into ideal clients:
1. When I sell my mastermind groups (every 3 months I will clearly explain the kind of clients that benefits most
AND I will also explain that you benefit the most, but also these qualities and behaviors benefit the rest of the group
2. If any client does not behave as an ideal client, she will be invited to leave, no refund. And this I will be part of an agreement to be sign before we start (friendly reminder, friendly warning).
3. From the very beginning I will monitor their behavior and remind that in the Mastermind Group we behave in the ideal client way and aim to acquire the qualities of the ideal clients
145 comments
Day 3
Here I formally declare my commitment that 100% of my Mastermind clients will be ideal clients. And it feels great! Actually at the moment 100% of my Mastermind clients are ideal clients and now that I have realized I know I will be attracting more of the same kind.
181 comments
Day 4. How to ‘transform’ your “everyone else” customers to Ideal customers
I really would like to know how to transform my everyone else customers to ideal customers. I know how I would like my ideal customers to be but how to attract them. Nowadays it is really difficult to keep customers loyal. My ideal customers think it is really important to buy sustainable products. They like the sustainable collection I have bought for them. They understand how important it is to care about the environment, about workers and about animals. I am really grateful that I can talk about them about what I care about and what they care about. The only thing is that I have tried so many things to attract more (ideal) customers. Ditha Bonita is growing and I am happy about that, but I am still looking for the perfect way to attract more perfect customers, to transform more customers and to keep the customers.
Brands I sell are also sold by other (web)shops. It is my dream to design my own collection one day. I really understand the concept of customer loyalty and "gunfactor" customer goodwill. I do have a lot of that and I would like to grot it. By being authentic, empathetic, transparent, sharing my knowhow. Also this program had given me new motivation to keep on trying.
That is why I need to get more out there, so customers will notice me (more). And trying to think about a customer loyalty program that is different from all other programs.
718 comments
I believe it's very simple (not necessarily easy, but very simple), Marielle.
Build a community. A club. A tribe.
Of conscious consumers.
Stop thinking of yourself as a webstore, and instead become the source for sustainable education, lifestyle and inspiration.
Engage your clients in conversation, debate and actions of sustainability in all its forms.
As long as you think of your business as a webshop and your clients as customers - you will have no (sustainable) competitive advantage to any other webshop.
The moment you create a community around your brand - the competition disappears...
To make a point:
Here is a "normal" webshop for high heels shoes for dancers: https://www.cupidanza.com/collections/women-shoes-dance-shoes
Here is a community-centered webshop for high heels shoes for dancers: https://burjushoes.com/
I hope you can see the difference.
If you like this direction, simply use the Idea Generator to come us with as many ways to achieve this goal - of creating a community...
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Hello Nisandeh,
I can see your point. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. And yes, I DO see the difference. And I am already working on creating a community. But there are several steps before that. First of all I have to get more out there. Making myself more known, so people will WANT to be a part of my community. It also is important to have more people working IN my business (so I can work ON my business). I have automated what I can, but I still need help. I cannot do it all on my own. It is just me, myself and I. But I am looking and working. And I am confident that I will get to the point that I have a circle of trusted and loyal customers/friends/help around me.
Thank you that you make me see there is more than one way to reach my goal. And thank you for your time and care!
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Day 4 28-07-22
1. I want to know everything about my current ideal client.
2. Asking my ideal client how I can appreciate him being an ideal client of mine.
3. Discussing with my ideal client how I can involve him in acquiring new ideal clients.
4. He is now following an extra program in which I give him more than he is entitled to.
5. Creating a podcast with my ideal client.
6. Asking my ideal client how I can help him get promoted.
7. Asking my ideal client which network meetings are interesting for him.
8. Asking my ideal client who in his network he would like to offer a coaching session and offer this for a greatly reduced price (or for free).
9. Designing a product/training together with my ideal client that he would find perfect for him. (By the way, I did this during the brainstorming session with Nisandeh and this is the result that I fully commit myself to this).
10. Working with my ideal client to devise a perfect training for his team.
11. I'm going to combine point 4 with 9 and 10. (Again, the best ideas only come after the point when I can't think of anything more. This is great!
12. With the result of 11 I am going to recruit new ideal customers.
13. I will place the description of my ideal customer with his perfect training devised on my linkedIn profile and website.
14. I come up with a script for a Youtube recording in which my ideal customer is talking and mentions his ideal approach. Do you also want this experience he had with the perfect training?
15. I use my ideal customer with a description about him in which the visitors of my website recognize themselves in him.
I use point 11 as a starting point and am expanding this step by step. Yes! I want that!!!
181 comments
Day 4 – come up with at least 10 ideas how to ‘transform’ your “everyone else” clients to ideal clients and choose your preferred strategy;
How to transform my every one else clients into ideal clients?
1. Give workshops that relate to general problems of people like procrastination,
Find more rest in a day, how to enjoy everyday more, making shore that you find time for leisure and friends.
2.give workshop on how to create your
Dreamproject (as busy parents) and inspire each other.
3. Ask for referrals from those who did the workshops.
4. Ask those clients what they need and want to learn.
5.organize an open (to everyone) webinar in addition to nr. 4., including life referrals from some ideal clients.
6. Create a training with client-wanted themes
7.give them in the training what they want AND what they need to grow (meaning getting closer to being my ideal clients)
8. Make a short video showing results of ideal clients, that inspire. Giving people 3 days to decide on joining a follow up training after nr 7.
9. Work one on one wth potential ideal clients after workshops and trainings to fasten the road to become ideal client.
10. Organize brainstormsession once in a while with ideal clients how to attract more ideal clients.
11. Create team around me with ideal clients that I trust and like to work with.
12. Brainstorm with nr 11 group about POSSIBLE jointventures. 😀
189 comments
DAY 4 - ideal clients - 10 ideas on how to convert 'everyone else' clients to ideal clients
1. Offer them a service, product, training that will be attractive only to ideal clients
2. Educate them on why user experience is so important
3. Educate them on how a well structured codebase saves them money, time and problems
4. Educate them on how a more consistently looking, ‘finished’ website or application
5. "" increases their customer happiness and trust
6. "" makes it easier to find a website in a search engine
7. "" increases their revenue
8. Let them know more of my experience and knowledge as an expert (increase trust)
9. Give them a call and just have a talk about what they want and need and see if I there’s potential for them to become an ideal client
10. Ask them for feedback on what I did for them so far, use that as a conversation starter (see also 9)
I currently have one client, for which I'm rebuilding his whole website.
I see that they're pretty ideal, but lack somewhat on these areas:
(from the earlier assignment)
3) values a great user experience
12) is easy to work with, honest and transparent and keeps their agreements
18) refers other ideal clients to me
19) gives great feedback
So how can I change this:
1- educate them on why great user experience is important (already doing that)
2- having more regular calls to make it easier to work together
3- ask them to refer me before the current project ends
4- ask them for feedback more explicitly
189 comments
I realize that I never thought about this client being ideal before.
It makes me happy to see it and grateful to have them as a client.
189 comments
DAY 3 - ideal clients - COMMITMENT
From April 2023 onward, 80% of all clients must be ideal clients.
In the meantime, I'm fully booked with a long-running project until the end of the year.
412 comments
WEEK 6, DAY 4 - transform into ideal clients
Day 4 – come up with at least 10 ideas how to ‘transform’ your “everyone else” clients to ideal clients and choose your preferred strategy;
My ideas
1. Using examples of women in my communication
2. using pictures of women in my communication
3. a clear structure in my services that increasingly select on the ideal client criteria
4. adjust my website based on the ideal client criteria
5. express that I expect commitment and what that looks like
6. tell my MailChimp readers bout my plans for change
7. tell my already ideal clients about my new service (which I don't have right now) that is only for ideal clients
8. set up a poll ‘with a wink’ on LinkedIn, such as: “can coaching and humor go together?“
9. adjusting my positioning from Millennial issues to leaders for change (but oh my company name)
10. say no to people that want to buy follow-up programs and don't meet the ideal client criteria
I am running blank on this one, feel like I am going in circles and thinking of nothing new or really smart. Also, these are not really different strategies, my ideas are all connected. So choosing the best strategy? Maybe #7. I don't know. I am feeling a bit down now and I will take the rest of today to get my spirit back. Also, I will read al the input of the other participants for more inspiration.
Dear fellow participant, if you see these ideas of mine, which one strikes you as the best? Thanks for helping me out.
718 comments
This is a small part of a longer answer I gave Sin yesterday…
It might help you, Manny, get “unstuck”…
I assume, that as soon as you know what your ideal client criteria is, then you can easily look at your clients list and divide them into 3 lists: Ideal, Flops, and everyone else.
To be honest, you probably can do it without even having an “official” criteria.
The next step is to let those who are Ideal that you are going to focus most of your time, attention, expertise on them (if they want to, of course)… that you see them more as partners than clients, and that your wish is to work together with them for the coming xx years/projects/goals/etc…
Prepare them that you’ll be contacting them in the coming weeks with some questions, so together you can identify the best way you can serve them.
Then communicate a similar message to those that are “everyone else” and tell them what (and by when) they need to do/become in order to move to the VIP category (I wouldn’t use the word ideal clients with them)…
Then, if you’re ready to let go of the flops, then find a nice way to let them go or refer them to others with an explanation that you’re focusing all your attention, time and resources on a small group of VIP clients, and so you’d like to help them move along to another provider by referring them…
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Thank you Nisandeh. Your clarification and the posts of other participants gave me a direction I can understand; I can see it happen now.
314 comments
Day 4
I would prefer not to turn erveyone elses clients in to my ideal client but start at the first intake and make the decision this is my ideal client or not.
If they are I will over deliver if they are not I will send theme to a co-worker.
The risk of me wanting to help every body is to big so right at the intake I have to make the decision whether they are ideal clients or not.
314 comments
Day 3
I want 100 % of my new clients to be my ideal clients.
As I deliver contractbased care for this to become reak I have to delegate every client who dos not fit my ideal client list to a co-worker right after the first contact or the first intake.
The risk in this for me is by wanting to help when I hear there problem is starting to help and dont focus on the ideal client.
I dont know yet if it will work but I can go over the list shortly before the first intake to focus myself on the ideal client and not there problem even if I know I can fix it easy and still refer theme to a co-worker.
183 comments
Day 4 - week 5
Transform your "everyone" customers into Ideal Customers
What can YOU do to "push" those who are not yet Ideal Customers - to become even more ideal...?
Current costumers
1. By offering more I can make the current customer more ideal.
2. By being clearer and clearer (better communication) and especially more structured, not every now and then or when I think now it can be done for a while. So better strategy in communication.
3. Offer and experience several revenue models that I offer to the current customer.
4. Offer more offer
5. Interview what they lack and or need more
6. keep in touch / stay connected
New customers
1. use current customers as ambassadors.
2. Ask if they know 3 customers that they would recommend our platform and if they would like to approach them. A reward for success. Being more valuable to each other and giving value.
3.Be more important in what the customer needs. Do research on that. Why don't you join? What do you need?
What do you miss?
What do you like?
What don't you like?
4. Podcasts with those topics. Or with an existing satisfied customer and clarify what it gives the current customer. use his passion and inspiration. Unlike us from toilet duck...
5. Newsletter to spend
6. Special temporary action to experience.
7. Clean up mailing list
8. What beliefs hold me back?
9. What makes the customer happy instead of talking to me about what makes me happy or I think they will be happy.
10. Approach personally.
11. Ask a famous person for a recommendation or record a podcast.
409 comments
Day 4
Transformation to ideal clients
How to attract ideal clients:
1. know and like them
2. ask the price that is equal to the product
3. make the contact personal, sent dm, call, meet them at schools
4. arrange talks/ information moments/lunches
5. join up with accociatons (from schools)
6. be the example
How to make clients ideal clients:
1. Start help with a package
2. Offer a next step
3. offer a VIP package
4. ask what more the need
5. walk the extra mile with them
the first commitment is to improve my speaking and speak. And offer the next step.
105 comments
Week 5 - Day 4
In the 8 years I have my business I've worked with about a hundred clients and I haven't had any bad experiences.
Most people are just fine. So I guess I maybe haven't found a un-ideal client yet?
Therefor I wouldn't know how to transform them. (And I don't the need for it, to be honest.)
215 comments
DAY 4. How to transform other clients into ideal clients
Insofar relevant (given my input of the previous 3 days), I see a couple of options:
• Regarding reselling partners, when a new partner would come into sight, I would assure that we are a good (“ideal”) match, and contractually assure that our mutual efforts, involvement, and partnership performance cannot be entirely non-committal.
• Regarding current non-ideal partners, I don’t see them move any closer to becoming ideal, however this is not really an issue, as no time/energy goes with having these partners. I might as well quit them (stuff for tomorrow’s assignment).
• Regarding individuals, my ways of marketing and servicing can help select the better clients, as well as nudge the non-ideal clients to behave in desired ways (e.g. by way of appealing to mutual fairness, displaying understanding and willingness to help, the reciprocity principle, and general politeness/kindness).
Brainstorming 10 ways:
1. Get to contractual agreements
2. Show that you understand them, make them feel heard
3. Pro-actively offer help, make them see your commitment
4. Pro-actively show interest, show that you care
5. Subtly use the reciprocity principle
6. Be polite / kind / nice, triggering the same
7. Ask them for the desired behavior/input
8. Ask what their intentions towards you are
9. Explain that you only wish to work with ideal clients
10. Agree on a regular contact scheme (which, based on various psychological principles, will lead to efforts regarding constructive behavior)
139 comments
DAY 4
how to ‘transform’ your “everyone else” clients to ideal clients and my preferred strategy
Make offers in newsletter
Clean up newsletter list every 3 months
Offer an irresistible offer to get "friends" to become clients
Ask all who did not take the offer why
I am not going to persuade people!
But I will make a good job in making great offers
Thank everybody who does not buy for showing me, that they are not my ideal clients
Ask questions in blogs and newsletters - get them to interact
Make a survey
Get on stages of partners serving ideal clients
The best strategy is to offer an irresistible offer, ask non-buyers why and see if I want to meet their wishes.
I will prepare but set no steps now as I promised to take a break until September.
409 comments
day 3
ideal client commitment
* GGZ: I make the clients more ideal by changing the offer to a package.
* WKS: ging to offer a next step or intervisie group
* Gezinscommunicatie: all new clients will be ideal clients (80%) They will get into a funner and the 1 on 1 is a VIP offer
108 comments
I commit to my ideal clients. I am aware that I already change my communication with them. I can't help everybody and I don't want to.
I offer my best product and if they want to work with me they get the best of me.
For less committed clients I have products that cost me no me-time and still I can deliver great value.
I feel more power. And I communicate that. Feels good.
Love this.
181 comments
Day 3 My commitment for Ideal Customers
I would love for all my customers to be ideal customers. By choosing certain products, by writing blogs about what is important to me/my business, by showing my philosophy in the webshop and the way I communicate, the subjects I find important, I try to attract the people/customers that are a perfect fit. But when you sell products in a webshop, you do not control who buys your products and who does not. E.g. when there is sale, I attract a different type of customers that are NOT my ideal customers. I do not like the Sale, but sometimes I have to. My commitment for ideal customers is that I stay true to myself and to them. Sharing our ideals. However I cannot 'refuse' customers that buy online because they become customers after they have bought and paid for the product. So there is a big difference with clients that 'buy' your services.
123 comments
Hi Marielle,
I can totally agree with you that you cannot refuse people who are not your ideal clients when they shop with you during sales time (hey, everyone loves a sale)...
However, from my experience as a buyer I can tell you that when a shop (online or physical) is working with similar values ideas and concepts as mine I would keep on buying from them even when there is no sale. That means that the owner of the place needs to make it EXPLICIT what they stand for and gets to know each customer and the reason they have showed up on their doorsteps (or website)...
I have a shop here in Tenerife that I got to them only because they had a sale on something (I can't even remember what it is now...) When I got there I found out that it's a no-plastic shop and that I can buy there products on bulk (like seeds, beans, oats etc...) In the beginning I used to come with my glass jars to refill there anything that we use and was available there. But after a while it became too much of a hustle because some of the things we finish within a week and it takes me nearly 40 minutes just to drive to that shop.
Now days I ask her to order an extra bag from the products I need when she orders from her supplier. She now earns more on every transaction with me than before and I benefit from a lower price when I buy in such quantity. That's what an ideal client is even when it comes to physical products like you have.
Therefore I don't think there is a big difference between offering products or offering services and attracting the ideal clients. In both cases in order to turn any customer/client into an Ideal one you need to have a clear message of what you stand for and what you're looking for.
When a client walks in you offer what you have but with the intention of getting them to become an ideal client - but for that you first have to define what is an ideal client for you and make it clear to them...
Looking at your list of who is an ideal client - I'm curious to know what are your TOP most important qualities (3-5)?
Once you have it ask yourself how can you educate your clients why it is important, if they have not thought it themselves before.
181 comments
Hello Vered,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a reply. You are so right about having a clear message. I really do believe I am very clear about my message. However, I also think I can do more about my visibility. There is a lot of competition nowadays, especially since webshops have discovered the 'sustainability theme'. For me it is not a trend or a hype, it is something I strongly believe in since the beginning, 13 years ago. However, more and more webshops are using it and 'poluting' the concept. It is greenwashing and the public believes them. Luckily people that were already interested in a sustainable lifestyle know where to look.
I think my ideal customer does not believe everything he/she reads, especially not greenwashing companies. They think for themselves and they hold the same values I have. I would love a customer like you are, one that is thinking with me about solutions. You thought about how you could make it easier for you and still keep on buying with that shop. For me, that is also an ideal customer. But while writing this, I thought of something. Maybe I could form some kind of group of customers to brainstorm about what they are looking for and what their ideal shop would look like.
That is what I like about this program. I am forced to take a long and hard look at my company and the way I am running it. An important reason why I decided to participate in this program. I was doubting everything and felt small and demotivated. Even thinking about giving up and stop. But I feel the energy coming back again.
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Hi Marielle,
I think you're in the right direction... Instead of being "just another webshop" create a COMMUNITY around you...
It's enough that you'll have a few ideal clients make them involved with what you care and dream about discuss it with them, make them think and act upon their own values and beliefs. Once they become partners with you they will:
1. Give you the information you're looking for about what they WANT
2.They will buy more (because it's what they wanted)
3. Talk about it with their like-minded friends and refer more to you
4. Spread the concept for you
When you stop thinking of yourself as a "shop" and start thinking of THE PLACE and create a community around it you create your own eco-system that no other shop can compete with you... and.. you'll attract the ideal clients
181 comments
Hi Vered,
You are so right. I have to stop thinking of myself as 'just' a webshop. Because I am doing that, I constantly worry about money, paying the bills, getting enough orders. However, I think there are a few steps I have to take before I can create a community. It takes a lot of time and at the moment it is just me, myself and I. So I start by doing what I CAN do. And that is making myself known. So right now I am busy writing tips on how to live a sustainable life. Easy and fun tips. I am going to post one every week on social media and make people want to read the tips and information I can give them. The other two days I will post different kinds of information, but just as informative and yes, also fun. I want to make at least 30 postings per day of the week I am on social media. So that is 90 postings in total. And you know what. I am really enjoying writing and researching and learning a lot myself. And in the end I will have even more confidence to pose myself as an sustainability expert.
I am truly grateful to be part of this program!
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Day 2 WHO is your ideal client (qualities/behaviors)
1. My ideal customer is interested in a sustainable lifestyle
2. Cares about the environment
3. Thinks it is important workers get paid well
4. Thinks it is important that workers are treated well
5. Thinks it is important that animals are not harmed
6. Thinks it is important that products are of high quality
7. Thinks that everyone from worker to retailer deserves a fair price
8. Does not complain about prices but sees that my products are worth it
9. Understands the importance of looking after our planet
10. Is loyal
11. Is interested in the story behind the products
12. Tells everyone in his/her network to go to DithaBonita.nl
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Day 1 – Why do you want to work with ideal clients
I sell actual products in my webshop. So I do not have clients, I have customers. There is a difference. I can think of ideal customers but in the end your customers may choose you, based on price or how big your collection is, or what kind of brands you sell. So I can make a list with my ideal customers but attracting them is different from attracting clients when you offer services.
1. Ideal customers are loyal
2. They do not complain about the costs
3. They like what you sell
4. They like your ideas
5. They share your values
6. They come back again and again
7. They have good taste
8. They understand your philosophy
9. They care
10. They are nice people
11. You have their good will (gunfactor)
12. They can become friends
13. You need them
14. They are your livelihood.
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This is how I see my ideal cllient:
1) loves quality
2) Loves luxury but not excessively so
3) Loves to be well prepared
4) Loves everything well organized
5) Loves sociability
6) Spends money for a well-organized vacation
7) is in the age of 35 to 65.
8) family, job, but enjoy the freedom of choice (can do what you want to do but in moderation)
9) works to live
10) has a broad interest (nature, culture, adventure; everything provided in moderation)
11) Is curious about new experiences.
The 3 most important issues: spends money for a well-organized vacation, loves quality, has a broad interest.
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Day 3:
My commitment considering the ideal clients strategy.
1. I will access all direct and indirect clients I had the last 10 years and rate them on the list of Day 2 and add to this list things other participant named.
2. I will determine more clear the Product/Service Market Combination I’m in and/or plan to be in.
3. For will assess all new potential clients and run the 20/80 rule and decide if s/he is a waste of time or a potential investment for something else (gain necessary knowledge or contacts/network).
4. I’ll treat (future) ideal clients with more regard than spent time on less ideal clients.
5. I’ll have at least 1/3 (in number or time still be be decided) of my (current / new) clients in the ideal client category and evaluate its success before the end of March 2023.
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From now on every new client needs to be referred by another client and / or needs to ask me for help first (before a specialized offer).
I will give projects back if the necessary decisions and actions are not taken and/ or if my contribution is not a cooperation.
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Day 3 – come up with your commitment for ideal clients
E.g. from now on every new client must be an ideal client, or 50% or only for specific product/service, etc…
I feel this is a very exciting question.
My fulltime job is my client now.
For a lot of years I saw the organisation and inhabitants, and a few simultaneous jobs, as my ideal cliënt.
The people still are, the organisation is not anymore, so that will come to an end somewhere.
Starting my business and thinking about my ideal clients I get a very strange, nice, excited, undefined feeling:
If I decide that every new client will be an ideal client, it also tells me I have to provide them an offer which is very dedicated and very high quality.
So I have the feeling it's best for me and for my new clients that they are 100% ideal clients. That decision will push me to give the maximum I have within my talents and possibilities.
So my decision is: I go for 100% ideal clients.
And I will make a plan how to decide which clients are close to being ideal clients or are able to develop to ideal clients and I will make a plan about what's possible to help them to become ideal cliënts.
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My ideal clients qualities and behavior is:
1) Is positive, optimistic and enthusiastic
2) Dares/ loves to experiment, is not afraid to do things differently (than what they know)
3) feels urgency on a topic and care for the people around
4) (Is a manager that) has a budget/ can decide/ has mandate within the company
5) Appreciates me for me, respects my time, allows me to learn as well
6) is positively critical (and challenge themselves, me, the team etc)- give great feedback
7) has introspection/ self reflection and wants to improve
8) Is reliable
9) Is (pro) actively and not afraid/ enthusiastic to go the extra mile-
10) Has a vision of a desired outcome, wants to go for it and face the challenges. dares to commit
11) Are referred themselves by others, and refer me to others as well
12) They ask me to help them
13) see my contribution as a cooperation
14) pick up the phone, or call back quick (a bit like 8 may be)
15) touch me on a deeper level... or something
Top 5
12) They ask me to help them
11) Are referred to by others and refer others as well
1) is fun to work with/ we laugh a lot/ energies me
9) is pro- active/ takes the necessary decisions and actions
13) See my contribution as a cooperation
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3. Commit to your VIP Club/Inner Circle/ideal client Program
I don’t have ani deal client program yet. I would like to work on this. I have some ideas and maybe it is a good idea to do a brainstorm session about this. I am considering to make this a subscription service, to offer my clients the best value. Only for the sales coaching and new clients I will offer this subscription service. My target is that at the end of the year a minimum of 75% of my clients to be ideal clients.
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2. Define WHO is your ideal client
My ideal client is a company who has a small sales team, not big enough to have a salesmanager.
It has an owner/director who is responsible fort he sales. He/she leaves most of the work to the salespeople without getting too involved. They know that money “stays on the table”.
The company operates in an area whereby customer relations are very important.
Usually these companies offer technical or complicated solutions.
The directors think it is important to have a positive vibe within the company so they are not so strict in “getting people in action” or checking up on the results.
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Dag 3 week 5
Join your VIP Club/Inner Circle/ideal client program.
Which part of your company only serves ideal clients?
E.g. 100%, 50%, 20%, only new customers, only for a specific product/service, etc…
I go for 100% and I see the challenge of tomorrow to make every customer an ideal customer.
That seems like a huge challenge to me. Was mostly a relief not to have some customers. Now going to see how they can become my customer.
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Day 3
From now on 45% will be ideal clients
They’re the occupation of my place is still not above 50% I cannot yet be too particular on who is my ideal client.
That said from now on we will be very particular on the Google ads from who we want to target and also be very creative on which ideal companies we are going to approach where are ideal trainers may be working.
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Day 2 Who is our ideal client
1. Want to develop themselve
2. Are commited to our method and work with it (implements)
3. We can have fun
4. Is coachable ands sees me/us as an expert
5. Have a mandate to pay for my/our services/trainings
6. Wants to build a longterm relationship
7. Wants and are committed to deliver value to their customer
8. We trust one another
9. We wish (gunnen) each other the success we want
10. Has budgets for training and other personal development opportunities
11. Refers other ideal clients to me/us
3-5 most important for me
1 Want to develop themselve
3 We can have fun
4 Is coachable ands sees me/us as an expert
9 We wish (gunnen) each other the success we want
11 Refers other ideal clients to me/us
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Day 3... commit...
I thought about it earlier. Hard to think about it… I think now a part of my business is for my better clients (better paid). But for my ideal clients.. I don’t know if I have a service or product yet. I think I have a fantastic online program but now I think this is not enough or ideal for my ideal client.
So now I think I have maybe 30% of my products that ar for my better clients. But I don’t think if I now have something real valuable for my ideal clients.
Maybe because I think, but I'm not sure, that my ideal client wants a program that is the best of the best. A program where they actually learn from me in different ways: they want to partly read, partly listen, partly watch videos and partly even come offline/meet. The ideal project does not yet exist. So I think now that my ideal client would be interested in, doesn't exist yet. But maybe that's also because I now have in my head that a six-month program (like this WOMB but for my ideal customers) would be a top product.
Or maybe I'm setting the bar too high?
I don't know. I'll think about it and brainstorm. I do feel like I'm on the right track.
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1. to help more people with te information in my database, to help the right people, to create more value for my clients, to let grow my business
2. Bigger and smaller non-profis organizations that ar (mainly of partially) dependent on grants and funds
3. 20% for the training and 1-on-1 sessions
4. Being more pro-active instead of inbound marketing
5. I do nog take every client anymore allready, I refer them or just let them go.
7 comments
1. to help more people with te information in my database, to help the right people, to create more value for my clients, to let grow my business
2. Bigger and smaller non-profis organizations that ar (mainly of partially) dependent on grants and funds
3. 20% for the training and 1-on-1 sessions
4. Being more pro-active instead of inbound marketing
5. I do nog take every client anymore allready, I refer them or just let them go.
477 comments
The ideal ratio for me is that I want 50 percent ideal customers and 50 percent new revenue. By the new income I mean that I want to give value to people for larger groups. If I have 100 percent ideal customers, it means I'm not growing anymore. I am increasingly coming to the realization that I am looking for a source of income that will allow me to grow more as a company.
323 comments
I don't get your way of thinking Marcel.
Why can you not grow when you only serve ideal clients?
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The answer is a simple calculation, Bas. How many one-to-one coaching sessions per week can you handle as a coach? Do you think Nisandeh could have become this big if he had only done one-on-one sessions with ideal clients? In short, if I want to grow as a company, I don't just manage with one-on-one coaching sessions of ideal customers. It has become clear to me that I grow faster if I make more turnover and that is the law of high numbers.
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Day 3.
Commitment:
From now on my focus will only be on ideal clients. But... whenever someone comes and asks for my services, I will still offer them. For every new customer that is not an ideal client, I will first need to have an ideal customer (so 50-50)
Guys, I could use a hand. My ideal client would definitely be Vattenfall- I am impressed by their ambition to go for fossil-free within one generation- as an energy vendor! I would love to hand over my first book to their CEO. I think it has great value for them. Is there anyone who has a good contact at Vattenfall?
Gerdy
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WOW Gerdy, that would be great! I see it in front of me: you are giving your first copy of your new book to the CEO of Vattenfall. Unfortunately I don't know people there. But I am sure it will happen...
How far is your book? Is it almost ready to be published?
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Its done, and in editing phase now (which is a lot more work 😅 but it’s getting there slowly)
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It’s took me 2 minutes to find out the personal email and phone number of Anna Borg the CEO of the whole Vattenfall, and the personal email of Martijn Hagen - the CEO of the Dutch part of the company (I’ve sent them all to you privately).
Not sure if that’s what you were looking for, but I hope it helps…
323 comments
In the book "get different" from Mike Michalowocz- there was a short story about a accountant for sigarshops. He send books (that inspire him, not even his own) to prospects, and he puts cards in the book with: this page might interest you, because... or read this,... etc...
Reading your question I needed to think of this segment in the book.
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MY Goal for the week: I AM GOING TO BECOME THE IDEAL PROVIDER FOR MY ideal clients.
Day 3 / 5 My COMMIT MENT FOR ideal clients (E.g. 100%, 50%, 20%, only new clients, only for a specific product/service, etc)
1) (AIR)BNB
In principle all of my clients are ideal clients as the airbnb platform ensures timely, reviews, referrals and feedback. Of cause it is my responsible to ensure it is a positive feedback and referal.
But if I look at my dream project HappyVillages for which my ideal client parameters were listed, I can only quess if there is a match as this information is not shared up front. That might only be visible during interaction.
What I do know is, that if I wish to create a niche attracting my ideal clients, there are a number of possibilities available to me to attract my target audience: instagram stories, offers special stays with feelgood experiences, posting stories and events on my Airbnb site etc.
In order to test my theory that there is a need for the concept HappyVillages I will commit myself to create such special events for my Airbnb guests attracting a different audience. And I will use my audience to brainstorm about the requirements for my HappyVillage project.
Saying this I will start with committing myself to creating a new product for my target audience with an aim to reach 20% new customers this year. The first 4 month of 2023 I will generate 30% new customers.
2) OPTIMIZEPEOPLE
As this is a different business at this point only 25% match my ideal client.
I will create an ideal client MATRIX across my companies, adding a score to the parameters to monitor what the impact is of this low score on the rest of my creation energy and business happiness. If I wish to continue in this business,
a) I might add additional parameters to my ideal client list which also brings joy and which can be found in this business.
b) I might decide to stop operating in this business all together.
c) Or to change the type of assignments I wish to take on.
3) THE HAPPYVILLAGE PROJECXT
100% of my customers will be ideal clients as the parameters for my ideal clients is written for this project.
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DAY 3
From now on every client must be an ideal client for my in person products.
How I can ensure that:
Clients have to apply for 1:1 and masterminds
Raised my prices last month
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Week 5 - Day 3
My commitment regarding ideal clients.
When my agenda is full/when I have enough work:
80% of new clients need to be ideal clients.
When I do not have enough work:
0% of new clients need to be ideal clients.
323 comments
I hear you. This has been on my mind as well.
It makes me wonder if you see ideal clients as a luxury?
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WEEK 6, DAY 3 - My commitment
Well, my ideal client is female, amongst a lot of other things, but I am not ready yet to say no to every male millennial, who still belongs to my target audience. And also, I was resolved to focus more on organisations. I still have to figure out how to combine this all.
So I am a bit in doubt: do I focus on my ideal client in my heart (female leaders for change) or the ideal client for my wallet (organisations)? I will talk to my buddies about that.
And now my commitment!
I will develop a service/product that is especially for my ideal clients (heart).
In my marketing I will focus on them. Like Gerdy wrote to me (thanks Gerdy): women in a leadership positions, wanting to create a better world.
Right now 6% belongs to my ideal clients. From now on 50% of my new clients must be an ideal client.
>> I am going to become the Ideal Provider for my ideal clients. <<
376 comments
I look forward to learn all about your new service and products Manny.
Also I'm curious to learn more about your choice of target audience.
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Day 3: What is my commitment regarding ideal clients
• In the client segment reselling partners, a partner should be either ideal, OR take up very very very little of my time and energy. This is already the case (exactly 50/50).
• In the client segment corporates, NO client has to be ideal (yet).
• In the client segment individuals, I aim at marketing the products and servicing the leads or clients in such a way, that 50% will behave conform the ideal profile.
This goes for my current products. I can imagine adding products that involve more interaction and mutual commitment, whereby I would try to assure up front that the clients are “more ideal”.
376 comments
Fair enough to say that in the client segment corporates NO client has to be ideal (yet).
Two questions:
1) Is working with these customer a must to generate an income?
2) At what point do the corporate segment need transform into ideal clients for you?
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Thanks for triggering the nuances of this Marie-Louise - hereby my thoughts.
1. Not a strict must, but they are income-wise potentially extremely attractive, because all their employees have personal development / educational budgets, which they COULD choose to invest in my products. So "having" a corporate comes with a huge leverage potential.
2. While you've phrased it like you did, I came to realize that I don't see a sharp binary distinction between ideal and non-ideal. To me they are on a scale of more and less ideal (or even simply "more or less good"). So there is also no distinct "point" at which they need to transform. A client may be dormant for a while, which is not ideal, but that doesn't make them a client that I'd rather not have - especially when this doesn't take any time / energy / cost from me either. It is however interesting to think through how I can actively develop new contacts with new corporates or large SME, that might make a good match.
181 comments
Day 3 ideal clients
What part of your business will be serving only ideal clients?
My products are: training, coaching, massage related to personal growth and release stress.
My ideal clients need instant stressreduction and support, care and attention. After a serie of sessions they are able to cope with it themselves. I learn them how to handle stress. Part of that process is to focus on feelings instead of thoughts.
I would say that from now on 50 % of my clients will be my ideal clients. I need to adept more and new strategies in getting those clients. Change my marketing. To create my expertposition.
Some other clients can become ideal clients through my (online) workshops, trainings and massage/coachingsessions. I can build trust with them. Relate better and be more clear and specific about my expertise. In that way they will know when to come to me. And I will come up with deals regularly, having asked about their needs.
I will experiment on how to attract more ideal clients.
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Teusday week 6. Who is my Ideal cliënt:
My Ideal cliënt has:
Commitment
Ability to embrace their process
Ability to implement their process in daily life
Is happy with what I can offer
Is open for a click and comprehends the value of that
Can pay me with money or otherwise
Writes reviews
Invités me to their network
Invités me to do mentoring on the spot
Has a field of influence
Sees the value of the content of my work aswell as my place in Spain and the combination of these two
Is willing to change
The three most important characteristics are:
The click
Commitment
Field of influence and open to share that with me
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ideal clients - DAY 2 - WHO
My ideal client is:
1) A medium to large company that:
2) has a custom-made website / web application
3) values a great user experience
4) spends too much time and money on maintenance and fixing issues with this website / web application
5) therefore, cannot keep up to speed with new features and improvements for their users and so, becomes less competitive
6) wants to change this
7) acknowledges a short term investment to change this results in a high ROI over the medium to longer term
8) values and understands the solution I bring them (convert everything to a certain structure and technology stack)
9) has as a resilient business model
10) has an ethical business model ('do no harm', at least)
11) is grateful and appreciative of what I offer them
12) is friendly, honest and transparent
13) follows my processes and advice
14) is eager to learn and improve
15) keeps their agreements
16) pays on time
17) comes back
18) refers other ideal clients to me
19) gives great feedback
20) is pleasant and easy to work with
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3-5 most important ones
I notice that in the list above, I include quiet some things that are actually Target Audience:
1) A medium to large company that:
2) has a custom-made website / web application
3) values a great user experience
4) spends too much time and money on maintenance and fixing issues with this website / web application and wants to change this
7) acknowledges a short term investment to change this (4) results in a high ROI over the medium to longer term
The 3-5 that makes them an ideal client:
13) follows my processes and advice
11) is grateful and appreciative of what I offer them
12) is easy to work with, honest and transparent and keeps their agreements
18) refers other ideal clients to me
19) gives great feedback
376 comments
This is a very impressive list. You understand how to identify the critical successfactors very well Rens.
I'm curious to see which line of business your in.
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Day 1 why do you want to work with ideal clients
1. less frustration
2. constant flow of income
3. more predictability
4. makes me feel energized and happy
5. these clients give good feedback and referrals
6. we know the challenges of these clients
7. they see the value of our product(s)
8. the ideal client want to pay for our product
9. it’s fun to work together
10. because we can build a long term relationship
11. they can and will challenge me/us to get the best out of them
12. because they want to learn and develop themself
13. I would have a good feeling about the results we are getting
I would like to go for the ideal client. It’s scary! I don’t know what will happen if I do
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Day 2 – come up with at least 10 ideas for WHO is your ideal client (qualities/behaviors) and choose the 3-5 qualities that are most important for you;
* smart;
* good understander;
* polite;
* enthousiastic;
* motivated;
* motivated long-term;
* humour;
* pleasant;
* gratefull;
* honest;
* sincere;
* empathic;
* authentic;
* real;
* eager to learn;
* eager to change habits;
* eager to learn new skills;
* talking respectfull about other people;
* giving very good recommendations;
* good payer;
* fast payer;
3 to 5 qualities that are most important for me:
* honest;
* very pleasant person to work with;
* motivated to learn & change longterm ánd put it into action;
* good and fast payer;
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WHO is my ideal client (qualities/behaviors(
1. Open minded
2. Wants to make a difference
3. wants to contribute to a better world
4. has courage
5. is willing to learn
6. is coachable
7. wants to move and lead
8. is committed
9. dares to be the change he/she wants to see
10. wants to be authentic
The 3-5 qualities that are most important for you;
1. Is committed
2. Want to make a difference
3. is energetic
4. wants to learn
5. open minded
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Day 2, ideal client.
My ideal client is a male or female adult with a salary or regular income with an urgent stressproblem. Due to boss stress, burn out wrong job, , ilness of a close person, accute redundancy, lack of sleep, trauma, accident etc.
10 things they have in common:
My ideal clients have:
1. Stress, are out of balance
2. Willingness to solve their problem
3.coachable attitude
4. Have an urgent need of dis stressing
5. Realized they want to grow and change certain attitudes
5. Have a regular income
6. Discipline to show up for a booked session.
7. Have the courage to face their problem.
8. Choosen me to work with.
9. Have the belief that i can help them
10. Have the feeling that they can trust me and feel save with me.
1 to 4 and nr 9 are most important.
I am working on my online parent academy as well. What I see is that some of my ideal clients are stressed parents.
If i have solved their stressproblems, they can be very valuable for my parent academy, e. g. in my parent academy testgroup!!!
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Day 2
My ideal client
Wants to be known as an expert
Wants to be visible
Implements
Cares about results, not costs
Pays in advance
Values her/his/their time
Has strong value and makes decisions based on them
Does the work
loves to talk about her/his/their experience
Shows up
My top 4 are:
Wants to be known/have success as an expert
loves to talk about her/his/their experience
implement
Cares about results not costs
477 comments
Day 2 26-07-22
I describe 2 customers who were/are an ideal customer. One is a woman and the other a man.
Female:
Around forty and married to a rich man
She has no purpose in life and seeks a purpose in her life.
She has had a rough experience in her life.
She looked for authenticity.
She recommends me to her husband and he recommends me to his company.
She appreciates the questions I ask because they have never been asked of her.
She is very attentive
She has little energy
She is introverted and highly sensitive
She avoids conflict and has difficulty setting boundaries.
She is very caring
Man:
Manager of around fifty years
He would like to develop
He wants to be liked and pleases others at the expense of himself.
He remarried after a divorce.
He was initially against coaching and then became completely convinced of the effects of coaching.
His team members really appreciate him being coached by me.
He is very sensitive and quickly cares about the fate of others.
He quickly feels guilty and mainly thinks in solutions.
He has a technical background in computer science
He has trouble asking good questions and is prone to making assumptions.
He wants others to do it his way.
He is interested in systems thinking and working smarter.
He makes rapid progress by observing and asking questions.
He is reactive and not strategic.
He appreciates the effects of the coaching on his relationship.
He is insecure and sensitive to compliments.
He always wants to do well and is afraid of making mistakes.
He likes to be the center of attention and wants to be loved.
He can easily make decisions and overwhelms himself in doing so.
He can be dependent on me.
He can sometimes miss the mark completely.
He is empathetic and would like to connect even more with his team members.
He tries to impress others.
The selected characteristics of my ideal customer
She has no purpose in life and seeks a purpose in her life.
He or she finds authenticity and authentic behavior important.
He wants to be liked and pleases others at the expense of himself.
He has trouble asking good questions and is prone to making assumptions.
He makes rapid progress by observing and asking questions.
He is empathetic and would like to connect even more with his team members.
718 comments
Just to clarify, Marcel…
The woman you’re describing - is she the client?
Because if her role is just recommending you to her husband (who is the client) - then I’m not sure she qualifies as an ideal client (she can be an ideal referrer though)…
I might have misunderstood you, though…
477 comments
Thanks for your question Nisandeh,
I'll tell you the whole story and what that meant for my company:
She discovered me through Google and sent her husband to call me. Her husband called me and the first thing he said was that his wife told him to call me. I started coaching him and he was the director of his company.
Later I got to know her and the first questions I asked her made such an impression on her that she wanted to be coached by me. I then coached her husband's associate, the associate's wife, and six managers of their company.
The neighbor of the partner's wife was looking for a coach and she recommended me. Then I coached the neighbor and trained the team from him and coached several team members. After that I trained and coached three more teams of his organization.
You can imagine that she was an ideal customer (and ideal referrer) for me because it has generated a lot of turnover for me.
I would also like to remind you that you have not yet answered my question from last Wednesday. I have described the question more clearly at your request. I would really appreciate it if you would answer my clarified question. Thank you and my appreciation for that.
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Thank you for clarifying, Marcel…
About your question from last week…
Since you asked, “How do I ensure that I get more ideal customers?”
The coming 4 weeks are all about ideal clients…
I think you’ll get your answer in this block of the program.
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Inspiring, Marcel. This makes me think of the powerful concept of Personas, which I used to work with when creating designs for apps.
From interaction-design.org/literature/article/personas-why-and-how-you-should-use-them:
"Personas are fictional characters, which you create based upon your research to represent the different user types that might use your service, product, site, or brand in a similar way. Creating personas will help you understand your users’ needs, experiences, behaviors and goals. "
Wouldn't surprise me if this concept of Personas can be applied to Target Audience + ideal clients.
I'm going to play with it to see if it helps me.
Nisandeh, do you already have experience with this idea maybe?
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It’s a good question, Rens…
Please ask it tomorrow in the Q&As page.
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Thank you Rens ,
I have read with great interest the text of the link you provided. This helped me to come to an important insight about my target group: What they all have in common is that they want to have control over people and the process and I teach them to let go of control by gaining more and more influence on people and the process. Thank you very, very, very much!!!
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You're welcome, Marcel. It's a great insight. Something I also run into way too much with my clients....too much need to control. Great that you can support them in letting of that!.
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The usage of persona's is a very interesting thought Rens. I read that you know alot about it. Do you offer any masterclass on this topic?
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Dag2
Day 2 – come up with at least 10 ideas for WHO is your ideal client (qualities/behaviors) and choose the 3-5 qualities that are most important for you;
1. Trainers who are capable of creating groups of 12 people.
2. Trainers that love to give their training in places that feels like home.
3. Trainers who appreciated beauty of the building.
4. Trainers who earn enough money
5. Trainers Who have a good running business.
6. Trainers Who find human interaction is important.
7. Trainers Who have the heart in the good place and know love.
8. Trainers who have a certain level of awareness.
9. Trainers who are loyal to us.
10. Trainers Who have passion for what they do
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Hi Nanda,
Would love to read what are the 3-5 most important qualities of those clients that are most important for YOU
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MY ideal client STRATEGY GOAL for this week: "I am going to become the Ideal Provider for my ideal clients"
Day 2 / 5 – WHO is my ideal client (qualities/behaviors)
I have 3 different businesses:
1. (Air)bnbB&B (airbnb.com/h/gezelligtuinhuisje) + (airbnb.com/h/gezelligboshuisje)
2. Optimizepeople.nl
3. HappyVillages (new business and my birth dream)
I'll use the ideal client Strategy on all three but for today's exercise I'll focus on the ideal client for my HappyVillages. The experience my Airbnb guests have when they visit me, is the experience I wish my ideal clients to have for HappyVillages. My Airbnb therefore serve as business cards for my HappyVillage project.
My ideal clients for OptimizePeople are big companies are therefore a different target audience eventhough the profile for my ideal client stays the same.
My ideal client for my HappyVillage project:
1) Wants to contribute to a cause bigger than themselves
2) Wants to be part of a "Family"
3) Are faced with a housing problem
4) Have young children and find it hard to provide the care for them, take care of the house, have time for themselves next to their work
5) Are older and do not managed to re-enter society after the lock-down
6) Live alone with none to little family or friends
7) Wants to be part of a whole
8) Long to be of importance to other
9) Have a distance to the working field
10) Are retired and long for something to do
11) Feel lonely and depressed
12) Love my project and cannot wait to be part of it
12) Wish to contribute to the project with their knowledge and skills
13) Recognizes that the project is an answer to the challenges concerning demografisch evelopment
14) Recognizes that this project will bring happiness back in the lifes of its inhabitants
15) Wish to be part of a community
16) Have skills and knowledge they wish to share in service of others
17) Belives that no one should be alone unless you want to
18) Supports the Blue Zone ideology
19) Belives that every age should be an age to look forward to
20) Belives that it takes a village to raise a child
21) Belives that old people do not belong in a old people home
22) Belives that we all have something to give
23) Are open to a new way of living
The 3-5 qualities I find most important are:
16) Have skills and knowledge they wish to share in service of others
17) Belives that no one should be alone unless you want to
18) Supports the Blue Zone ideology
19) Belives that every age should be an age to look forward to
20) Belives that it takes a village to raise a child
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Please Marie-Louise,
Tel me more about 'gezelligboshuisje'. You can reach me at 06-81182046. I can't wait to hear from you.
376 comments
Love your reaction Marcel. Will gladly call you today.
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Day 2 – come up with at least 10 ideas for WHO is your ideal client (qualities/behaviors
1. Open minded
2. Want to life there live.
3. Want to make a difference
4. Curious
5. Want to build a better world.
6. Integer
7. Honest
8. Dare to learn
9. Not afraid to show there point of view
10. Become owner ship for there position
and choose the 3-5 qualities that are most important for you;
1. Open minded
2. Want to make a difference
3. Want to build a better world.
4. Dare to learn
30 comments
Day 1 – come up with at least 10 answers for why do you want to work with ideal clients and make a decision IF ideal clients is what you want to go for;
1. Nice to work with.
2. They give me energy.
3. I’ll have a contribution to the other.
4. I can help them, and they want the help
5. It makes sense to work with them.
6. To get a good feedback
7. Learn from the client
8. Build up relationships
9. Work together in new projects.
10. Think together about new solutions.
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2. Who (qualities/behaviors) (I see that I listed some qualities and behaviors on day one)
1. want to learn
2. see that learning is a proces
3. keep on learning
4. parents (moms) from children between 7 and 14 years, if this is important for a niche)
5. spent money on education
6. think about scholing and education and have no trouble spending money on that.
7. humans that see that a change might start by changing yourself
8. kind of spiritual (interested)
9. energetic
10. creative
11. driven
12. loyal
13. committed
14. honest
15. pure
16. empathetic
17. relation minded
18. challenge themselves
19. supportive
20. positive
21. have humor
most important
16. empathetic
10. creative
2. see that learning is a proces
6. think about scholing and education and have no trouble spending money on that.
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Day 1/why
- it gives me more joy, laughter and humor (its serious but don't take ourself to serious)
- working more relaxed
- working doen't eel like working
- time flys
- get inspired
- bring out the best of us both
- I give what they can implement
- challenge each other
- have meaningful work
10 opens creativity
11 we can talk about the tools and also about the bigger picture (overview)
12 we both work for a better world (which starts at home)
13 we have connection
14 payment is no issue (its a worth full exchange)
15 their is integrity and loyalty
16 lering is on both sides
17 think about raising and scholing of kids
18 chose for a special school (Jenaplan, Vrije school, Montesori)
19 want to learn about responsibility. (reflect)
20 know that learning is a proces (there is no failure, there is only feedback and learning)
For this list....I absolutely want to go for that. But maybe this is still not narrow enough for that one small niche
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First off, let me say I'm very grateful that you not only put this program together, but also that you let me in even if I'm not an ideal client. It is helping my bizzness a lot.
Secondly, I've been thinking about the wednesday part. I like having VIP clients only. That was also Nisandeh's advise for the SaaS clients I'll start to attract. Hence the application process I'll be using.
However, the question is: do I offer VIP a next level pass - or not? Next level = more work for me. Hence no genius time. Or, do I offer bad applicants a no maintenance alternative? Bith? None? Other option?
What would be my ideal clients dream, the 1% dream, the non-ideal's dream? And what is my dream? Might be good to think that through tomorrow, so I get the implications before I commit on wednesday.
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Who’s my ideal client?
1. Someone who is curious about new things in health care
2. Prefer a woman between 40-60 years old
3. She is independant
4. She likes to work
5. She chooses her own path
6. She likes to work every day
7. She likes to go out, have fun
8. She is interested in health, she likes to read about it
9. She finds health is very important but also she thinks that you don’t have to do 100% only eating and living a healthy live because there is room for other things (not so healthy 😉 )
10. She is funny
11. She is serious
12. She is coachable
13. She is open for other kinds of ways she knows about a certain topic
14. She is easy on giving money to a course or training about health or about personal growth
15. has a positive and open mind(set)
16. She is open and wants to grow and learn
17. She likes me, and wants to hang out with me, not all the time. And when she wants that, she asks first
18. Appreciate each other time
19. Like new challenges and she will go for it to see how far she can make it
20. She finds me 🙂
What I think are the most imporant:
- She is open to learn new things in health and will invest in it
- She finds health is very important but also she thinks that you don’t have to do 100% only eating and living a healthy live because there is room for other things (not so healthy 😉 ) and she can laugh about it, not take everything so serious
- Has a positive and open mindset
Nowadays I think my ideal client how I now described her is maybe 1% of all of my clients… My goal is to definitely increase this number. I will find my ideal client and she will find me. I now have a picture of how she looks on my desktop so I can see her. I have several products now and I think I don’t have something for her that might be interested. I now have a plan to do a half year program (like this WOMB ) and I my plan is to launch it in january 2023. So next months I can think about this plan and talk about it on social media to atrract my ideal client for this program. I hope 100% of my ideal clients will start this program.
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Week 5 - Day 2.
|deal client:
1. Company or organisation with a complex product or service. Or a complex message.
2. They are able to invest (money is not a problem).
3. They value handmade work and craftmanship.
4 .They struggle with how to tell their story.
5. They have an urgent need to express their message a new and original way.
6. They are flexible in their deadline
7. They are fun to work with
8. They are intelligent
9. They are not very creative themselves but they value creativity in others.
10. They have a sence of humor
11. They comunicate clearly
12. They like my style of animation.
Most important:
2. They are able to invest (money is not a problem).
4 .They struggle with how to tell their story.
12. They like my style of animation.
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My ideal client is:
1. A big company
2. With lots of knowledge workers
3. In a technical branche
4. With a culture of meetings
5. Who wants to contribute to a greener world
6. Who is having a strong why as a company
7. Who wants to make their teams stronger while working flexible
8. That doesn’t take itself too seriously
9. That loves to explore and experiment
10. With a team all over the country or internationally
11. They can benefit big time from strong and connected teams
The 3 things that I choose for:
* who want to contribute to a greener world
* technical branche (can also be team)
* that can benefit from a strong and connected team
366 comments
Hey Gerdy,
You want to find technical companies. They often don't match with several of you other list items.
Tech people take themselves, their responsability and the company serious. Imagine the elevator check being done by a company that is all about fun and play. Meeting all day? A full team for 1 elevator? Not a great fit, right?
Do you think it might be useful for you to narrow it further down? Are they software companies? Scrum users? (Reactivate past clients...) That would work. Datacamp, google, odoo, yes, they fit the bill. Who else?
If you made a list of 10 of those, how would you get in? What would they be needing urgently as a fix for what superficial issue? (Retention rates, anybody?) What else does that tell you about ideal clients?
Or are they a providor of specialized services? Big accounting firms, HR agencies,...? Is that also "technical"?
What is knowledge work? Is that fixing an elevator? Or is it an R&D company living off of EU grants? Is is creating new knowledge (R&D, software), applying specialized knowledge in an office (studiebureau, technical design, ...), something else? Are they yuppy scrum start ups? Knowledge brokers? PWC? Who are they exactly?
Is it the full company that needs to fit, or parts?
Having a lot of meetings - knowledge workers don't like meetings. They like spontanious brainstorming, talk things trough at a drawing board - but big nono for meetings. Managers want meetings. Is the word meeting the right one? And who exactly do they meet?
Getting more congruency in the list might help to come up with 100 ideal client companies way more easy, and it will also get you clarity on messaging.
Hope it helps.
477 comments
Thank you Sin,
Your additions are also valuable to me. Love how you phrased this. My thanks for that.
576 comments
WOW Sin, thank you so much for your elaborated answer.
Let's see if I can clarify a bit.
1. Technical companies sounds a bit strange, but it's where still a lot of men are working. SOmehow we click a lot better. I could also say "a no nonsense mentality". They click with me and I click with them, better than healthcare for instance- although that can be technical as well. Let's say I want companies with a lot of "blue" and "red" communication styles (dominant/ controller and analyzer/ conscientious). Another way to describe them is a no nonsense and hands on mentality (niet lullen maar poetsen). I hope this makes it more clear. I see that my offers resonate with IT, but also with "NUTS" (energy and trains for instance), and within government the teams that are traditionally doing the more project related things.
2. Knowledge workers is my direct translation from the dutch word "kenniswerkers" and by that is meant: someone who spends their time mostly at a desk and usually also has a lot of meetings. So in my description they do have a lot of meetings.
3. I think you're right with your comment on "doesn't take itself too seriously". I would rephrase: there is time and space for other things than work. They'd be open for a different approach that brings in some joy and playfulness.
4. Funny. For me the list is very clear, but I can see why it's not for others. Which means also not for my ideal client. Hm...
Sustainability is a key thing.
Technical too.
Also bigger companies- more than 100 people working in it.
working in teams.
The teams is a great question. Is it the company as a whole? Or the teams?
I would prefer to have the whole company, but I'm working with teams, not with the whole company...
Need to think about this.
And it's even more... my ideal client is the manager of the team.
OK now I have to get back to the drawing board.
Thanks a million, Sin!
576 comments
My ideal client is:
1. A manager of one or more teams in a big company
2. His team does more than 50% of their work at desks and works therefor now partly from home and doesn't see each other often anymore
3. In a technical branche
5. The manager is interested in contributing to a greener world
7. Who wants to make their teams stronger while working flexible
8. There is space for growth as a team in a playful way
9. Who loves to experiment
10. With a team that is not located in one spot (members live further away than 30 mins from the office)
11. They can benefit big time from strong and connected teams
The 3 things that I choose for:
* who want to contribute to a greener world
* technical branche (can also be team)
* that can benefit from a strong and connected team
* a team who works partly from home and therefor sees each other less than before
366 comments
Brilliant Gerdy, so much clarity! I totally understand now what kind of team you are looking. To me, this list says "engeneers". In IT, in traffic, in machine building, beer brewing, even farming (landbouwingenieur).
They have that male kind of thinking, face value talking, no hidden agenda mostly, joy but taking it very serious, teams but strong company identity, for the why of the job is very important to them. And they want to grow - if they see the value of doing so.
I'm sure there are related kinds of personas, but I'm pretty confident any company with 30%+ engeneers will fit your profile. So you can just look them up based on salery levels. Or based on who the clients are of detacheringsbureaus specializing in technical profiles. Might be a great partner as well for leads, detacheringsbureaus or tech interim companies.
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Maybe we should contact what you describe I want to boot into my big plan. Curious how we can make each other bigger.
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Define WHO your ideal customer is.
For my current business it is obvious. I'm still struggling for my new plan. And yet I sit down because then it turns out that I usually already know. I put them in 3 messages regarding the three target groups
The cyclist (on platform)
1. Has a repair or maintenance order
2. Cannot go to a bicycle repair shop.
3. Don't know what to make
4. Don't know how to make it
5. What is the price of the assignment
6. When the bike can be made
7. Which bicycle repair shop can make the bicycle
8. Can't go to the bicycle repair shop by bike, too big or too heavy, no transport
9. No time to take to a bicycle repair shop
10. Want to know in advance what it will cost
11. Want to know in advance what to do about it
12. Want to be helped quickly
13. Customer who lacks and seeks clarity about the repair and maintenance of his bicycle.
14. Wants his bike to be professionally made
15. Wants to be helped fairly and with dignity and pay for it well.
16. Wants to know where he or she stands with regard to repair and maintenance of the bicycle
17. Looking for a reliable company that keeps its promises.
18. Has several bicycles and wants 1 address where his bicycle can be made and maintained.
19. Wants to know how to possibly make the bike yourself.
20. Want honest advice about whether repairing the bike is still worth it.
21. Can't find a bike mechanic who wants to repair and/or maintain his or her bike
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Day 2
WHO your ideal customer is (qualities/behaviours)
Target group the bicycle repairman. We need these to carry out the repairs, to make that ideal match and to share knowledge. (goal 1000) together a star network and therefore attractive for B2B and consumer and bicycle brands., lease company, ANWB, BOVAG We are going to do this ourselves.
1. Company is busy.
2. staff too short
3. Gets customers he or she would rather not help
4. Works many hours
5. Earn little
6. Has a lot of in-productive hours
7. Want to work together
8. Open to change
9. Sees that the industry needs something different than it has been before
10. Looking for clarity and focus
11. Likes to do what makes him or she happy
12. Don't want to work 60-80 hours anymore
13. Want to make more money and work less
14. Only want the ideal customer in the store
15. Only want the ideal customer in the workshop
16. Wants to have staff well trained
17. Wants to invest in online training
18. Sees a future in the two-wheeler industry
19. Sees added value and wants to invest in collaboration via the online platform bicycle repair.nu
20. Sees possibilities and dislikes fighting
123 comments
Hi Leo,
Great list of WHO are your ideal clients... Curious to see what would you choose to be your top most important 3-5 qualities you're looking for in an ideal client.
366 comments
Same for the mechanic. They don't want to look for clients. They hate it that everybody comes the same 2 weeks of the year, but never offer me a reminder or a once-a-year checkup appointment. They hate computers. They don't have tlme to drive around. They prefer to sell a bike. There is no way to find staff. Never enough place for the bikes. Spare parts ordering is madness or impossible. Low profits. Hard work. Never done. Boring. Not the bikes of hotshots.
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The last one
The big plan
In the Netherlands 12 halls (1 in each province at a strategic location) 30 mechanics work in 4 categories
- City
- Sports
- Electric bike
- cargo bike
Each is provided with/supervised by a teacher-quality controller with knowledge and experience.
You can also grow to 15 delivery van uses that carry out repairs and maintenance at home.
All teams work together. And also have national consultations. Attention is paid to mindset and health.
Target group all cyclists in the Netherlands who want to have repairs and/or maintenance done in the Netherlands. Consumer, B2B and bicycle repair shop
Who is the ideal customer
1. ANWB
2. BOVAG
3. Insurance
4. Lease company
5. Bicycle Brands
6. Insurance companies
7. Delivery bike companies
8. Consumers
9. Internet Companies
10. Government / Municipality
11. The bikesshops
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Top 5 qualities I want in an ideal client. Target group the cyclist (on the platform and the big plan)
Dignity
1. The cyclist can quickly find his ideal bicycle repair shop at the location and at the time via the platform. She feels appreciated and takes the bike faster.
Brightness
2. Because 1 company manages the repair and maintenance, the cyclists enjoy these advantages quickly. From the convenience they always had (80% continue until the bike breaks) there is now annual maintenance and when reporting maintenance or wear, you can cycle quickly and above all safely.
Responsibility
3. Because 1 party represents training and the largest part of repair and maintenance, the Netherlands takes an example as cycling country number 1 and we will roll out the same in many countries. We will use the remaining bicycles again in poor countries with apprenticeship programs so that people can continue to grow in the company and in other countries. This is an advantage for all cyclists and for the world in terms of transport (environmental), safety and health
Quality
4. The customers experience the passion, the mission and see the vision of the company. people want to participate and are involved. Appointments go according to agreed agreements. The atmosphere and drive of the company has a positive effect in the two-wheeler industry in the Netherlands and the rest of the world
Efficient
5. Because it is becoming increasingly clear which assignments, which parts, which questions, the methods and actions are always adapted with the focus on efficiency and quality. This is experienced by customers and staff as very positive.
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Top 5 qualities I want in an ideal client.
Dignity
1. Paid for what it's worth to fix the problem.
Quality
2. Wants maintenance and repairs to be done professionally
Commitment
3. Fulfills agreements and is an ambassador for the platform.
Searching
4. Can't find a bicycle mechanic who wants to repair and/or maintain his or her bicycle
Ease
5. Is happy with the possibilities of the platform and always uses it to register his or her bicycle for repair or maintenance
366 comments
Hi Leo,
I'm not sure about your concept, so I might be non-relevant right now. Still...
I have been involved in large schale bike repair. 6000 bikes in one case, owned by a vzw and rented to students, the other case were 4000 bikes with partial company, partial employe ownership. And a fleet of 2 bikes at a municipality.
In the first case, local bike owners were against the vzw, until they figured out it opened up time for high paying clients with expensive bikes who want top service. As opposed to the typical student bike. They however refused cooperation, whatever the proposal. They simply wanted to do their own stuff. They were mechanics, not entrepreneurs. Tinker on high quality bikes was a yes, earn the money was a no.
When working for a municipality, we bought two bikes for the staff. But we could not find a mechanic to do maintenance. It took a lot of sweet talking to get one to do the two bikes 2x a year. flat tires etc we did ourselves. Why? They had to many clients and no staff. To expensive. Big towns ask their own mechanics to do it for that same reason.
4000 company bikes for a retail client. I tried to set up a pickup and repair network all over the country with local repair shops. They could also do the montage of the bike for 30% of the sales price. Hard 'no' everywhere.
We ended up transporting 4000 bikes 2x a year in the companies trucks all over the country, to have them fixed and checked by 2 vzw's, again in sheltered employment organisations. It was crazy. The cost was only doable because they owned the trucks anyway, so it was only the driving cost. Then it got even more crazy, as we figured out there were abandonned bikes everywhere. And no way to give them to the next employee because of the repair issue...
We asked the bike importer to help. A 1000 bikes a year client, that's worth something, right? They did try, all refusals from their dealers was the answer. Not 1 yes.
In the end, I advised the company to start a bike repair chain as new company activity. At first they laught at the idea, 3 years later the took over fiets! Guess why? Officially because it is a good investment. In reality, because of the big picture strategy i made for them. That was bigger then just repairs.
So. Vlaanderen might be different from Holland. But not that different. If you have a hard time getting a yes, there might be a market reason.
What were the yes-ses? 1. Social work vzw's who preferred understanding companies. The work is not top nutch, these people learn and have issues. They don't want to do to much b2c work. A steady flow of bikes, that was ideal. Not 2 weeks a year and then nothing.
2. Highly entrepreneurial starters who have a truck but not a shop. No money to get a shop. They all aim b2b, but find it hard to get into the companies for mist lease with repair contracts. And you nead about 10 bikes per location to make the trip worth it.
3. People leaving the vzw's without money but with the skill. They want to be employes. The vzw's often alsowant to fix employement for them before leaving. So... that takes an employer and a workspace. Many don't drive, and still have work ethos issues or personality issues.
I've seen many initiatives, most fail on these grounds. A good match are the van guys with bike owning companies with several work addresses. All the rest, it is a no go imo.
Beware of the spare parts trap. It seems a detail, but it isn't. There is a good reason most big bike fleets only have one or two models. And then there is the batteries and transporting those. Horror regulations. Transport costs were worth half a bike.
This is not a special case. I was part of a network of bike fleet managers all had similar problems. Expensive problems.
It is the hardest thing I ever had to manage and grow. Sure you want to take the hard way with your company? I'm more of the easy money kind of girl 😀
If so, you will need to get market confirmation on the repair side that they want in at the conditions you offer. Do their paperwork, all they hate. Maybe, they say yes then. Check if there really are repair shops with a lack of clients. Get a good why for not leasing but buying and doing maintenance. See social employement as the why exemple.
Feel free to reach out if you want to talk it over.
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Thank you for your care and detailed response. I like to speak online , to go through ea. Is that possible? leosteijn@gmail.com 06-51063679
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I don't want to deal with it. The talking, the getting my car scratched, getting myself hurt when putting it in the car, the waiting.
Bike repair is a commodity to me. My bike is a basic bike, not an expensive one. Way more chance he doensn't get fixed than that I bring it to a shop - until we need it. My son had his bike done for years the week before starting the academic year. Or when the brake cable broke. He Will do it again now that he moves abroad.
A broken cable service, i'm in. And yes, now that you sold me that, fix all the rest as well. Great upsell. But do come to me, don't expect me to get my cloths and nailes uined over a bike. Otherwise, I'll walk or drive. Or I'll join VTB VAB and get a mechanic to come to the house.
Any insights? Have you done a ideal clients servey on this topic?
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WHO your ideal customer is (qualities/behaviours)
Target group B2B
We may need this target group to bring in large parties of work. When we get a lot of bicycles from 1 party, it saves a lot of administrative work.
1. Needs a nationwide high-quality partner that carries out repairs on bicycles
2. Need a high-quality partner who does maintenance on bicycles
3. Is open to collaboration
4. Need a partner who can carry out a national recal action well and quickly.
5. Need a national partner who can deliver new bicycles
6.A national partner that can quickly provide roadside assistance for small and quick repairs on various types of bicycles
7. Need a partner who can carry out national warranty work on bicycles quickly and professionally
8. Needs a national partner where his bicycles can be picked up and delivered ready to drive and where they can provide warranty and maintenance work
9. Needs a rural partner who makes his bikes roadworthy and delivers them at home
10. ANWB that needs a national network where they can quickly have the various repairs carried out on different bicycles
11. Bicycle brands that need nationwide repair and maintenance network that solve this problem for them according to the wishes of the customer. At home or to a bike shop
12. Online shops that sell bicycles and need nationwide maintenance and repair network that solve this problem for them according to the customer's wishes. At home or to a bike shop
13. Who needs a partner who shares knowledge and skills and training in the two-wheeler industry
14. Need a partner who trains their staff to sell more.
15. Need a partner where they can get technical questions answered to work more efficiently and with more quality
16.Lease companies that need a partner for bicycle repair and maintenance
17. Delivery bike partners who need a national network for maintenance and repair. Especially fast and professional
18. Insurance partners who need a national network for repair and maintenance
19. The companies that focus on the sale of bicycles are looking for a national network that is willing and able to fulfill their repair and maintenance needs.
20. Cargo bike or cargo bike brands that want repair and maintenance done at home or at work for their customers.
183 comments
Top 5 qualities I want in an ideal client. Target group B2B (on platform)
Dignity
1. From equality and making each other bigger. I work with large companies.
Ease
2. The companies enjoy the convenience and more and more brands want bicycle repair.nu to take over their warranty, repair and maintenance.
Quality
3. Companies choose bicycle repair.nu for the quality and clarity with which they work. The quality of customer contact and repair and maintenance done. everyone does what they do best.
Efficient
4. Companies see how efficient the collaboration with bicycle repair.nu is, so that their own business continues to increase because everyone sees and puts each other in its quality.
Brightness
5. The clarity gives pleasure and confidence to work together more and more and also to work more internationally with larger projects.
183 comments
Online learning environment
Educational videos and online class. Customers are then all 3 target groups. The Cyclists (consumer) B2B and the bicycle repairers
1. He or she would like to learn
2. Sees the importance of investing in knowledge and skills
3. online at any location you want you don't have to travel anymore
4. Don't invest your precious time yourself to train staff. This online option ensures more productivity and more quality
5. Who want to invest an hour every day just before or just after work to handle the repair requests from the day before
6. When consumers are better informed, they are willing to pay more because they now know what it's worth.
7. information with an order so that you know how your bicycle works, you can then make the choice to make the bicycle yourself or to have a bicycle mechanic come or go to a bicycle repair shop. to the one we know can make your bike.
8. Training or information available on a daily basis not a week later or after your vacation.
9. Because I now know what and how it is made, I understand what the repair costs. now I can really make a choice to do it myself or order a bicycle repair shop online
10. Online selling party can quickly see what is really wrong with the bicycle because of more knowledge, this knowledge is available online.
11. Knowledge is power and I can use something once made for my mechanics
12. There is a lot of information on the internet, everything is available everywhere, finally a platform where everything I need is located.
13. Nice that you describe every detail step by step in the video with image, sound and texts
14. Convenient that it can be set to multiple languages.
15. Other courses are expensive and do not have the quality I have now.
16. Handy to make my / the bike with tablet or PC or mobile at hand.
17. My colleague is always busy and through this online platform I quickly find the information I need.
18. Online training ideal, we can participate simultaneously with 11 other locations, making it interactive and educational
19. The knowledge at hand when and where I need it and can make my own notes with it.
20. Lesson can always be looked back in class. If I missed or did not understand something, I had already lost it.
183 comments
Top 5 qualities I want in an ideal client. Target group Online learning environment (on platform)
Dignity
1. Those who use the online learning environment and the online training courses feel heard and seen.
Brightness
2. Can ask their questions and get answers that they can use. Because consumers use it, there is more clarity for the customer and the bicycle repairman, who can do more of what they are good at.
Future
3. By sharing knowledge, the online learning environment / platform is the rescue of the two-wheeler industry. With the means of transport of the future, we are an example as a cycling country and is used all over the world.
Ease
4. They enjoy the convenience of the online learning environment and is an example for multiple branches where connection is created
Quality
5. Through knowledge there is much better communication and gives the industry a completely different look and one has a magnet of people who want to work in our industry with pleasure and are well appreciated financially and in the company
329 comments
WOMB WEEK 6, JULY 26, DAY 2/5 ideal clients, WHO? (QUALITIES & BEHAVIORS)
My ideal clients are people that are:
1. Humble. Willing to question/ challenge their own knowledge/ behavior
2. Implementers.They do whatever it takes to obtain the desired result (end goal)
3. Proactive.They ask questions and report results/ setbacks proactively
4. Willing to go the Extra Mile.They strive to become the best version of themselves
5. Positive.They aim to find all the positive in people and life, therefore they are joyful
6. Curious, seeking to understand
7. Generous
8. Introspective, self-exploring
9. Hungry for constructive feedback
10. Family oriented
My chosen 5 are highlighted bold
111 comments
Day 2
My ideal clients are people:
1 who keep investing in their personal and professional growth.
2 who know that presenting skills are indispensable leadership skills.
3 who understand that these skills support their companies ambition.
4 who are honest and clear about what they want and don't want.
5 who understand that presenting is so much more than standing in front of a group.
I have to go now, rest follows later today.
111 comments
Continue
My ideal clients are people:
6 who believe in permanent education.
7 who are willing to explore new ways and are open for a different approach.
8 who have a message to share.
9 who speak from the heart.
10 with self reflection.
1, 2 and 3 are the most important.
111 comments
Add # 11
People who are curious about the possibilities of their voice.
215 comments
Who is the ideal client (qualities/behaviors) – first 3-5 are most important
1. Appreciating my products
2. Actively seeking to apply new/refreshed insights
3. Helpful regarding requests on my end
4. Having ample income/budget as not to see any objection in my (future) pricing
5. Relaxed regarding people/interactions (informal, easy-going)
6. Feeling a natural match with me
7. High standards regarding quality
8. Eager regarding development/improvement
9. Critical thinkers, and appreciating critical discussion when it is due
10. Thankful regarding the good in life
11. Enjoying life
12. Tolerant regarding small issues on my end
412 comments
WEEK 6, DAY 1 - WHO is my ideal client
My ideal customer
1. is female
2. is highly educated
3. is people-oriented
4. wants to make the world a better place
5. desires to make an authentic contribution
6. is hungry for wisdom
7. has leadership skills
8. likes humor
9. is willing to do what needs to be done
10. likes being challenged in the way she thinks
11. is between 25 and 40 years old
12. has a positive attitude
13. seeks connection
14. gives commitment
15. she wants more, comes back to me
16. thinks beyond borders
17. dares to reflect on oneself
18. will pay me without a doubt
I find it hard to select the most important three. This is it:
5. has leadership skills
15. she wants more, comes back to me
16. thinks beyond borders
>> I am going to become the Ideal Provider for my ideal clients. <<
576 comments
I like your list Manny. Those are the type of criteria that an ideal client can also identify herself with. Especially: being a woman, in a leadership position and wanting to create a better world.
I think this exercise is also meant to make it clear to our ideal clients that were there for them, so then these would be for me the most resonating.
314 comments
Day 2
My deal Client (qualities/behaviors);
- they have parents who listen to the information I give
- they have parents who a cuirious
- they have parents who are still unaware of there own capacity
- they have parents who know there limits in education and can sauy no to there child
- they have parents like to read, learn, study
- they have parents that can handle critics and are open for chanche
- they have parents who care about there health, fysicaly as well as mentaly
- they have parents that have a hobby, not watching tv all evening
- they have parents that can think out side of the box
- they have parents that are willing to take a risk in doing things different
- they have parents that appreciate thinking different
The 3 qualities that are most important are:
- those who know there limits in education and can say no to there child
- those that can handle critics and are open for chanche
- those that are willing to take a risk in doing things different
329 comments
Hi Claudia,
I like very much the quality of being able to take risks. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me 🙏
314 comments
Your welcome, I think that every change has a risk in it and there fore you need to want to take a risk.
366 comments
Sounds like thinkers who are still able to take a step back and observe? Might the IQ of the parrent matter?
314 comments
You are right, I prefer thinkers and if they step back and observe how nice if we can discusse the obeservation and who knows what I can learn from that.
92 comments
Day 2:
Important qualities / behaviors of my ideal client.
1. They call you instead you call them. (picked)
2. They are open for your suggestions and ideas for proposals for working with them.
3. They do not talk about budgets and tasks but ask to think about what you can offer and what it will take money, time and mutual responsibilities. (picked)
4. They sent information to you regarding your field if they think you might be interested and ask at the same time if this is something for them.
5. They pay in time and in full.
6. They are honest and keep their promises.
7. They do not ask too much for unpaid work can be discuss it again and again.
8. They refer you to other customers. (picked)
9. The promote you and your work internally (their organization) and externally. (picked)
10. They open up their inter- and external channels of communication for your promotion.
11. They are open for subscriptions to secure time with them.
12. The understand that asking more is also billing more.
13. They are flexible in making appointments with them (also very early of very late).
14. The ask for help for things that relate remotely to what you can or did offer and are willing to pay for this help.
15. They are contacting you way in advance if they think they need your help so you can plan capacity in time.
16. They offer a desk and usage for their facilities when working on projects for them.
17. They discuss issues broader than just the thing you help them with so you can pick and decide what is for you and what is for others.
18. They are fine in you bring in other people to help on projects and assignments and understand it is your responsibility to deliver results.
19. They are fine if you use their name and the projects done for your own personal promotions. (picked)
20. They treat you as friends or tight colleagues and they expect you to do the same .
21. They invite you for network events and drinks.
22. They say and mean it at the same time they what to establish a long term relationship. (picked)
409 comments
Hey Marcel, very nice list. Did this list provide you more clarity ?
145 comments
Day 2 - my ideal client:
1. Is positive and optimistic, believes in herself and when a strategy does not work she takes the learning and tries something new, with zero victim attitude.
2. Is honest and outspoken: when something in my product/service does not meet her expectations she lets me know, also if she thinks of anything else that could enhance the experience.
3. Is grateful, values my work and tells me so, giving rave reviews and buying again.
4. Is generous and shares my work referring me to her friends.
409 comments
This is nice Lola...a lot of partnership
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1. My turnover and profits will be more than before
2. My working life will be better because I wil enjoying working more each day
3. I can focus more on my ideal client in every thing I do, from my teaching., my programs to my website and social media
4. My work will be less but smarter
5. In the long run I would have less clients but more better paying and nicer clients
6. My personal life will be better
7. I have more free time
8. I have less projects and less things ‘to do’ (I think)
9. I can focus on better projects, to serve my ideal clients better
10. In the long run I can make high end programs
11. A few good ideal clients will make more profits than a lot not ideal clients who pay less
12. I think in the long run I will get more ideas to serve my ideal clients even better
268 comments
Oh I did not write about my decision IF ideal clients is what I want to go for..
I thought about it lately. So this block I will more think about it.
Until now I think I focussed about 80% of my time into not-ideal-clients. But I noticed that my highest profits come from ideal clients and they are - I think - less than 10% of my total clients.
So I now am focussing on shifting my time more to ideal clients. I think it will be better if it will be 50-50 (I think that is now these days) and my goal is to do this year, 2022, shifting it to focus 80% on my ideal clients.
329 comments
Awesome insights Sigrid! And wonderful to read you are going to shift to 80% ideal client strategy! 💪 You are on fire!🔥
189 comments
ideal clients - DAY 1 / 5 - WHY?
1) Value what they get and express that
2) Provide great feedback
3) Pay well and on time
4) Follow the process I give them
5) Keep me sharp
6) Make me feel energized and enthusiastic
7) Save me time, money, energy by promoting me to others and coming back
8) Give me more sense of accomplishment
9) Communicate well about their expectations
10) Make it possible to work from a more relaxed state
11) Allows for deeper relationships, in which I learn more and feel better
12) Attract more ideal clients
13) Focus on solutions instead of problems
14) Achieve best results
15) More fun to work with
Commitments:
- For my software business, from April 2023 onward, 80% of all clients must be ideal clients *
- For my new business, 50% of clients must be ideal clients from when I start
* I have a long-running project until then, with no room of new clients
95 comments
Reasons to work with ideal client:
1. the client fits me
2. i know what message this client wants to hear
3) I know how this client thinks.
4) I know what holiaytrips this client likes
5) I speak the same language.
6) this client gives me energy in stead of puls my energy down.
7) this client likes my proposition and what I offer.
8) this client will tell other people about our cooperation = mouth to mouth publicity.
9) a clear choice for the ideal client makes that this client finds us better and quicker.
10) this client will say to me what can be better on my offer/my business because of trust.
I will go for ideal clients, they bring me joy and give a lot of energy. Those other clients don't or less and will bring you no profit at all at the end.
189 comments
Nice, Peter. I didn't think of reason 10 yet and I'm adding it to my list. Thanks.
It would be great to have clients that feel free to give feedback about improving my service to make it better /great for them.
108 comments
Why I want to work with ideal clients:
- my ideal clients see the bigger picture
- they want to contribute to freedom, connection and love
- they want to make a difference by taking the lead
- they have commitment
- they partner in the process
- they are happy to review and recommend
- they have guts
- they are willing to learn
- they pay with love
- they want a fulfilling live
- they move and take steps to get fulfilling results
- they work with me as a team, with team spirit
- they are energetic
- they want fast results
- we both win and are moved, touched and inspired
366 comments
Why work with ideal clients?
1. I sell their perfect solution
2. They see the value of my solution
3. They want to pay for the solution, given it's value.
4. They don't nagg or presume or boss me around.
5. They pay. Fast. A lot.
6. Never any marketing tasks
7. 10 to 20 fixed clients = build a relationship and a dream team of subcontractors. No managing of the architect
8. They don't treat me as a subcontractor but as a member of the team. An even more important member than the architect.
9. They have roofs and parking lots for future products or services
10. They can handle my work style and #realtalk.
11. They win big time if I win. And they know it. I am their golden ticket. So they always pick up the phone when I need a favour in return.
12. They can see a bigger picture.
13. They are smart, well educated, good at their job and pleasant people in general. They are totally ok with playing big and don't give a f* what people think. They live among winners themselves.
14. I can be honest.
15. I can stop 1:1 services. Only do a handfull of high value talks, they handle the reporting etc.
Do I want to work solely with ideal clients? Yes. Have been for 10 years, no intention of stopping.
Any top 3 or 5 why's? No. It is a checklist. They don't fit after a first interaction, they go.
Who are my ideal clients?
1. Urgent need for a solution
2. Several buildings a year in Vlaanderen
3. Understand 'licence to operate' concept
4. Experience failing before
5. They want to be trusted
6. They want more controle over the proces
7. Their architect no longer wants to do the assessment because of the negative feedback last time around
8. They see the value of upfront discussions and objectification of impact
9. They are prepared to deal with cocreation expectations of municipalities
10. They own large parking lots en or roof surfaces
11. They are interested in additional income stream creation, even if that means not reselling at 100%
12. They have a lot riding on the project. High roi and high stress levels.
13. They pay fast and correctly.
14. They trust me and my expertise, even if I scare them with how I handle the case
15. They hear the no go and move on
16. They get that my reputation management is hurt if they turn out not to be trustworthy.
17. They get ignored by AWV.
18. They do a full disclosure of information
19. They don't put me under pressure
20 they don't assume I've got time,
21. they say thank you.
22 they limit communication
23. They decide versus endless talking things through
24. Impact is big
25. Bonus points for being treated unjustby the government.
Top 5? No. It is my checklist for accepting a new client. It is my go/no go funnel. After this step, comes the decision if they can come back or not.
Commitment to working with ideal clients.
So far, i have only worked 5% non ideal clients. Every year, there is the one bad intake case. Or the client to fire.
I will however need to loosen up my criteria when moving to DIY services. In order to go from 20 to 100 ideal clients, I might need to re-adjust. Or not. I came up with a new network of in theory ideal leads that might let me interact with those leads before they know what I sell. I want it to be an application proces, not a sales proces, to keep the high quality in the client base. So for now, I'm ok with the current situation.
Move to ideal clients only.
Got 1 client that is annoying, will have lunch with him. He hasn't understood yet how it works - the new boss, feels he needs to be the boss.
I'm thinking a lot about how to set up:
client selection, client training / onboarding and user friendlynees +
a paygate with self service.
This is on this weeks implementation calender. Setting up the systems to do that. Fill them with content using ai or a job student.
The email for ideal clients is ready in draft one, I will have lunch with the boss client to move him over as well and i'm postponing the communication for my partners to detail who can apply via their referral after september, after my tryout group. The system is: don't send them to me if they don't fit the checklist. How can I return the favour, dear partner? By earlyaccess, white label, whitepapers, partner training or deals? Etc.
Ok. That's about it, I think.
366 comments
Who.
They don't screw up the details.
They don't even concider another provider even if i say i don't have time. They just wait
329 comments
Hi Sin,
I enjoy reading your comments because they are full of confidence and powerful statements. It is really impressive how you want to work only with people that don’t give a “F*ck” about what other people think, and also people that are resilient and stand up (move on) quickly from failure. I can imagine there are qualities that are challenging to find, but you certainly attract those because you are also like that 😉
178 comments
ideal clients are who I want to go for,
Because:
* they are happy and exited with what I have to offer;
* I am happy with delivering quality to them;
*I'm improving my quality for them each day;
* they might get to know eachother and share their enthousiasm;
* they are happy and able to pay the financial price I calculate for my products;
* they spread the word to other ideal clients, that's why I almost don't need marketing;
* they ask all kind of interesting questions, which increase my motivation and creativity;
* they make me so happy and inspired that I feel that it's a natural habit to overdeliver;
* they do their homework to be able to make real progress;
* so they make real progress and therefore get their own best results and they are my best p.r.;
* they don't overask but take responsibility for their own process;
* they respect my privacy and I respect theirs;
* ideal clients give the smallest amount of stress;
and out of the video:
* more fun; * more stable; * more longterm; * bringng happiness, joy and cashflow;
* have the right qualities, specifications, you want them on your red carpet;
* those are the people you feel really inspired to work for and with; for a long time (even if you wouldn't get paied; * cliënts who could become more than cliënts;
145 comments
YES I want to go for ideal clients, here are my reasons WHY:
1. I feel full of energy every time I work with them
2. Can become collaborators, partners or friends
3. To sell to them is a joyful energy exchange
4. I feel appreciated and valued by them
5. I receive more feedback and ideas for improvement
6. My social media posts get shared more often
7. There is a loyal customer base excited every time I have something new to offer
8. Mastermind groups get super valuable because they have much to contribute
9. Group travel and retreats is more fun
10. New customers are invited/referred by them
181 comments
Day 1. Compelling why, ideal clients.
Nr. 1. They give me the feeling that I am giving them a useful product.
Nr 2. They give me energy
Nr 3 they inspire me to get on with my business
Nr 4. They inspire me to develop new poducts
Nr 5. They make me feel worthwhile
Nr 6 they make it possible to love my business
Nr 7. They become friends with me
Nr 8. They give wonderfull references
Nr 9. They pay me easily the price I ask
Nr 10. They make my days, willing to come out of my bed.
Nr 11. They give me the life I want to live
Nr 12. They make me a better person, caring for others.
Nr. 13. I have to grow as a person to be able to meet their needs.
Nr 14. The universe will add more positive energy if I work with ideal clients, be cause I belief in what I do and can picture my futurebusiness.
NR 15. That will lead to more results and better payments.
SO I SAY YESSS TO ONLY WORK WITH ideal clients. Meaning I have to define them......... 😀
108 comments
Great to see! I love "they will make me a better person". I totally agree with that.
And the part of the energy.
where attention goes, energy flows!
576 comments
Day 1: I definitely want to become the #1 provider for any company who wants thriving teams who are flexible on location and times that they work.
Why do I want to work with ideal clients?
* because THEY believe that working flexible and hybrid is the future
* Because they are giving the responsibility to their teams and that's the ideal environment to work with and have a team thrive
* Because they will want to invest to reach this goal
* Because they will want to work with ME
* Because I can do the work that I love the most and combine the things that are important for me.
* Because I can work with people who are aware of how our behavior influences the world we live in and they feel responsible
* Because they love their work and are eager to improve
* Because they will want to keep on imrpoving
* Because they understand that we're only in the beginning and they'll be happy to explore together with me in how to work in the best way possible
* Because I can build up a long term relationship with them and work with them on a long term
* Because I can build up my expertise
* Because it will force me to deepen my knowledge and to go beyond the obvious, where I stay now often
* Because I think that working long term with them will manifest long term change on empowering teams
* because I want to be the ideal partner for them (thank you Paul for this one)
* Because they will dare to struggle and trust the process enough to go through with it
* Because it will force me to focus.
There is a deep longing in me to work longer with them and dare to explore with them what is possible... I am scared to go there so far
Yes. I choose to work with my ideal clients. I would love to go for it for 100% but I think for now (when I am still depending on others for my income) 50% would be a fantastic start- so for every client who is not ideal, I will have an ideal one. Although so far I had 3 ideal clients and 1 not so ideal so that's more towards 80-20:)
329 comments
Hi Gerdy,
What a fantastic list of compelling WHY! Especially I found these two points mind blowing:
- Because they will dare to struggle and trust the process enough
-Because they are aware of how our behavior influences the world we live in and they feel responsible
Thank you for the insights your comment provide me.
477 comments
Day 1 25-07-22
1. They remain faithful and loyal.
2. They appreciate what I deliver to the maximum.
3. An ideal customer made all the difference that I still benefit from today.
4. ideal clients provide visibility for my business.
5. ideal clients helped me learn more about myself.
6. ideal clients bring out the best in me.
7. Ideal customers increase my self-esteem.
8. Ideal customers make more sales because they make it easier for me to sell new coaching trajectories.
9. Ideal customers make you feel like they really need you. You can really mean something to them.
10. Ideal customers produce friendship.
11. Ideal customers generate the most turnover and ensure continuity.
12. There is more trust with ideal customers, which makes them very reliable.
13. ideal clients are happy to recommend me to others.
14. Ideal customers make it easier to achieve win-win.
15. ideal clients give me energy.
16. Ideal customers are more open and vulnerable.
17. With ideal customers you have the greatest 'gun factor'.
18. Ideal customers think along in solutions instead of problems.
19. With ideal customers you achieve maximum results.
20. Ideal customers immediately think of you when they need someone.
21. Ideal customers tell about you to their own friends and acquaintances.
22. ideal clients bring interesting topics to my attention.
23. ideal clients are not only rationally but also emotionally very involved with me.
24. With ideal customers you are a real authority and you are treated as such.
114 comments
Week 6
ideal client
I have three businesses that I want to tweak.
soundoflife.nl
awakeorigins.com
lokaal68.nl
And for this assignment I want to choose to work with Lokaal 68 for the ideal client.
The reason is that we have the ideal client for the sound of life pretty clear, and therefore I want to spend my time on Lokaal 68 on this subject. What is Lokaal 68?
At Lokaal 68 we have a monumental building in which we rent out rooms for coaches and trainers.
Why would I like to work with a ideal client
- [ ] They make me feel happy
- [ ] they appreciate the surroundings
- [ ] they look for a peaceful place
- [ ] they love nature and quietness
- [ ] they are joyful people themselves
- [ ] They like interacting
- [ ] They will come back as they love the location
- [ ] They will stay with me for a longer period of time
- [ ] They have the same outlook on life
- [ ] They respect the building and treat it with gentleness
- [ ] I can build a relationship with them
- [ ] They’re willing to pay a higher price as they acknowledge the beauty
- [ ] They are reliable partners
- [ ] They are not only coming for the rooms but also for the personal touch and we interaction
- [ ] They appreciate the energy that we try to maintain in more than one way
We most definitely want to focus on the ideal client. I am very happy to realise the importance of the focus on this more detailed perception of the target audience.
329 comments
Hi Nanda!
I am so thrilled to see you are a Serial Entrepreneur! 💪🔥 It is my dream to become one in the future 🙏
May I ask you a question? Will you have the same definition of ideal client (qualities and behaviors) for all your companies or will you make a special definition for each company?
Can not wait to read your answer.
Many thanks in advance!
Maru
376 comments
That is a very interesting question Maru. I'm curious to read the answer of Nanda.
34 comments
Day 1: Why ideal clients
1. Saves me time and energy
2. Increases work productivity
3. Increases work satisfaction
4. Are likely to come back
5. Are likely to refer other clients to me
6. Write better reviews/testimonials
7. Increases my income
8. Yields better quality
9. More fun to work with
10. Improves communication
11. Reduces stress
12. Gives energy
Yes, I would prefer to work with ideal clients only. I'm not sure I can afford to do that yet, but I can focus on what would an ideal client be like and help my customers to become ideal clients
323 comments
I notice that this exercise is quite emotional to me. I never had a very large client base, but if I think of it, many were (kinda) ideal. The only marketing I did was the 2 business card method (I got that from the Business Bootcamp). So all my clients were referred by others. And all my clients came back for at least one more time. Mostly for years. Not all of them are ideal- but for most I developed some kind of formal friendship, friendly formal relationship.
I have the feeling I kind of lost that the last 1,5 year. In that 1,5 year I have been focussing on different products- and feel I lost touch with my base... or so... So yes- I want to go for this. With (what i see as my) ideal clients I never had the idea that I worked. And I always wanted to overdeliver in a very natural way.
Besides these 2 points:
3. I could really mean something for them
4. they let me help
5. they let me learn
6. they themselves have a feeling of urgency and care- so the will to change or do something is big- easy to get into action and get things done
7. there is some sense of trust from the first moment
8. we don't talk about money (a lot)
9. I love giving them free stuff
10. they appreciate what `i am doin, I what they do
11. more fun and enthusiasm
12. love to stop, say hi and do a chat
13. there is feeing of belonging, from togetherness- extending the projects/ products
14. positive critical thinking and analyzing, without having to convince, sometimes some good persuasion
15. they refer me
16. they pay in time- or make sure as soon as possible as their financial people mess up
17. its helping, not working
18. they can decide on stuff, and are not afraid to do so
19. no complaining, everything is more flowy
20. errors are okay, and not part of one party- mutual
some might be a bit double...
21. they make me feel emotional...hahaha
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So special to read that your ideal clients make you feel emotional Bas 🥹 It means that you care so much about them! Your comment really touched me. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you so much for sharing your feeling of emotions Bas. I've read through your parameters for your ideal clients and found a spiritual touch to a number of them which touch me.
3. I could really mean something for them
4. they let me help
5. they let me learn
7. there is some sense of trust from the first moment
13. there is feeing of belonging, from togetherness- extending the projects/ products
The fact that you recognize that your customers are almost all ideal clients, shows that you have something unique to give. It is therefore beautiful to read that you've reconnected with your base my means of this exercise. Love to read about your developments.
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Yeah I think it is kinda spiritual, now you mention it! I didn't think of it that way, but indeed!
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Day 1
I want to work with ideal clients as they have parents who
- dont mind to travel a longer distance to come and get counsling
- pay the price I am asking per hour
- want me to solve there issues
- will do what I tell them is the best to gain succes
- wil asure me more free time
- want to get there childe tested for IQ and more
- want groupsessions to learn from each other
- will give a good referral
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Why would I want to work with ideal clients?
My ideal clients inspire me
My ideal clients bring the best out of me and me out of them
My ideal clients made a commitment to their process
They give worthwhile reviews
I heartfully want to spent my time and life energy with them
With ideal clients I can focus and be clear in what I am and want to do. That brings clearness in everything I bring in the world. Like my products, communication style, website etc
I can relax with my ideal clients.
With my ideal clients I take my proper space in my contact with the world.
I can feed my sense of dignity and reliability.
With ideal clients I can fully walk my talk
With ideal clients money issues dissappear
323 comments
Oh yes!
feeling relaxed
bringing the best out of each other
heartful! perfect word.
sense of dignity and reliability
You have great words to describe it! thank you!
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WEEK 6, DAY 1 - WHY ideal clients
1. more joy
2. more meaning
3. more effect of my work
4. more connection with the other
5. more energy
6. more challenge
7. paid more
8. more recommendations
9. more creativity
10. more clarity
11. more space in my head
12. more rest in my day
13. more long term relationships
14. more focus in my activities
15. deliver more value
YES, going for ideal clients is the best strategy for me in my business. I commit to that.
>> I am going to become the Ideal Provider for my ideal clients. <<
376 comments
Compliment on your list Manny. It reads as a song and call for actions.
During our Buddy call tomorrow, we’ll discuss how to help each other implementing the strategy.
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WOW what a good list Manny well done love to talk about it in a buddy group later on talk to you tomorrow bye
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Yes you are, they bring you to your next level
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Day 1:
Reasons to work with ideal clients and to make the decision to go (only) to work with ideal clients.
1. The understand the product and services the offer better, because it is a better match.
2. Less frustration explaining what you offer.
3. The pay you the right amount of money for the value you offer them.
4. They are fun more fun to interact with.
5. You learn from them and can utilize what you learn from one to offer to another.
6. You can create an ideal and tuned sales channel and proposal.
7. You can relate to this ideal client because you know their need, problems and necessary solutions.
8. You can stick with your set of products of customers if the pond of ideal clients is large enough.
9. You can have several levels of products and services and after you offered and delivered the first phase you can offer or work on the next level and keep engaged with these ideal clients.
10. Because you interact with your ideal client you can optimize the marketing towards this group and to the same with your products and services.
11. You can only spent time once so better to this this with ideal clients instead to clients that are doubtful.
12. ideal clients will or can lead to other ideal client more easily than a wider set of clients.
13. Your products and services will improve faster than with a wide set of clients.
376 comments
I like your list and business mindset very much Marcel. Please slow me to re-use some of your reasons as they are of added value to my mindset.
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Marcel, after this list (chapeau) ...for sure the next question is going to be more easy as expected
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WOMB WEEK 6, JULY 25, DAY 1/5
ideal clients, COMPELLING WHY
I want to work with ideal clients because:
1. They do whatever it takes to solve their pain / achieve the goal
2. They truly appreciate my products and services
3. They feel identified with (and like) my offer
4. They feel inspired with my message
5. They pay good, happily and on time
6. They refer happily and proactively
7. There is a “click”/connection between us
8. They naturally become friends (almost family)
9. They help me and my business grow
10. They just “get it”. They understand the value they obtain
11. They are honest and kind
12. They are independent and do not require “maintenance”
13. They are happily surprised when I tried to delight them
14. They don’t build unfair expectations
15. They do not complain but are willing to provide constructive feedback
16. They share the same set of values, value system
17. They have a similar belief system
18. They are truly delightful to work with
19. They enable the possibility of a long term business relationship
20. They actively propose new projects, ideas, pains for me to offer / solve (because they like and trust me)
21. They forgive mistakes easily
22. They provide feedback happily when Ai ask them
23. They are understanding and they care
24. They are happy to see me succeed and grow
25. They defend me from flop clients. They keep the “house clean”
26. They are worth to go the extra mile for
27. They provide so much love, energy and inspiration!
28. They donwhatever it takes to keep you with them 😁
29. They warn me of potential risks and dangers they notice that I perhaps don’t
30. They are loyal
I definitely will go for ideal client strategy
376 comments
WOW Maru I just love the way you describe your ideal clients. It reads like a Manifest and sounds like a call upon the Universe to manifest your dream client.
May you be blessed with many of your ideal clients.
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Thank you so much Marie-Louise! Since I am on a holiday/ spiritual retreat right now, it feels that this list was flowing through my hand without thinking. Felt like divine inspiration 🙏
So happy you loved it. I loved that you named it Manifesto 😍 and especially your final blessing means so much to me! ❤️
May you also be blessed with an abundance of your ideal clients and very much fruitful business relationships! ❤️
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Yeah- exactly... Great how you describe it!
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Thank you Bas! ☺️
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1. Why is it important to focus on ideal clients.
More focus, target list will become smaller so you can really investigate.
They stay with you longer, it costs less time to get to know each other and you don’t always have to look for new customers.
You can charge more.
You know way more about their specific problems because my ideal clients have the same kind of problems. The more ideal clients the more I know about them.
If you do marketing you will know which triggers will get them interested
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Hi Petra,
I love your ideas for the WHY ideal clients are great.
Now, I am curious to know IF you CHOOSE to focus on working ONLY with ideal clients, with xx% of them or maybe just for a specific product?
Would love to read your decision.
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Oh Vered, that is a deepening of the question...
I notice that I feel a sense of fear and enthusiasm to say 100%.
Now the last years I optimized profits/ income by taking up work that now may have costed me everything/ a lot...
I guess in the rest of the program we will focus on how to create programs for ideal clients... that is exciting
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My future goal is to work only with ideal clients. But I have to be honest, if I have people "sitting around" I am tempted to "stray". I will only work with ideal clients when it comes to my training and coaching.
I will not offer training if it is not followed up with coaching. Then they need to look elsewhere. That approach works well for me!
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MY ideal client STRATEGY
GOAL for this week: "I am going to become the Ideal Provider for my ideal clients"
DAY 1 / 5 – WHY I WANT TO WORK WITH ideal clients and ARE ideal clients WHAT I WANT TO GO FOR?
1) They challenge me to give them my best
2) It is fun and inspiring
3) Working with them brings me in the flow
4) It opens the gate to my creativity
5) They are fully committed to the program I offer
6) They want only the best which challenge me to accelerate my business and implement fast
7) It gives me a great sense of joy seeing and feeling the gratefullness they experience when the succesfully complete the program
8) I gain customer loyalty because they feel that I care about them and their succes and want them to achieve their goals.
9) It brings about sustainable relationships and new partnerships (WIN-WIN-WIN)
10) The relationship is based on mutual respect
11) They are low maintenance in the negative sence with high creativity value
12) It makes me happy to give them my best and see them benefit from it
13) They have a growth mindset
14) They are 100% committed
15) The implement fast
16) We can rely on each other to follow up on our words
17) They happily gives referrals
18) They succes story is my best show case
YES, ideal clients ARE WHAT I WANT TO GO FOR
For all the above reasons
412 comments
Great list, Marie-Louise. It radiates stond of energy 🙂
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Thank you Manny for taking the time to read & react.
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Hi Marie-Louise, I am flabbergasted to read about how your ideal clients bring you to the “flow” zone and how they have the growth mindset. Those are very inspiring points for me that I would love to include in my ideal client profile.
Thank you so much for this beautiful compelling why list!
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Thank you so much for your inspiring feedback Maru. Feel free to use it as well. I hope it works as well for you as it does for me.
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Very inspiring Marie-Louise, thank you.
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Week 6 - Day 1
WHY I want to work with ideal clients:
1. Those people will give me more energy
2. I will look foward to starting my day more then I do now.
3. They will bring in more clients so marketing ans sales become much easier
4. They will be happier with the value I bring which makes me happier
5. They might even become friends
6. The will pay easier and maybe more
7. My life will get more meaning if I feel I really make a differnce in people's lives.
8. It wil be more fun
9. I will laugh more often during the day
10. I will become better in what I do, cause I want to be the ideal partner for my ideal clients
11. They will find me, instead of I have to go after them
12. It will add to me feeling connected to people
13. Relationships are the single most important thing for happiness, so it is going to be a big contribution for living a happy live.
14. Just becasue I can.
123 comments
Hi Paul,
I think your ideas for the WHY are great and now I am curious to know IF you CHOOSE to focus on working ONLY with ideal clients, with xx% of them or maybe just for a specific product?
Would love to read your decision.
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Why work with ideal clients (while not having seen the video, as to keep my brainstorm fresh)
1. They buy more easily
2. They pay more easily (faster / complete / on time)
3. They buy more often (if your product is not a one/off)
4. They are willing to pay premium prices
5. They are tolerant, open, and not-complaining regarding you and your offferings
6. They are more inclined to buy your new products
7. They are more patient, might this be needed
8. They are respectful, which feels good
9. They are thankful, which feels … thankful
10. They are more pleasant and fun to serve and interact with
11. They would provide valuable critical feedback if/when asked
12. They would give good reviews when asked
13. They would put effort in referrals/advocacy when asked
14. They would help with relevant networking when asked
15. They would help advertise/promote me in other ways when asked
16. They would provide input for product development (and perhaps even cooperate)
I have 3 types of clients:
• Platform partners who offer my products to their audience. The active partners are already pretty ideal.
• Corporates where my products are offered. These provide an opportunity, but they are not yet ideal clients (they don’t do #15 for example). It is difficult to improve this however.
• Individuals who see my products and decide to buy or not. These are not directly ideal clients, but I try to approach and interact with them in ways that they tick the Why’s.
So partly I continue to treat them as ideal clients, partly I can improve my efforts to make them more ideal, and partly they don’t individually have to be ideal (I also don’t have the product base for that currently, with several one/off products), as long as statistically enough of the Why’s are ticked.
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Hi Machiel,
It's great to read all the reasons you wrote down why to work with ideal clients and I liked it that you did it before watching the video.
However, from what I understand from what you wrote down as your decision, you're not going to change anything from what you already have and you gave your reasons and explanations for it (If I understood correctly what you wrote).
If this is so, my question to you - is this going to create something new in your business? Is this going to lead you and your business to where you wish to be?
If I misunderstood what you wrote I would love to hear IF you CHOOSE to focus on working ONLY with ideal clients, with xx% of them or maybe just for a specific product?
215 comments
Hi Vered,
Thanks for your concern. Indeed, not a lot will change in my current approach, at least for the short term (the rest of 2022). Because of other priorities. So my active choice for the time being is to NOT focus on "ideal clients only". I can bring some nuance to that, but the details that you are looking after are meant for the assignment on Wednesday (X%, certain products, etc), if I've read the instructions correctly.
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Thanks for clarifying this Machiel!
Like Nisandeh wrote (and said in the video), you don't have to do ONLY ideal clients.
For years we were focusing on having 20% of ideal clients and giving them our 80% of attention and the other 20% of our time and efforts was to the "not-so-Ideal" and trying to get them into becoming ideal clients.
It was because those 20% of our ideal clients provided us with over 80% of our income.
Today, we consciously chose to work ONLY with ideal clients due to the fact that our reasons to work have changed and our WHY has shifted. That's how it goes in life... Everything changes ALL THE TIME!
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Duly noted, thanks. I expect a similar shift for myself in the future as well, but I'm not there yet (and knowing it)!
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What a courageous, inspiring and powerful move! Thank you for sharing Vered! 🙏
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You are correct, Machiel…
Vered was being a little over enthusiastic… 😅
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I love to read Vered as well! With her powerful, inspiring and passionate comments she also shows that she truly cares! ❤️
376 comments
Hi Machiel,
I love your parameters for your ideal clients and the manner in which you explain each parameter. It adds a dimension of gratefulness to the individual parameters making each of them more valuable. Please allow me to use the same method as it feels good to do it that way. Also your # 11 and 14 where new to me but recognizing the power of both of them, I'll like to add these two to my list.
11. They would provide valuable critical feedback if/when asked
14. They would help with relevant networking when asked
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Thanks for your encouragement and willingness to take some of the ideas Marie-Louise!
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Day 1 – come up with at least 10 answers why you want to work with ideal clients and make a decision IF ideal clients is what you want to go for;
I've heard this many times and so I've watched and worked on it several times. Now that I am setting up another company, I can also look at this again and because it is still the same (only now national) customer, it makes that easier.
What I do find difficult is that I have multiple target groups, including B2B and bicycle repair shops. And I can't reach the bicycle mechanics in particular, especially when it comes to ideal clients because they are stubborn and only say that they are busy busy busy and with a completely different mindset in the competition. This creates uncertainty and frustration, which is why I prefer to set up 12 halls myself (12x 45 technicians) with my own staff, but the challenge is to find and train the right personnel.
1. No nagging because the customer is more in line with what I need and all the fringe words etc only suffer to meet an ideal customer
2. saves time
3. gives brightness
4. gives peace
5. gives sharpness
5. provides insights
6. is also much nicer for the customer
7. you speak their language
8. Nice to give and receive commitment
9. makes a lot clear
10. gives much more pleasant contact
11. goes out of the fight more
12. having a lot more fun working
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First, let me say how grateful and how much I appreciate your effort in making the comment in English Leo.
It truly shows your commitment and I think you should also acknowledge yourself for it!!
Second, I think your ideas for the WHY are great and now I am curious to know IF you CHOOSE to focus on working ONLY with ideal clients, with xx% of them or maybe just for a specific product?
Would love to read your decision.
183 comments
The decision is to work with 80% on ideal customers.
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That's brilliant Leo... well done for taking that step!!
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DAY 1
Hey there,
I definitely want to be surrounded only by ideal clients!
My WHY:
Fun
Win-win-win for all
All parties learn
Best use of my time
Show up
Value my time
Value my expertise
Follow my steps
Pay in advance
Are proactive
Love what I do without a doubt
Are excellent recommendation givers
Don’t waste my time
They implement and always have results
111 comments
Why do I want to work with ideal clients?
What it will bring me:
1. They bring out the best of me, so I can give them the best.
2. With ideal clients I feel at ease so I dare to trust on what comes up in the moment, instead of leaning on "safe" methods that proved to work.
3. I learn and grow when working with IC's. So I become a better trainer/coach each time.
4. I enjoy preparing and look forward to work with IC's.
5. Training and coaching could be a journey we start together instead of a task.
And it saves me from:
6. Draining energy
7. Running after clients, doing a lot of work and hoping that one day they might say yes. And sometimes they do.
8. Working hard to explain and convince that what I offer has value for them.
9. Skipping elements out of a good program because they have not enough time for the full program.
10. Being unhappy in my work.
Shocking thing here after seeing Nisandeh's video is that I realize I hardly ever worked with ideal clients throughout my career.
It's more like 2-98% instead of the 20-80% rule.
So there lies a whole new future ahead.
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That's such a fantastic observation Rudolph.
Realizing this I'm curious to know whether you wish to work with ONLY ideal clients, just xx% of them, or whether in a specific product that you have?
Would love to read your decision
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Hi Vered, only ideal clients and ideal clients only. I have to redefine my target audience and from there my ideal client.
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That's fantastic to read Rudolph and absolutely courageous step... I hope you appreciate yourself for taking this step...
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What an exciting step Rudolph!
I know you can do that.
When I looked back (I do a few times a year) I worked for about 50-50 % with ideal clients. So thats why I sold my own practice after 12 (!) years. Now I have other clients, but still 50-50 and in my head (and certainly about what Nisandeh told us in the hot seat session) I realize more how important it is to choose the real ideal clients.
GO for it Rudolph. I will follow your process.