We should all be our client's favorite uncle!

Didn't we all have a favorite uncle when we were kids? The big guy who always brought something "just for us" when he came to visit. We were always happy to see him or even just to know he was going to visit. One of the reasons we loved the guy was because we knew he was thinking about us.

So what's this got to do with your clients? Everything!

Aquiring a client is a good thing. It's the goal, and once we attain it, we've got to do more than just keep them satisfied. We've got to understand that our clients have the same issues and problems that all of us do. With that in mind, if we find a way to solve a problem, or have a nifty little trick we use to get new business, why not share it with your clients. At first you may feel like you're giving away something you could've sold, but the reality is that you will be establishing yourself as someone that can be counted on for good solid marketing information and advice. In the long run, that's going to mean a long term client and the best prospect of all....referrals.

One of the things I do that I mentioned in another thread, was to deliver my projects in email, then followup with the same content delivered on a thumbdrive. That thread initiated a lot of good ideas, especially concerning what else you could put in the drive.

I've actually had a client say to me (jokingly I hope).... we really don't need your content, we just wanted another thumb drive.."

One of my vendors does a great job of following up with me. Every 10 days I get an email from him about some topic that he thinks I am interested in....there are some services that provide this I think....his emails are about bankruptcy rulings, and new FTC guidelines, and other exciting things like that......I never read them and usually delete them. Clearly he's not one of my favorite uncles.

I've got another vendor that sends me links to sites that are relevant to my business, links to freeware that may be useful, and it shows me that he clearly understands not just what marketing entails, but that he understands my business model. I look forward to his emails, I know there's always going to be some useful information that is going to mean something to me. This vendor is one of my favorite uncles because I can tell from what he sends, he puts some thought in it.

Now here's the really interesting twist to this, not only have I given this favorite uncle many referrals, he's given me quite a few as well.

If you've got some favorite uncle tips, why not trade them in for a few karma points!