Timely and Effective Follow-Up Is Essential
By Guest Blogger, Jerilyn McDonald
One trait essential to your business is the ability to provide timely and effective follow-up. Many service providers and professionals provide little, if any, follow-up to the point that when there is a level of interest in working with clients and in securing their business, the client is often surprised and caught off guard. A philosophy of being pleasantly persistent can go a long way toward securing and maintaining a loyal client.
Being pleasantly persistent consists of a number of things, including:
• Asking for what you want. Don’t be afraid, or try to beat around the bush for things that you want. Be direct and ask for what you want. If you don’t ask, you’ll never get what you want. The worst thing that can happen is that the person you’re asking will say no. People know you’re calling for a reason and are expecting you to ask for something. Go ahead, ask.
• Be consistent, not overbearing. Follow-up work does not mean hounding a person into submission. Be sensitive to schedules and try to consider the best time to reach that person. By following up during those times, you can ensure that you’ll have the person’s full attention and can make the best use of everyone’s time.
• Have a purpose behind the follow-up. Don’t just call to call. Each follow-up call you make should provide new value and not be done just to check in or to meet a call quota.
• Follow up when you say you will. By keeping your word and doing what you say you’ll do when you say you’ll do it, you can build trust with people. They’ll know that you mean what you say and can rely upon you to do what you promise. The relationship of trust you build by keeping your word will help set you apart from other competitors and give you a leg up on any competition that may exist.
The ability to effectively follow up will show your commitment and elevate your standing among clients and potential customers while ensuring greater success for you and your business.
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About Jerilyn
Jerilyn McDonald is CEO & President of JM Unlimited Inc, organized for professional acting and providing creative marketing services to entrepreneurs, small business owners and sales professionals. She can be seen on stage and screen in and around Charlotte, and especially loves Broadway Musical Theatre.
Jerilyn particularly enjoys working with other actors, artists, authors, photographers, women business owners, and non-profits, providing creative marketing and business ownership strategies.
Jerilyn is a native Texan (proud of it!) but has called Charlotte home for many years. She is blessed with a loving, supportive family and enjoys traveling any chance she gets. She is growing a worldwide customer base and looks forward to the next person she can help get started!
Reach her by:
Blog: http://www.jerilynmcdonald.com
Email: jerilynmcdonald@gmail.com
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/JerilynMcDonald
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JMUnlimitedResources
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Great insight and extremely valuable. This topic cannot be overemphasized! Thank you for sharing.