A few years ago, my husband and I were given an offer for free Universal Studios tickets. All we had to do was go listen to the condo sales pitch. You know where they swear it will only take you 90 minutes and you end up spending your whole afternoon. They give you the soft sell and then the hard sell, and if you don’t fall for that, it’s the harder sell. (Don’t you want to be able to give your family a vacation?!)
For whatever reason, they caught us with our guard down, and we found ourselves buying into their story about why we needed this timeshare. I know, right? How could we be so naive?
We actually went through with it; we bought the lies and purchased the timeshare. It wasn’t until we got back to the hotel we were staying at, that we started to second guess our decision and started doing research and realized we were lied to.
Luckily, we had 3 days to cancel the sale, get our deposit back, and avoid what would’ve been a very messy situation.
Looking back at this situation, taught me a lot about how I want to operate my business. I don’t want to talk someone into hiring me. Everything needs to be clear upfront, so they know what to expect and I know I’m the best person to help them with their needs.
If you’re building your business for the long haul, you want to be honest and clear about your services and your prices. You don’t want your clients to experience “buyer’s remorse” like we did.
Here are some ways to build trust and make sure you and your client are a good fit.
1. Be Clear About Your Pricing
It’s never a pleasant feeling, to feel like you’ve been sold on a service that might not be a good fit. When it comes to building trust with your clients, being crystal clear about your pricing is essential.
The first step is to list your prices on your website. No one likes to guess or play the pricing game. When potential clients visit your site and can easily find what they’ll be paying, it sends a strong message that what they see is what they get. You’re being upfront and honest right from the start, and that’s a great way to earn their trust.
2. Have a Discovery Call
We’ve all been there – you get excited about a potential project, but then you realize it might not be the best fit. It’s happened to me, too. This is where having a discovery call can make all the difference.
By taking the time to talk to your clients and understand their needs, you can ensure you’re the right person for the job. Sometimes, you might have to make the tough call and admit when something is outside your expertise. It’s not a failure; it’s a sign of professionalism and putting your clients and their needs first.
During a discovery call with a new, potential client I realized she needed in-depth help with Microsoft Outlook and that was outside my area of expertise. It was difficult to admit I couldn’t help her and, connect her with someone who had the expertise she needed, but it was what was best for her and her goals. It was the right call because she got what she needed, and I didn’t have to struggle to make myself fit when It was something I couldn’t do. I would’ve let my client down and my business is my clients.
3. Set Clear Expectations
The third key to building trust with your clients is to let them know what to expect from you. This involves not just what you’ll deliver but also when you’ll deliver it. It’s all about managing expectations.
If you promise the moon but can’t deliver, it’s going to lead to disappointment. Instead, be realistic about what you can accomplish in the time frame they need. It’s better to exceed their expectations than to leave them hanging and have them question their decision to hire you.
In Conclusion
Building trust with your clients is a long-term goal. It’s about being honest, transparent, and focused on delivering value.
When your clients feel they can trust you, they’ll not only be happy they hired you but are also likely to refer others to you. In the end, that’s the kind of reputation that builds a thriving and long-lasting business.
Have you ever been in a situation where you had “buyer’s remorse”?
Have you worked with someone who wasn’t a good fit for your needs?
How did you handle it?