Has a client ever wasted your time in a consulting session? Ever had a one-hour consultation turn into 3? Have you experienced the sinking feeling that comes when you leave the consultation and realize you failed to ask a key question? This talk provides answers to these issues and more. Attendees will leave with a clear, memorable outline to manage the client consultation. Using this strategy (that anyone can implement), I close over 90% of the proposals I create.
2. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
Hi, I’m Nathan!
From Birmingham, Alabama
Host at iThemes Training
Freelance Web Business Owner since 1995
Business Coach for WP Freelancers since 2014
23. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Business
§ What’s your coffee shop answer?
§ What do you do or make?
§ Who is your competition?
§ Who is your ideal customer?
§ Why choose you instead of the competition?
24. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Business
§ What is your price point?
§ How do you find customers now?
§ Do you have an existing brand identity?
Goal: Determine how much
they understand their business
25. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Business
§ What is your price point?
§ How do you find customers now?
§ Do you have an existing brand identity?
The client may not be ready for a website.
Suggest a consulting arrangement.
26. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Business
§ What is your price point?
§ How do you find customers now?
§ Do you have an existing brand identity?
Goal: Determine how much
they understand their business
27. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Purpose
§ How does the web fit into your marketing strategy?
§ Why should your ideal customer come to your site?
§ What are your goals for the website?
Goal: Determine how much
strategy assistance you’ll need to provide
28. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Purpose
§ How does the web fit into your marketing strategy?
§ Why should your ideal customer come to your site?
§ What are your goals for the website?
The client may not be ready for a website.
Suggest a discovery phase.
29. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Website
§ Do you have a domain name already?
§ Who will be our point of contact?
§ Where will content for the site come from?
§ Roughly how many pages will the site include?
§ Will you be blogging or sharing news items?
§ Will you be selling things online?
30. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Website
§ Do you need an event calendar? Event registration?
§ Do your clients need to log in for any reason?
§ Do you use Social Media? Which networks?
§ Do you have videos you want to use?
§ Do you want testimonials? Do you have them already?
§ Is there any third-party integration needed?
31. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Website
§ Should the website simply be a credibility piece or
will you want to generate leads from search results?
§ Aside from communicating information, is there
anything else the website will need to do?
Goal: Create a solid scope of work.
32. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Launch
§ Do you have a deadline?
§ How do you handle email?
§ Who will be responsible for maintaining the site
after it has been launched?
Goal: determine timeframe and
start the discussion about ongoing services.
33. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
The Budget
§ Do you have a ballpark budget for this project?
§ Can we simplify or do things in phases?
§ What is the decision-making process?
§ When do you expect to make the final decision?
Goal: Make sure you’re not wasting time.
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Common Red Flags
Disrespectfulness
The client doesn’t listen, interrupts,
won’t answer questions, nickel and dimes
you or won’t take your advice.
Or… the client is a jerk.
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2 Frequent Mistakes
Running a Red Light
Thinking a red flag is “no big deal.”
Remember this is a first date.
Red flags are icebergs.
Don’t make excuses for the client!
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2 Frequent Mistakes
The Hero Syndrome
A need to “fix” the client.
A need to be needed.
Client Co-Dependency.
Ultimately, this will wreck your business.
46. @nathaningram nathaningram.com#WCILM
Selling Management Services
The Client Needs It!
The key is education.
No commitment yet, just explain the necessity.
Provide training or a white glove service.
Much more on this tomorrow…