What’s a fool proof way to showcase your laziness?
Thinking one solution works for everyone, for every client.
I get that you want to have a consistent entrée of services. That’s a good thing, especially when reinventing the wheel isn’t necessary.
It’s when you insist that what worked for IBM will work for Hewlett Packard that you fully illustrate your incompetence.
I don’t walk into Dillards and buy a size large Polo without trying it on just because that’s the same size t-shirt that I wear from Urban Outfitters. That’s lazy, and there’s enough of that to go around without your business participating in that sick cycle carousel.
Business is usually a simple proposition. People make it hard. It’s easy to see dollar signs and think that a one size fits all mentality will increase scalability, but typically it decreases retention.
Your clients want a form-fitting solution. And they sure as hell don’t want to see a competitor wearing the same prom dress.
If you do the hard work upfront, determine your client’s style and take precise measurements chances are they’ll be satisfied with your offering. Not only will they return, but they’ll also tell other people.
See how easy that is?
Photo Credit: Zen
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I share the same perspective…when I was training Real Estate Agents, a lot of them were worried about the contract…some, so scared they purposely talked themselves out of working! I told everyone the same thing…”Don’t worry about the contract! EVERY situation is different, unique…what you write on the contract for the Smiths, will be completely different than when you fill out a contract for the Jones..”
Some didn’t get it…one size does not fit all…
@Amanda – I hadn’t even thought about it from the real-estate perspective. Thanks for sharing. In addition to telling them the contracts would be different, did you offer other advice or explanation that aided their approach and mindset during the contract process?
In my mind that really plays to the B2C vs. B2B mentality. In B2C you try to find the one size fits all or fits many, while in B2B you have to realize that its not that simple. I think people see the sales conversions and ease of marketing for B2C and think they want their B2B to be like that. Different world, different mentality.
.-= Jake Rosen´s last blog ..Social Media Manifesto =-.
@Jake – Good point re: B2C vs. B2B. When I wrote the post I had an agency type organization in mind. I’d even argue that individual consumers are getting further and further away from the one size fits all mentality. Nike has had a lot of success with their custom-designed shoes, Amazon with the long tail books, etc.
How much of one size fits all do you think is also part of a consumer’s desire to “keep up with the Joneses.” I know I get a lot in my profession “Well, what are THEY doing/buying/saying/etc.” People think they want to be individuals but when it comes to purchasing many want to be just like everyone else.
It’s a prime example of the customer is not always right because the customer doesn’t really know what they want. Unfortunately while you try to educate and help there is another business around the corner willing to commodotize and sell cheap.
The real skill comes in finding clients who are willing to try on the different sized polos, find the right one, adore the product and thus tell others.
.-= Elisa´s last blog ..If You Can’t Say Something Nice… =-.
@Elisa – Like Jake alluded to in his comment, my post is more from a B2B vantage point (I should’ve specified that), but I think you’re right. I think it’s really dependent on the product being sold. B2B and items with higher price point should probably be customized, but by all means glazed donuts don’t have to be.
And good final point. It’s important to focus more on potential customers and less on what competitors are doing (unless they’re swiping all your potential customers.)
You will never run out of things people want to know about. The list is almost endless.
Everyone wants to know how to “enhance” their life. How to make more money. How to be more attractive.
How to make things. How to sell things. Where the holiday “hot spots” are this season….and so forth, and so on, etc.
The list will never end… because… peoples wants are insatiable!
Study the trends and you can give your customers anything they want.