Satisfied Clients are Happy Clients
No one needs to point out that the market for meeting planners is very competitive. In order to be successful, you must accrue satisfied clients. It simply is not possible to please everyone; it is possible to treat each client with respect and do all that is within your power to give him or what they desire.
It all comes back to the basics of respect and courtesy. A good meeting planner tries to match client expectations with reality. Do you have a checklist for how you interact with a client? Probably not, at least not a formal one. Making a list can help you clean up your act in areas that you may have become careless about.
Here’ a short list to get started: Do you
- return emails and phone calls promptly?
- keep clients informed about their event, even if there are snags in the plans?
- treat your client with respect?
- practice patience?
- maintain confidentiality? It’s not the law, but it is good business manners.
- cut costs and fees whenever possible? Are you upfront about event costs? No one likes hidden surprises when the bill is presented.
You cannot control how the client treats you, but chances are if you extend courtesy and respect first, it is much more likely that you will receive it in turn.
