The Perfect Client

[Carole]

Today I was treated to the best client you could possibly have. It was so rewarding and refreshing.
She was spot on time. She started off by thanking me for seeing her. She was eager to learn and kept showing enthusiasm and became more and more optimistic. She was grateful for all the handouts and resources I gave her, and was happy when I mentioned that she was welcome to contact me again if she had any further issues. She paid me straight away and was very pleasant and appreciative.
This is in stark contrast to the people who haven't thanked me; who haven't turned up; who haven't got back to me when they said they would. This lady has restored my faith in human nature and I will remember her .
I'm interested in others experiences with clients.

[Astrid]

Hi Carole

My perfect client? Apart from paying on time and thanking me, my perfect client is open to take on new ideas and also someone who also challenges me to go one step further.
I had a couple of them over the last months and it's really rewarding.

Cheers
Astrid

[Ric Willmot]

I had this very discussion with my wife a few years ago.
I told her I wanted to get my business to a stage where I only had one client who paid me $1 million per year and it only required I work for 20 minutes.

She said, "You lazy jerk. If you can work 20 minutes, you can work 40 minutes. Go out and get some more clients!"

Wives are beautiful aren't they!

Rgds,
Ric

[Jexley]

My favourite clients are always the ones that do the same basic thing that yours did, show appreciation. Whether it's for the simple freebies that I dish out or the simple fact that they realise they're getting value for the money that they are paying, they show me that they appreciate what I'm doing for them.

It's the ones that either don't appreciate it or don't pay me on time that get on my sh*t list. But, I love that you're talking about the good ones, bless you for keeping good thoughts up.

[Tristan Boyd]

Clients like that are always really great to have, but I think that the "perfect" client is a little more challenging. My perfect client lets me know when I could be doing things better, or ways in which I could improve my service.

It's the client that forces me to rethink how we do things, our systems, procedures, check lists etc. (and then pay their bills and thank me ;-) that I think really add value to my business.

[LeelaCosgrove]

My favourite (perfect) client has become one of my closest friends over the last two years.

Not only do we do business together - we also have lunch, dinner and go to events together too.

We both really enjoy having another woman in business to hang out with.

And on top of this - she is also an outstanding client. She asks my advice and LISTENS to what I say ... she is always looking for cool new ideas to make things work better ... she is excited and interested to learn. She pays upfront *grin*.

I firmly believe in mixing business and pleasure - it makes life more fun!

[Heidi Price]

My perfect client used to be my first - I had a free hand and complete control over the results (hehe I'm a control freak!).

But now it is clients who have a basic idea of what they want AND deliver their content on time.

Makes life so much easier

Heidi

[Burgo]

Now this is a very difficult question to answer, as we all have different ideas about what makes the ' perfect client'.

To me a perfect client, is one that uses your services repeatedly, pays immediately on completion, thanks you for your workmanship, praises you to others, and has time to chat over a cuppa.

I have been blessed during my business life with several clients such as I have mentioned, and now in retirement they dont hesitate to call me to help solve a problem or two. This is what makes being a soloist so special.

[Rachel Reeves]

Originally Posted by Astrid

My perfect client? Apart from paying on time and thanking me, my perfect client is open to take on new ideas and also someone who also challenges me to go one step further.

You are right Patrick, this is a very broad topic and there will no doubt be some very different thoughts on this one. I am interested to see how this thread develops.

Have to say I'm with Tristan and Astrid on this one. My perfect client would definitely be one who challenges me to go one step further and is open to new ideas. I love to learn... I love to give and receive information and guidance where possible... and to improve the way I live life and also serve others. The word 'serve' for me isn't one sided; I've always been the type of person to let another person know if they have crossed the line and are trying to walk all over me!

Of course the client who pays on time everytime and expresses appreciation for the work I have done are included in all this. I have been lucky enough to have seen a quiet appreciation in some people (they give appreciation when you have really earned it) which I feel touches a persons heart much more than if they flittingly say thank you and you know that they haven't yet really looked at the work that you have done properly, or they don't understand the hours or brainpower it has taken to get to that particular outcome.

[Adam Randall]

I have 5 clients that I would consider perfect.

They all have a sense of loyalty
They are nice people to deal with
They listen to advice
They ask the right questions
They pay on time or before time
Are forgiving when the odd mistake happens
I learn off of them things I did not know about how to treat others.