Existing clients are often an excellent source of referrals and additional sales within the framework of a long term business relationship. Sometimes, however, there are clients who simply are not worth the effort, most often because of the amount of time they require and the problems they create. How can you identify a customer with whom it may be better to end cooperation? Here are five situations in which you should at least consider that possibility.
An unavailable and uncommunicative client
As Fast Company states, one of the typical signs of a client who is not worth the effort is an inability to communicate effectively. The customer is unavailable, misses scheduled meetings, fails to meet deadlines, and is never easy to reach. If your relationship with the client requires two way communication, but the customer neglects their part and creates additional work for you as a result, it is reasonable to consider whether such a client is worth retaining.
You and the client cannot stand each other
A lack of mutual sympathy and poor personal chemistry may simply be an inconvenience. In some cases, however, it becomes a significant problem. If the client starts making your work unnecessarily difficult or if the two of you genuinely cannot get along on a personal level, the situation may develop to the point where meaningful business cooperation becomes impossible. In extreme cases, this may even be a reason to terminate the business relationship.
A time demanding client
Sometimes a client directly or indirectly requires more of your time than is financially worthwhile. Explain the issue to the customer and establish clear rules. If that still does not help, consider whether it is time to part ways with that client.
Failure to respect your expertise
The salesperson client relationship must be respected. You are the service provider or product seller, and you know your products better than anyone else. If the customer ignores your recommendations or constantly attempts to instruct you, serious problems may arise.
Lack of interest in additional products
A significant portion of service providers' revenue generally comes from additional sales to existing customers. If a client consistently shows no interest in upgrading their product and stubbornly insists on remaining with the basic version, it may be better to devote your energy to someone else.
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