Most companies that render any sort of professional or executive service currently have, or at some point have had, the nightmare client from Hell.
Before we get started, let me be clear: no client is “perfect” – even your most awesome clients are unique individuals and you’ll never agree 100% of the time. Don’t even look for it. Come to know them for who they authentically are, and that knowledge will actually strengthen your relationships with them. This isn’t about trying to make every client fit a mold you create.
This IS about the clients you dream about not having anymore, where being rid of them would be like a milestone of progress. Knowing who they are, and how to recognize the signs early on so you properly calibrate the “attract and repel” balance in your marketing, MUST be part of your website conversions strategy in order for your business to grow in the right direction.
Some clues: they burn over 50% of your energy yet are only responsible for a tiny single-digit of your gross receipts. 80% of the time your phone rings, it’s them calling with yet another “urgent” issue. Yet somehow, your top 5 or 6 clients only need phone time with you once every couple weeks, and everything’s going great.
Part of the reason you accomplish something in the morning before checking email is knowing your energy will be shot when you see the 5 emails the nightmare client from Hell found time to send late last night. In 100 other ways, they make your life hell. Maybe they even make you question why you’re in business. I could go on.
It’s well and good to say “just fire them.” The problem is, this nightmare client knows you’re dedicated, compassionate, and not the kind to screw someone over and has insulated themselves against the Day of Reckoning by appearing, at times, to be “basically a good person” while making clear they might even (physically) show up on your doorstep if you dared try to end the relationship.
The good news is: these prospects usually have the title Nightmare Client From Hell stamped on their business card. You just have to know where to find it.
Sometimes it’s VERY subtle. Here are some clues: Continue reading
