Redhead Writing - Latest Comments in Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Erika Napoletano — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:03:31 -0000

Thanks, sugarplum fairy. And thanks for the stat juice ;-)

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Erika Napoletano — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:31:32 -0000

How on earth did I miss that? Oy.

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

mememe — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:07:28 -0000

mad men reference....

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Erika Napoletano — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:54:41 -0000

Are we talking about bowling or Kenny Rogers?

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Erika Napoletano — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:54:12 -0000

Better a bit late than never, right? :)

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Erika Napoletano — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:53:54 -0000

We ALL learn lessons the hard way...BEEN THERE!

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Bret Juliano — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:46:29 -0000

Great article. I actually had this with a client not too long ago.

A few months back the client who consistently paid late and wanted to know everything I was doing asked what the charges were and I told them and that it was time to stop. So I did and invoiced him. 2 months went by without another word from them. After the first 30 days I emailed, twitter, called repeated times and there was no response. Then the day before I am going to revoke the changes, I receive a check in the mail for the original amount (excluding the late fee) and no further response. I now know not to go back to them for work, even if I am desperate I can find other clients. I should have folded that client long ago.

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

IconicImagery — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:40:17 -0000

Great article! I wish this had been available before I decided to move into self-employment - would have left my job a lot sooner.

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

mememe — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:37:17 -0000

You mean Lucky Strike?

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

John Falchetto — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:13:15 -0000

I would add one, a client becomes too big and provides almost 80% of your income. You are asking for trouble. They know they are holding you by the B@*# and will become clients from hell.

I believe clients from hell are manufactured by us and we sometimes create monsters by our actions.

Then you have your never happy-always bitching client who we should never hire in the first place, but we should definitely Set'em up, Shoot them down.

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Erika Napoletano — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:57:06 -0000

Little Known Fact: I was raised on country music. Yes, it's true :)

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Erika Napoletano — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:56:46 -0000

Nice call, Diane...The Gambler knows his stuff, huh? Welcome to the blog!

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Diane Irwin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:52:09 -0000

Great article - I fired a client about a year ago - you hit the nail on the head with your description of "Know when to Fold'em" It was such a sense of relief for me to get rid of this person...he came back to me after work was painfully concluded and wanted additional services. I told him in a nice and professional manner that I felt we were no longer a good fit and it was to his own benefit to start fresh with someone else. Whew!

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Lissa Duty — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:40:42 -0000

Erika, I absolutely love Kenny Rogers. He was my favorite as a child and this was my favorite song. Great comparison & blog post!

Lissa

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Face Poker — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:16:53 -0000

I have looked over your blog a few times and I love it.

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Ben — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:54:22 -0000

No posts in a while. When are you coming back to write some more for us?

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Ciaoenrico — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:45:56 -0000

I think straight profitability is an important criteria as well.

Specifically, if I’m charging a client $1000 a month, and through various requests for extra stuff, or resolving issues, or having to deal with their drama every week, it could turn out I’m billing $6000 worth of time. A lot of jobs you can tell a client are outside of their retainer and offer to create a new agreement for the work.

However, if they’re good at getting you to go above and beyond, with no plan of ever paying you more, they aren’t clients, they’re tapeworms.

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Rich Becker — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 11:34:05 -0000

Erika,

A very entertaining analogy. Statistically, 20 percent of the clients in our field require 80 percent of our time. If you can fold that 20 percent, it's easier hold onto the other 80 percent and find more time for promotion.

All the best,
Rich

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Party Plan Pat — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:25:00 -0000

ok this piece is amazing of course and very timely during these so called "difficult economic times" It's time to let go of dead weight, cause dead weight sinks! Up ward and onward. There are too many people looking for help and success to spend time persuading and coaxing prentenders to get with the program. I would rather work with contenders! There is something about vegas marketers that is so on point. Must be the water y'all drink out there!

Speaking of which, Kenny Rogers loves africa (kenya and Tanzania to be precise). He wrote this song called Shimoni (which is a place is Manimba a.k.a Zanzibar of my youth).

fabulous song. SO I must have missed the pictures of your recent trip. where oh where might a girl go to see pictures of her homeland?

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Glen .L .Graham — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:43:52 -0000

Hi Erika
In my line of work as a web-designer the clients that I let go in a heart beat are clients that don't appreciate my time and work.

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Eileen — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:03:06 -0000

Its the look of desperation that attracts the big, bad and ugly! Unfortunately, everyone is a piranha out there looking for blood, if you look weak, chances are they'll get you.

Quality work being sold for 'pennies on the dollar', putting illegals out of work! HA!

Look on the bright side though, at least this way we all know what we are capable of hanlding with the time restraints given.

the body is a mysterious thing and can be pushed to ridiculous limits!

Winning is half the battle! - G.I. Joe

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

JB — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:35:41 -0000

Hey, Redhead!

Great post! In my line of work we've sometimes realized too late when we shouldve "folded" on certain clients. However, I'm now challenged to work harder at making sure the good ones get more appreciation from me.

Right on as usual!

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

octavpelin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:00:16 -0000

Hi,Erika nice post!

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Kat — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:47:02 -0000

Great article, and I love the poker analogy. Found your site through a friend; always good stuff here. Keep up the good work! (BTW, I always fold on a pair of swans, as well as a Doyle Brunson...;D)

Re: Kenny Rogers Talks about Client Retention

Paul Beiser — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:18:20 -0000

Great column, Erika. Actually your advice applies beyond clients and to many other aspects of life (both work and personal). A lot of it comes down to communication and respect.

Keep up the great work!