Have you created an ideal business environment where you’re attracting the right clients? Are you choosing clients or chasing clients? I ask because many people I speak with are still struggling with choosing clients instead of chasing them (or even dealing with misbehavior from not so ideal clients). Sometimes we tolerate bad behavior just because we need the money. Have you ever done this? This is a tricky place to be in your business – you need to generate income but you also need to be of service to the right people.
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Sometimes it’s a little scary to declare our purpose and clearly identify who we want to work with. We might feel as if we’re going to exclude someone or we could also be afraid of paving a new way of doing things when really, that IS what we are here to do as women leaders. For example: I serve highly conscious female entrepreneurs who are coaches, authors, speakers, artists and healers. Each is wildly different with ONE thing in common. A BIG mission and they need help articulating that into a message that doesn’t feel icky or too salesy. I help create marketing messages with integrity. The reason I do this is to turn your ideas into something that matters. AND, I was afraid to declare this at first because I didn’t want to alienate men. It’s not that I don’t want to work with men; it’s just that I tend to attract more women clients (although I do have some great male clients, too, and I work with some larger businesses and nonprofits in a consulting capacity).
My point is – once I got clear on who I am meant to serve my marketing messages started to flow.
One of the first steps was getting UBER clear about my values, my personal mission, my business mission and my story. I often share that values equal value and when you understand that you’ll achieve some serious clarity.
This can happen for you, too. AND, you can choose who you want to work with instead of settling for less than ideal clients. Section 2 of my How to Create Marketing Messages With Integrity: Attract Your Ideal Clients With Your Authentic Voice program shows you how. Get the full details here.
Are you choosing clients or chasing clients? Is it time to set clear boundaries in your business?
Want are source to help you create marketing messages with integrity? Take The Messenger Quiz.
Lisa Manyon
Lisa Manyon is "The Business Marketing Architect," a content strategist for mission-driven entrepreneurs. She's the creator of the values-based "Challenge. Solution. Invitation.™" communication framework to create marketing messages with integrity by focusing on PASSION points (as seen in Inc. Magazine). She specializes in reverse engineering your most powerful solutions into profitable revenue streams. She offers coaching, consulting, copywriting training, and strategies to effectively market your business. Her content strategy plans are known to produce million-dollar results. She’s a #1 international bestselling author and award-winning speaker available to teach, train, and transform your audience with interactive Business Breakthrough Boutiques. She offers business-building resources on her award-winning blog. www.writeoncreative.com/blog
I love that phrase “choosing or chasing” and I agree it makes all the difference in the world. Sometimes I feel myself reaching out to a potential client more than they are reaching toward me – usually because I see the potential for them. But that never works. Great advice, Lisa.
Sue,
Agreed. It’s a great reminder for everyone — no matter where we are in business. We all have to experience “the not so ideal client” to truly appreciate the ideal client. The only way to get clear on who you really want to work with is to jump in and get experience. Choosing instead of chasing not only works better — it’s energetically aligned and feels better. Win -win.
Write on!~
Lisa Manyon
Great advice, Lisa – sometimes it is difficult to set those boundaries!
Patricia,
Yes, that is true and that’s exactly why I’ve created my new program.
Write on!~
Lisa
Yep!
Great way to put it, Sistah!
XO, Katherine.
Katherine,
Yes, it’s all about choosing not chasing… as it is with most things in life.
Write on!~
Lisa
Lisa,
In the beginning of a venture it is so easy to fall into the trap of accepting anyone and anything just to generate cash flow. Great article. Hopefully readers will take this to heart and not have to learn the hard way…like most of us has done. 🙂
Kiyla Fenell
Kiyla,
You are so correct. There aren’t really any shortcuts in business AND when you learn to come from a place of service based on your values it’s easy to attract the right clients. Of course, I am preaching to the choir here. 🙂
Write on!~
Lisa
Lisa –
Yes a key point in running a business and marketing.
We can shout from the mountain tops to the masses, but,
if they are not our ideal client profile, they probably are not
hearing you or listening, ever.
Mitch
Mitch,
As usual, you are correct. Knowing who you are crafting your message for and who you really want to work with is ESSENTIAL.
Write on!~
Lisa
Awesome post! I’m so with you on it being scary to speak your truth about who you’ll serve, but like you, I learned it serves everyone!-)
What I love about choosing clients and yes…excluding people is that you no longer look at everyone with a dollar sign above their head which, I happen to think, is a pretty nasty feeling. Instead you attract the right people and everyone is happier! Thanks for sharing this!
I’m with Sue here I love the phrase “choosing or chasing” choosing sounds like forward motion, chasing sounds like going round and around!
Wow – this is such a timely post for me. I’m so happy that I’m finally in a place in my business where I know I don’t have to take every client who comes along, and that I can define my target market and actually turn away a client who isn’t a good fit. It is so empowering, AND it makes you more successful because you are working with your ideal clients who value what you do for them. Once you know who that ideal client is, then using the right marketing message becomes so much easier.
Thanks, Lisa. I’m working on my first book and developing my platform at the same time. Your post highlights the importance of having a very clear picture of your ideal reader (client) at the outset, and really listening to the guidance of your heart. It’s so easy to get caught up in formulaic recommendations (how to write blog titles that attract readers, for example). My guess is, there are also significant style differences between men and women when it comes to how we deliver and receive marketing.
Martha,
You are correct and that is why it’s important to know your audience. While formulas can work, the key is to understand your ideal clients/readers and communicate in a way that really connects. I’m not sure if you saw my interview in Inc. Magazine but you may want to check it out.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Write on!~
Lisa
I appreciate your thoughts on recognizing who you serve. I too felt uncomfortable stating my focus on women but that is what really resonates for me. Although I really do enjoy working with men, my coaching garners much more female attention.
Judy,
Once you are clear on who you are meant to serve you can craft your marketing message to speak directly to them and you’ll see better results. BRAVO!
Write on!~
Lisa
I love geting to a place in life where its so much easier to say no, I choose not not be around that energy. Great reminder. Thanks.
Chris,
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your post. Yes, it is a powerful place to know what kind of energy you will and won’t tolerate.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Write on!~
Lisa
Working with the right people is powerful! I, too, have had this conversation with clients…and often times more than once because of the feeling of alienation. BUT, we want to work with those we resonate with the most and so very important to stay passionate about your work. Your words are reaffirming! 🙂
Tara,
It is powerful! I was recently asked HOW I get clients. The truth is I don’t “get” them, I attract them. If I have to overcome objections, I already know we are not a good fit and I graciously refer to someone else. Business really can be that beautiful and simple.
Thanks for weighing in. I value your feedback.
Write on!~
Lisa Manyon
Lisa, I’m happy to say that I’ve really relaxed into a sure belief that the right clients will be attracted to my work at the right time. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have a lot of work to do on my marketing message… I do, but it’s a relief not to feel a sense of urgency to get people through the door. I hope to be working with you one day soon. 🙂
Excellent perspective, Mia. I find that once we have landed on a marketing message that feels good at a soul level, we automatically attract who we are meant to serve. That makes business even more FUN and profitable. Win-win.
I so appreciate you.
Write on!~
Lisa Manyon