Let me share an experience that shaped my career...
We had just won the pitch for Guinness Label Relaunch and there was excitement in the air within the agency. Coupled with the fact that the Marketing Manager had done a congratulatory mail to the team copying my MD (Udeme) and addressing it to me…Dear Yomi!
It was a big deal!
So we all got to the office the next day, still in the euphoria that we had just landed a big business into the agency’s kitty. Then someone announced (I think it was MD’s PA) “Everyone should please proceed to the car park, MD wants to speak to us”. In SO&U, once Udeme’s name is mentioned, trust me, it must be a serious issue. Kia, I don minimise my work for laptop and faced car park straight.
After we had gathered, Udeme strolled in smiling and obviously happy. He expressed how that day was one of his best days as an MD and how proud he was of the Guinness team. This took like five minutes or there about. Finally, he asked me to step out. Step out to face a crowd made up of four companies? I didn’t bargain for this! So this whole thing was about me?
I can’t recollect how I walked to meet Udeme, but I made it to his side. I can be crowd shy so I was literarily shaking. In fac,t I had to lean on his car, couldn’t stand by his side.. As in I was SHAKING! He asked everyone to clap for me, looking so proud of me. What a moment for me! I had never been celebrated like that in my life. Thanks to Biodun Adefila ( Client Service Director) and Tyga for making it happen.
That happened under six months of being in SO&U. Let me be open with you, I had a plan. I knew how I was going to manage the Guinness business in my first year. I was disciplined enough to stick to my plan. Trust me it worked!
Here's how to retain a client:
CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT: An Art Of Customer Retention
Content:
IGNITE (Phase 1)
SUSTAIN (Phase 2)
CONSOLIDATE (Phase 3)
IGNITE (Phase 1)
APPROACH THE APPROACHABLE
Clients are regular everyday people like you and I. They eat, drink, hang out, date, go to church/mosque etc. They have a life outside work. But often time they only relate with us work wise. So it’s difficult to approach them and ask for friendship.
Human beings are skewed differently, some of us are shy, rigid, outgoing, pleasant, warm and embracing.
In every team, there will be one with the warm, embracing and pleasant character. This person is approachable. You need to be observant to identify this person.
Once identified, approach this person with little information that you’ve gathered from sources like LinkedIn, Facebook etc and start up a conversation.
Your future success on the account may be built on this strategic move, if well utilised.
IDENTIFY THE DECISION MAKER & THE INFLUENCER
In every brand team, there is always an influencer and often times a decision maker. It’s important to be very observant to identify both of them. Often times, it’s not a given.
A decision maker most times is the head of a team, i.e Marketing Manager, he questions the norm, his opinions are always bought into and he takes decisions swiftly without having to consult.
The influencer is the subordinate that gets the attention of the decision maker when issues are raised. The decision maker holds the capability of such person in high regards. His opinion is often respected by the decision maker and he hardly knocks down his suggestions.
Once you’ve identified these two people, you will have to endear yourself to their hearts.
CREATE A POSITIVE IMPRESSION
Fastest way to endear yourself to the hearts of these two people is to crack a problem.
If you solve a problem for them, you will be seen as a doer and not a talker.
Clients respect doers. Once you claim you have a solution to a lingering problem, go the extra mile to deliver.
Once you deliver, an impression is created and it’s a solid foundation.
(To Be Continued)
@OfficialBHAFC The Zadok Yohanna story is such an inspirational one for every young Nigerian hoping to make it out of the trenches. Keep the hope alive!
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