As weird as that sounds, it is indeed possible.
Think about National Public Radio (NPR). That’s what they do. You listen for free, then occasionally they say, “if you got some value from our programming, please contribute what you think it was worth.”
I recently used this with a small customer I started working with. I understand the risks that immediately come to mind… “What if they decide my efforts were worth nothing?”. Well, if that’s the case, then there is a bigger problem. This isn’t a stategy for a brand new customer you take on. You need to have a relationship estanlished.
Think about it this way, if you did run your business that way, would it change the way you do business? Would it alter the way you interact with your customers? Would you give customers better service?
If the answer is yes, then why aren’t you already giving them that level of service?
If you had all your clients over for Thanksgiving dinner, would you look forward to it as yet another opportunity to build on your relationship, or as a stress filled nightmare?
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