We all know what it is like to receive great customer service and have a great customer experience.

It might look something like this:

You arrive at a new restaurant that you have heard a lot about and are feeling pretty lucky that you got a reservation because they fill up so quickly. The host seats you and your guest and lets you know the waiter will be with you momentarily. The waiter shows up quickly and with a smile on their face ready to offer you menus and take your drink, and appetizer requests. Once you receive your drinks and appetizers the waiter gives you time to enjoy the ambiance, the drinks and appetizers. He returns to take your main course order and like magic your food comes out quick, hot and delicious. Finally you finish your dining experience with dessert and enjoying more of the ambiance. The waiter asks if he can get you anything else and later brings you the check. You don’t even care about the amount and are happy to leave a big tip because you felt special and appreciated at each step along your dining experience.

That is an example of delivering value.

According to the Oxford dictionary, value is “the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.” And Merriam-Webster dictionary describes value as, “A fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged.”

Is Value Subjective?

Yes, in my opinion it is. But I think we can all agree if you go to a nice 4 star rated restaurant vs. McDonald’s that the expectation is that you will get more for your money at the 4 star rated restaurant. The key word is expectation. If you just give people what they expect then that’s okay BUT if you go beyond what they expect then you can provide them with amazing value. In my opinion, this is something that you can’t buy it is intrinsic, genuine value that makes the other person feel special. In order for it to work it has to be authentic and not rehearsed or fake. It could be described as your competitive advantage.

What do you do different that makes your business different then others?

A great example of this is Zappos.com. They are known for delivering happiness through providing a WOW customer service experience. Here are some ideas on how you can provide amazing value to your clients:

Seek to become an expert on what your clients 3 main pain points are and integrate them into your services.
Surprise them with thank you gifts for choosing your company to do business with.
Create services and packages that are all-inclusive and a win/win solution.
Deliver a white-glove concierge experience every-time.
Use social media to stay connected and share useful tips or answer questions from followers.
Build a community for them through online or in person events so that they can have shared experiences with others.

The bottom-line is that the more you can make your clients feel special and valued in an authentic way the more clients will beat a path to your door.

What are some ideas that you have tried in the past to create more amazing value to your clients?

Keep It Sunny!

Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We are in business to deliver a service or a product or both to our ideal clients. What exactly defines an "ideal client"?

According to the site Business News Daily, " Your ideal clients are the people who see the value in your efforts, seek out your services and are willing to invest in your services and pay you what you are worth".

But there seems to be a "mystery" about how to attract our ideal clients. Here are 5 quick ideas on how to do just that:

1. Create a blog that adds value to their lives

2. Create a virtual event that showcases what services/products you sell that will change their lives

3. Create a community that connects them to others who are on a similar journey

4. Create a case study to demonstrate social proof of your services/products

5. Use social media to build your brand & create raving fans

The #1 key to attracting your ideal client is simple: Create value for them. Demonstrate in tangible terms how you can make their lives better. If you answer the "What's In It For Me" question clearly, then you will have more customers than you know what to do with.

Your turn. What are some unique ways that you have seen others try to attract their ideal clients?

Share in the comments below.