Whenever you are working with customers it is always important to set clear and proper expectations for them. It does not matter what you are doing. Whether you are serving food, washing cars, or digital marketing, your customers want to have set expectations so they can plan accordingly. Planning is key to an important day. If you have a day full of meetings then letting your customers know if they email you that you will respond back within one business day is a great way of setting their expectations so they are not waiting all day for a response. It is great to have these clear lines open and even more important to set the pace with your customers. Customers keep the business going along with your hard work.
I never understood the value of setting expectations until around three or four years ago. It never struck me how important it is to customers to give this line of clear communication, but now I see the real value. You have less of a chance of dropping the ball if you tell someone that you are going to have something taken care of for them at a certain time. This has changed my way of dealing with customers by leaps and bounds. It not only makes you less likely to drop the ball, but it makes you sharper with meeting deadlines and really sets you apart from other businesses that may not know how to set proper expectations or have an issue doing it.
Why Setting Expectations Is Important:
If you do not set the proper expectations with your client or partner, then you run the risk of leaving a bad taste in their mouth about your company as they will feel they cannot trust your word or the company’s. You do not want to be the company that has negative reviews on your services or your team over something as simple as not getting a report out on time or not making a phone call. There have been many times I have met with prospective clients that are unhappy with their current providers because they simply did not get a report on time from them or their current providers did not call them back when they said they would. It may seem small, but to a partner or a client, it is a big deal. They expect you to follow through with your commitment. They want their time respected and valued, hence why setting the expectation and following through is so important. You do not want to be the bad restaurant that doesn’t live up to what your friend suggested.
Meeting expectations is a process that you will have to get used to as well as setting a clear next step. You may say, “Well, that’s not hard to do if you are on top of your A-game at all times.” This might be true, but even if you are on top of your A-game things can still slip through the cracks. We are all human, and we make mistakes just like anyone else. If you implement setting a clear next step and setting expectations in your sales pitch or with your clients after every call, you run less of a chance of making mistakes. Your clients and partners will appreciate it and so will your company. I hope this article has helped you understand more about how setting clear expectations will help you and your business in the long run, and that you have taken away some good key points that will make you stronger within your business. It may not be easy at first, but you will learn to master it and become better for everyone you work with.