Getting Your Clients On Board
As entrepreneurs, we can often find ourselves chasing our tails, trying to figure out how to get things done without collapsing. I’m here to share a secret with you. When you implement systems in your business, you won’t be chasing your tail anymore, you’ll know just where to find it.
By figuring out what systems you need in your business and putting them to work, you’ll be just as prepared as any Boy Scout. Systems provide consistency and a solid base for time management. They also support efficiency and strategy, and allow you to do things with intention. They make scaling your business possible because you are getting yourself out of the way of productivity.
When you are clear about what you have to do, and the way you will get it all done, you can then choose to automate and delegate so you can spend more of your valuable time doing the things that generate income. If you have been flying by the seat of your pants when it comes to working on your business, I urge you to consider implementing systems.
A system for onboarding clients often gets overlooked
One system that’s often overlooked is the onboarding of clients. Many people don’t pay attention to how they gather necessary information from the client, or get the information to them so they know how your process works. An efficient system can have a significant impact on the quality of the client’s experience and also your bottom line. If you want your client to have an enjoyable, stress free, and professional experience working with you, this is the place to start.
Taking the time once to set up your onboarding process and put it in place for each client moving forward will be a game changer for how you welcome your clients into your business. By knowing what you have to do, you save time that you were spending previously stressing about what you are supposed to do, or even worse - forgot to do. You’ll be able to calmly focus on the details, and see where you can improve your level of service.
The best way to implement this, is to write down all the things that have to happen for you to start the actual work with the client. Here are some things to consider.
What you need to onboard a client
Do you have, want, or need:
• A CRM, to hold client information?
• A platform/platforms for: contracts, invoices, questionnaires, etc.?
• A project management platform to track progress?
• A welcome packet (snail mail or electronic) that explains the process for working together?
• A scheduler to automate appointments?
When you have all of your platforms and software in place, here are some other steps you might want to include in your onboarding system:
• Connecting with your client on their social media platforms.
• Creating any necessary physical or digital files.
• Setting up your projects on a time-tracking platform.
• Blocking time on your calendar for each project to get the work done.
• Attaining any necessary logins, passwords, or additional information from the client.
Once you know what you need to do to successfully start working with your client, and what you have to set up to accomplish that, you can make a checklist to use with each client. And once you have that checklist, you can decide what to automate or delegate. Being organized and prepared in this way will put your clients at ease about working with you.
Everyone’s process is different, and everyone has to find the platforms that suit them best. But when you are clear on all the tools you need to make onboarding a success, you’ll wonder why you ever spent all that time chasing your tail.
Onboarding is one of many topics I advise my 12-week accountability groups on. If you’d like to hear more about what I can help you with, let’s chat.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution - Apply today