Question: I defined my goal and started a new service business to reach it. I want to do it well so that my customers are happy and refer business to me. Are there some general ways to do that?

BE INDISPENSABLE!

Inspired by Hill, there are some solid steps to take as a starting point to creating a solid service business for the long run.

1. Be Massively Competent, or at least commit to learning and growing to become massively competent and meanwhile, do your very best, but realistically know your

   limits.

   
   

2. Be a confident problem-solver with a can-do attitude.

   a. Actively listen to your prospective client and be consumed by their wants, needs, and vision.

   b. Clearly respond with concise solution options, pros and cons, and reasons for your proposed ideas.

   c. Educate and inform but never talk down to anyone and

   d. Confidently, let them know that you are the person who will effectively solve their problems.

   
   

3. Be transparent and accurate when you communicate with your customer (never guess), especially regarding costs of labor and materials, start and end date, and the

   process; what will change as a result; and everything the customer should expect so that when they hire you, it is an informed decision, and you are both on the same page. Be sure to reduce it to writing.

   
   

4. Commit to the following and incorporate it into your organizational culture so that everyone working with you is consistently of one mind:

   - Provide the best quality and quantity of service

   - Be consistently informative and responsive. It inspires trust and lowers anxiety.

   - Commit to the terms of your agreement with the customer, giving them the results you promised within the time frame you guaranteed and for the price you agreed to.

   - Treat customers with respect.

   - Do what you say you will and demand excellence from yourself and your employees in absolutely everything you do. It’s that simple.

   - Always formally thank people for their business and for any referrals they may make.

   
   

5. When you are able, be generous with your time and advice. It will pay off!

   
   

   Note: I don’t address pricing for services here because it will depend on your chosen target audiences and business strategy.

   
   

   You will become the GO-TO service provider because you are competent, reliable, fair, and a person of integrity and therefore, INDISPENSABLE.

   
   

   Note: Be proud of what you do and who you are, and leave your business card everywhere you go, like restaurants, markets, doctor offices, post offices, etc. They already know you; now you connect them with the excellent work you can do for them.