I like to call the first 90 days with any new client the dating period.
This is the time when you get to know each other, start working together and ultimately see if it’s a fit (or not.)
Here are my top 3 tips to make the most of your first 90 days with a new client.
1) Get Agreement
It’s important that you and your new client are on the same page with what it is you want to accomplish together. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen someone get hired and think X was the priority only to find out down the road that the client thought Y was the priority.
Make sure you and your new client are on the same page with goals and priorities right from day one.
2) Look for the quick win!
If you really want to wow a client look for a quick win – something you can do in within the first week of starting to work together. Complete a project that has been hanging around FOREVER that they are feeling frustrated about. Take something off their plate that is stressing them out. Help them get clarity on something that has stumped them for months.
When we are only focused on the big stuff it can sometimes take weeks (or months!) to see progress. This can have an impact on how your clients see you and might even have them questioning your work together. Look for the quick win so they can feel great about your work together right away.
3) Measure yourself before they measure you
Check in with your clients at the 30/60/90 day mark to evaluate where you are at (in relation to the agreements made at the start), what is working, what may be off track and what you are doing to take care of it. Ask them how they feel like things are going and if there is anything more (or less) they want to see from your work together.
This isn’t about being perfect, it’s about acknowledging where things are at and demonstrating that you are on top of it. This takes courage to do – as you are essentially putting yourself out there to acknowledge what may NOT be working and that never feels good. But here’s the thing – it’s better to find out along the way what may not be working so you can address and fix it, vs. not finding out and having the client come back a month or two down the road to say “this isn’t working, we are done”. <– Ouch!
What are your top tips for the first 90 days with a new client?
Tina