After much public demand, I have decided to start a blog so here goes.
One of my pet themes and obsessions is getting rid of the customers (and staff!) that I can only describe as pond life or scum - the ones that you hate working with and are a pain in the backside and are not raving fans or ambassadors... they take up loads of your time and you probably lose money by working with them.
And so, our Newsletter's Dare of the Month has had scary results...
The dare was to identify and sack 20% of your customers and staff, and the reaction has been awe-inspiring. We've had numerous 'confidential' comments from Newsletter readers who have taken on the challenge and they all report that they feel so much better for taking the action.
Do keep on sending in your feedback.
Robert
RELATED LINKS
Bright Marketing website
Robert Craven website
RELATED ARTICLES
A Marketing Manifesto in Growing Business magazine
8 comments:
True!. The scum is more in a family run business,particularly if its the third generation running the business.
Well I've decided to leave the business and walk into the sunshine. Thanks Robert,for giving us the support to get our thinking right.
R.Vijayann
India
Brave words! But so right. If you apply the usual Pareto pattern 20% of your customers provide 80% of revenue/profit, whereas 20% of your customers give you 80% of the grief. Makes sense to redress the balance somewhat!
Adrian
Adrian (Captain Ovlov)
You are spot on about the 80:20 Rule - the new book goes into more detail about how to sack the scum - Bright Marketing - coming out next Tuesday 2nd July http://www.directorscentre.com/bright-marketing-book.php
Regards
Robert
"After much public demand, I have decided to start a blog so here goes"
Hi Robert
About time I would say - I know I'm late at the party, but hey ;-)
(You're in my feed now, so won't miss another post)
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
True!. The scum is more in a family run business,particularly if its the third generation running the business.
Well I've decided to leave the business and walk into the sunshine. Thanks Robert,for giving us the support to get our thinking right.
R.Vijayann
India
And three years later you are still here except now there is Twitter ansd LinkedIn and FaceBook. The changing times that we live in.
Dave it is a few years later and yes there have been amazing changes and shifts but I would argue that the fundamentals are still the same.
Interestingly enough, the sacking the scum idea referred to in the blog had an incredible and long lasting response.
RC
... still telling people to sack the scum!
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