Happy Customers are the Best Customers

How to Create Happy Clients… by Heather Green

Summers in Florida are HOT, sticky, humid and face painting is less popular than a milkshake in Antarctica. So, what’s a face painter to do when winter freezes out the business or when humid summers melts away our clients? Here’s my secret tool… You make SURE every client you service feels the value of your service and you don’t just meet their expectations… you exceed them!

This weekend I was slammed with Bar/ Bat Mitzvah gigs. I am always grateful for these types of events because they typically fall in the evening so I have the day time to enjoy with my kiddies, or do the occasional load of laundry  One of my Mitzvah clients asked if I could provide Moya style face painting during her party. I wasn’t aware of Moya style face painting… so here’s where you take STEP 1) to creating happy clients  I immediately answered her with I would LOVE to provide Moya face painting ( I was googling it while we spoke) Clients want to feel like you are giving them 100% because if they choose to spend their money with you they want to feel like they are your only client. And your goal should be to make them feel that way. People don’t  always remember what you say but they do remember how you made them feel. She was impressed that i knew what Moya was, even though I didn’t and she booked the job. So when I typed up the contract I included some images i had found on google of what Moya style was so that I was clear on my job duty. Moya face painting originated in South Africa, and it is a white dot style of painting. I was so excited to be hired to paint white dots on people that I forgot its SUPER hard for someone like me to tone down my swirls, curls and color explosion.  So here’s STEP 2) Show up EARLY and be prepared.

As I explained I was offering Moya style face painting which was one color white dots. So when attendees walked by my table they probably were wondering what I was going to do, so I made a sign really quick before the event on publisher printed it out slipped it into my sign holder and headed to my job. That signed saved the day and made my client OVERJOYED. Operation Happy client was a success.

When you start your event with a happy client it makes the rest of the event a lot smoother. Now here is the real key to profitable happy clients…Step 3)   Meet their expectations and then EXCEED them! My client wanted Moya face painting and by my standards that was simple and kind of boring for me, but I wanted her to see that my dots were going to be the most fancy over the top dots possible. The Mitzvah mom sat in my chair and I was so nervous so I painted a delicate dot design and she was so happy. Then the line grew and grew and before I knew it I was

adding swirls mixed with dots and everyone was loving it. I always say you have reached face painting success when adults are in your line asking to be painted.  Going to extra mile usually doesn’t cost much and the difference between doing a good, whats expected of you job and doing a fantastic job is very minimal.

So when you are creating a marketing plan start with something tangible, something you can do to impact every job you get. Word of mouth is the still the greatest source of advertising. So, when you can create a lasting memory, a pleasurable experience and a happy client you are already ahead in the marketing world.   This morning when I turned on my computer I received this email from my client

“heather, thank you for Sunday night!  the everyone LOVED your art and I am so glad I found you!  please be sure to put me on your reference list if anyone ever asks for references!  Thank you again!~  ” 

Typically on Monday mornings I like to send a thank you note with pics from the weekends parties but she beat me to it and made my day!  Nothing is more valuable in business than a happy customer. That should be your focus and assignment on every job. Not only do you feel happy about the success of your services, but you also are one step closer to growing your business and increasing your marketing reach.

By exceeding the expectations of clients, you make them feel as if you went the extra mile for them. Anytime I think of marketing and how to effectively market my business I immediately think of the ways I would like to be treated. By putting yourself in their shoes, you can always come up with ways to provide the best service possible. Here’s another example. I was hired to airbrush sweatshirts for a teen homeless shelter. They did not have a big budget and asked me for a specific design. I knew they didn’t have the budget to add more names and personalize each shirt so I decided to add it as a surprise. It took me exactly 30 minutes in total longer than it would have and from that one event I have gotten over 50 referrals in a years time.

Building a business takes time and persistence. Its important to place just as much emphasis on creating happy customer you do posting on social media and creating ads. By following those 3 steps you not only build a reputation you started the wheels in motion for a marketing plan that works even when you aren’t. People throw parties every day of the year, and have conversations every minute of the day, when your name and business is in that mix as much as possible you will see the return.

Wishing each of you the best week possible,may it be profitable, productive and colorful <3 <3