It’s easy to find another service provider. The marketplace is flooded with them. They’re out there right now, offering a commodity service and fighting for attention.
It’s hard, really hard, to find an excellent service provider. These valued professionals are rare. Their clients love them, stay with them and recommend them.
No service provider sets out to be average
Most average service providers truly believe they are excellent. That’s why there are so many average [or below average] providers in every industry.
What happens, is they underestimate the services offered by their competitors and overestimate their own services. They fail to accept the passion their competitors have… how hard their competitors work and how dedicated their competitors are to serving their clients.
How replaceable am I?
It’s worth asking ourselves the following, difficult question from time to time: How easy would it be for my clients to replace me? By being totally honest with our answer, we get an invaluable insight into whether we’re an average or excellent provider.
This may help you. Think about your competitors and consider your answers to the following questions:
- How average are your fees?
- How average are the range of services you offer?
- How average are your opening hours?
- How average are the guarantees and promises you provide?
- How average is your client retention?
- How average is the number of client referrals you receive?
If your business seems a little too similar to what your competitors are doing, I very strongly recommend you read this. It has lots of useful advice on how to turn things around. It’s maybe the most important post I have ever written.
If your service provision is truly excellent, you need to make sure that this comes across in your marketing. An excellent business with average marketing is a travesty. It means you’re achieving a fraction of what you deserve. Don’t worry, I know a guy who can help you. Guaranteed!
Whatever your answer is, there’s important work to be done. So, what are you waiting for?