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Fran Stephenson April 16, 2012 Leave a Comment

Three Signs You’re About to Lose That Client

During a recent Twitter chat with solo PR practitioners, the subject of recovering from the loss of a client became a hot topic.  As the chat progressed, the group serendipitously compiled a list of signs that all, in hindsight, recognized were signs that a client was about to change their mind about the relationship.

Change in Reporting Order

What does this mean?  Your contact changes or the client’s team makes changes. Always a sign of a company on the move and maybe your services will be part of that change.  Karen D. Swim, a Michigan-based Solo PR practitioner (@karenswim) recommends watching for red flags.  Olga Orda, based in Vancouver (@olgaorda) suggested early detection could help prevent a meltdown.

Clogs in the Pipeline

Has the workflow suddenly changed? Extreme acceleration or slowdown may be a sign that the client has other plans.

Unpaid Bills

This is a sad fact for Solo PR practitioners but sometimes it’s the first sign of trouble.  Mary Deming Barber (@mdbarber), a seasoned PR practitioner in Anchorage, Alaska, offers a suggestion for lessening the impact of unpaid bills.  “Always keep eggs in lots of baskets.”  Paula Johns’ advice (@PaulaJohns) includes building a broad base to lessen the impact of a lost client.

The key to surviving a sudden client loss?

Perspective, according to Daria Steigman (@dariasteigman), from Washington DC.  She once lost a client during a company sale, but her clients lost their jobs.

Kate Robins (@katerobins), a Connecticut practitioner, believes you should have a magic number of clients.  With six clients, you can lose two and still recover.  That’s when it’s important to leverage the relationships in your current network.

Are you a solo PR practitioner?  Then join the group!  Organized by Kellye Crane (@kellyecrane, @solopr), an international group assembles each Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. EST to chat on Twitter, using the hashtag #solopr.

Many thanks to the collective intelligence of the group for making this blog post happen.

What signs have you seen that a client is about to bolt?

Filed Under: Strategic Communication Tagged With: #solopr, PR Business, solo PR advice, Step In Communication

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