What Do You NEVER Do When You Entertain A Customer?

Very often when you do business, you have to entertain your client. Sometimes it can be a dinner. Or a drink out. Or maybe even golf.

You just do what it takes to seal the deal.

Now, entertaining a client is a fine art. You may laugh along with him, even when his jokes are not funny…listen to his needs and grouses…agree with him on discussed issues…basically doing everything right to make him like you.

All well and good. You are on the right track…

BUT…remember NEVER ever to do one thing…

The one thing that may seems so small on the surface but may swing the favor against you…

That is when it comes to payment…and when you rightly foot the bill…NEVER NEVER EVER ask for a receipt in your client’s presence.

NEVER!

Why?

When you do so, you make your client feel that he is just part of a business set up. And that entertaining him just means incurring business expenses to get his business.

You want to go beyond that. You want to make him feel like he is a friend. A friend worth spending on. A friend whose time and relationship you value a lot.

Your client is gonna feel you care about him. Yes it may be a small gesture. But it helps. You never know what long term business he may give to you in future.

The few dollars spent can be worth it’s weight in gold.

In any case, most of the time, a receipt will given to you without you asking, which you can still claim as business expense anyway. You just don’t ask for a receipt if one is not given to you.

Bottom line – treat your customer like king – and sincerely do so. Help them first. And they will help you back – many folds over!

As usual, let me know what are your thoughts on this. I’m all ears.

All Success,

[tags]E-MoneyMarketing, business, client entertaining, business, relationship-building[/tags]

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I am working in the online bussiness so I don’t really speak my customers face to face. At least when I am doing little projects, but if I have to do great projects we meet on office and then you have to be social. If you aren’t social in the most times they don’t give you the job, because you have to win their trust. If you don’t, you can go.

Great subject. I am glad i found your blog. Would you mind sometime maybe adding an
article to my website so that others may read this too? I think that my visitors would really enjoy the stuff i found here. Thanks and I will visit often.

in online business everyone should keep the mind of the customer because customer is like a god to a company.

I like your new way for entertaining a client like this fine art.I will try it.

Great point. If you make a business meeting look like a business expense that is what it will be. Trust has to be built and the main thrust of the socializing. Even with the online businesses who feel they not need to meet face to face with customers will eventually have to go offline to succeed. That is when they will need this type of advice. Entertaining clients, employees and vendors is in fact a Fine Art that is dieing due to too many business people running from the need to build trust. Keep up the message my friend.

Right, always make your customers on top of your priorities. They are the one who will make your business stay.

Hi Mr Business Golf,

Yes. Even if you are doing an online business, you still can’t escape the offline factor.

Marketing is also about meeting up face to face and establishing relationship.

The trust factor is critical to a business partnership. We need to constantly build and strengthen it.

Thanks for your input!

Cheers,
Jag

I think you have a valid point. Asking for a receipt may end up taking away from the favorable perception which you had or could of had.

Quick question, would be wise for me to suggest to my client that we split the bill? I don’t know, just a thought.

Hi there,

I would not suggest splitting the bill with the client. Really.

But if the client offers to pay and insist on it – you can let him.

Jag

I agree to not ask for bill if you are the boss. However, if you are just working for you boss, then you have to ask for the bill, else company would not pay you back.lol

Hi Rasterbator,

Hhaha…if you are the employee…maybe you can pretend not to ask for the bill. And then later, you secretly sneak back to ask. The key is to be tactical. =P

Cheers,
Jag

thats some good advice there. Though i am sure the client will have a fair idea of whats happening!

I assume that it was the chocolate cake that sealed the deal?

Hi Hijinks,

Lol…the choc cake sure did a lot! But it was a female companion for the client that sealed it… Ok shhhh…

Jag

Excellent point — very true! : ]

Use your credit or debit card you will then have a reciept.

Hey Geri,

Good one. That is what I usually do. Pay using credit. =)

Jag

I never carry any cash in my wallet now – because then my budget is more accurate when using software. You’re welcome credit card companies!

Yeah. That’s very often happened when entertaining your business partner. Great advise. I will follow that. Thanks.

Really very Intesting idea good job

A great advice, I follow it on my office.
Its make good environment.

This is a good point actually…

Wow, its a new way of entertain your customer through sending the joke
in the mobile.

I never thought it would be this important. However, I agree with you. if I were in the client’s position, I would also be offended if someone asked a receipt in my presence.

I think that’s fairly sound advice – it’s important to be sensitive to the feelings of others – even if there is a small risk of offense

Hmm.. This is really new to me. At least now we know =) You can always excuse yourself and ask the receipt behind the customer’s back. Won’t that work as well?

Well, sometime sensitive might make people dislike. But can’t offense, sometime we, ourself need to do so.

hmmmm, I’ve never really thought about that. good point! I’ll definitely keep this in mind in the future.

I’ve never thought about this either, but it is a great tip! If you keep their mind off the money then they are more likely to pay out in the long run. Interesting. . .

Really??!!i never thought of this before…it’s really useful, so that i can used it for my next appointment

This is a new thing that i heard. And of course that will happened when entertaining our business partner. Good info. Thanks. :)

This is a new thing for me too. It’s amazing how simple gestures like these could make or break your deal.

i never knew this before.
will remember NOT to ever ask for a receipt.

but credit card will help, right??

Thinking of customers, I think one need to verify what kind of customers you are handling with. For a targeted customers, one need to be absolutely sure that they gets all the informations, updates about the website (Products & Service).

They are the King, ofcourse, without them its not worth it,
I treat them as a new born babies. You have to treat them carefully, its up to you how make out of it in future.

Thanks again for your nice post.

Chris

How do one feel when the sales / marketing executive ask for a receipt right in front of you? Take that into consideration and it is logical why this is highly not recommended when entertaining your client.

always make your customers on top of your priorities. They are the one who will make your business stay.

Livesetss last blog post..Ferry Corsten – Corsten’s Countdown 073 – (19-11-2008)

customers are like gift ..customer satisfication either it is in online or normail one..customer satisfication should be the first priority

Did you write this post exactly for me? so interesting!