Who is your ideal client? Do you already work with him or her?
Whether you do or don’t, you can create clone after clone of your ideal client (barring conflicts of interest) by taking the following actions:
1) Write down exactly what your ideal client looks like. Be specific.
2) Research where these clients hang out. Join the associations they join, be where they are as often as possible. This can include social networks online.
3) Communicate with them. Most people will tell you everything you want to know about them or their business if you ask them about it. People love to talk about themselves, their business, how they got started.
4) Talk to your current “ideal client” and find out who they know who are like them. Ask them to introduce you to these new people and provide the new group with information in the form of email correspondence, blog posts, and articles written.
The more often you perform these action items the more chances you will have to meet those who meet your criteria for the “ideal client”.
As always, you must be proactive. Just waiting for the phone to ring is not going to bring you the clients you want or need.
Please use the comment section below to tell us what your ideal client looks like.
Rainmaking Recommendations are sent the first and third Wednesdays of the month. They are bite size tips that, when implemented will cause you to make rain. To learn more about Rainmaking, Goal Setting and Achieving the Life you want as an Attorney please contact Jaimie B. Field, Esq.
Good post Jaimie. You are very good at helping professionals understand that none of this is rocket science, but focus, diligence and intention.
Thanks Nancy – The one thing that I want Attorneys to know that Rainmaking IS simple – but that doesn’t mean it is EASY. You still have to work your plan and be proactive.
Jaimie-
Good post, but i have a questions about your “research the client” tip. It’s good to research the perfect client. But, unless the ideal clients all belong to the same industry, it is not practical to joint their associations. Ideal clients i would think may have little common practices/location/etc. Online is a different question
Thanks for the comment Charlie – actually I am talking about people who are in the same industry. As an attorney, you should think about trying to create a niche in which you become extremely well known. For example – as someone who specializes in IP work you may want to become involved in specific industries where you become known as THE IP expert in those industries.