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At every stage of your business growth, you’re going to be engaging with vendors that supply key services for your business.
For starters, there’s your website techie, graphic designer. You may also have an expert in social media helping you create your online presence. Add in a virtual assistant and suddenly, you have a team to direct and manage.
Which can make you crazy if you’re not careful! It’s easy to slip into feeling as if you’re working for them, instead of the other way around.
This is where your feminine relationship skills will serve you beautifully…IF you don’t succumb to boundary issues or to not clearly setting up the relationship to be one of service, right from the beginning.
Knowing how to negotiate the best rates, service and expectations with your vendors will help you create more clients, plus add joy to your life because you’ll feel more supported as you grow.
After hearing from my vendors that we are their favorite client, I thought it time to share with you my simple tips on how to create these business-critical relationships.
Tip #1 Set The Stage
I begin each of my vendor relationships by clearly describing the goals I want to accomplish, the problems I want to solve, and the problems I want to avoid.
I also ask a new vendor what makes an ideal client for them, which tells me what they need in order to be happy with our relationship. Throughout the conversation I’m listening for where they are excited about our working together.
Here’s a simple question you can ask to see if the vendor has experience and commitment to helping you in the way you’re looking for:
“Can you give me an example of a client you’ve had, where you helped them accomplish similar goals?”
Tip #2 Negotiate More Than Just The Money
While women entrepreneurs love a bargain, the first time you need something special or in a hurry, you may find yourself regretting selecting the cheapest vendor available.
For me, the fee being charged is not the priority. What is? Service, responsiveness, caring, communication skills, experience…then the fee.
For example, which would you rather have: An inexpensive vendor (let’s say a website programmer) who’s rates are ultra low, which seems like a great deal. Only when your website is not done and you can’t get a response to your daily emails begging to know what’s going on, and their cell phone goes straight to voice mail, that super deal is going to seem very expensive!
My advice is to lead with questions asking about response time, hours of operation, how long their projects typically take, etc. If you like the answers you’re hearing, then ask about rates.
Tip #3 Ask Before You Tell
No one loves a short deadline better than I do! So one trick I’ve learned to get my vendors on-board with my short timelines is to first ask this:
“I need to have this project completed by Friday. And I’ll need time to review what you send and get changes back to you. What is your timeline in getting a first draft to me?”
If their answer works for you, awesome. If not, then let them know what would work. Keep this in mind: Rates are something you’ll negotiate at the beginning of your relationship; time lines are something you’ll likely negotiate with every project.
When You Show Up As Your Best For Your Vendors, You Increase The Chances They’ll Show Up As Their Best For You…
Early in my business I made it a priority to be the best client I could be for my vendors. That means paying their invoices promptly, thanking them in between projects for their excellent work, asking how we can work together even more smoothly, and sending referrals their way.
Does that mean I put up with slow service, sloppy work, missed deadlines or excuses instead of completed projects? No! And you shouldn’t either.
Problems like these need to be addressed early and if not resolved quickly, let your feet do the talking by taking your business elsewhere. By maintaining your self-respect you’ll quickly find a new vendor who respects you as well!
So why not call your favorite support vendor right now and thank them for caring about you and your business growth?
