Lesson 5: Managing Client Expectations

Clients are human beings, which means they all have their own personalities, demands, and expectations. For example, one client may be easygoing, while another is exceptionally demanding. Because of this, you need to manage expectations carefully and professionally. 

Clients are entitled to good service, but they should not make unreasonable demands. Here are some tips to help you manage their expectations: 

Establish Regular Communication

The first step is to establish good communication with the client. This is fundamental to establishing what is to be expected from the relationship ahead. 

Use the communication the client prefers so that you are most likely to get a rapid response. Then stay in touch and advise the client of any issues or developments they need to be aware of. 

Think Ahead

It’s easier to meet expectations if you plan carefully in advance. It’s a good idea to start your week by reviewing the previous week’s performance. Check your team stats and identify:

Then consider any feedback you have received from your clients. Armed with these two sets of information, you can plan actions for the week ahead. 

Get to Know Your Client

It’s much easier to manage expectations when you are working with people you know well. Get to understand their values, goals, struggles, and interests. 

The more you chat with a client, the better you understand what they want from this business relationship. 

Be Prepared to Negotiate

If a client is asking for more than they should, be prepared to negotiate. There is often a middle ground that will work well for both parties. So instead of digging your heels in, look to see if there is a way you can find a happy compromise solution. 

You will often find that this is exactly what the client expected to happen. Their initial demand was just an ‘opener’ which they then expected to be negotiated down to a more acceptable level. 

Under-Promise Then Over-Deliver

The best way to delight a client is to deliver more than they expected. Of course, you can’t go wrong if you actually exceed their expectations! This is not always an easy feat to pull off. But if you can do it, you will undoubtedly make a good impression. 

Remember, though, that you are setting the standard for the future. So don’t pull out the stops to impress the client unless you can do this regularly. 

Managing clients effectively is a great skill to learn. It will pay dividends for many years to come. 

Working for a live chat agency is a fantastic way to take the next step in the world of live chat. You can get an Advanced-level job, make great money and become a true expert in this exciting industry. 

Working for a Live Chat Agency

Lesson 1: What a Live Chat Agency Does

Lesson 2: How to Get Hired

Lesson 3: Working on Client Accounts

Lesson 4: Fulfilling Service Level Agreements