5 Tips on Building A Raving Fan Base, OVER DELIVER!

Over Deliver . . . give them diamonds and pearls!

ME:   "To build a solid, raving fan base, you've got to over deliver.  And love doing it!

YOU:  "What?  Over deliver?  Like give away stuff.  For FREE?? And LOVE it?  Serious?  Is that what you're really saying?"

ME:   "Yep, that's what I'm laying down here."

To me, over delivering is just good business sense and I build it into my business every step of the way.  

"It is just plain good customer service to me."

I worked for years in the food service industry from fast food, to waiting tables to managing full service restaurants.

I never worked in a hoity-toity schmancy-pants kind of restaurant, but the service I gave was 100% "Fancy Nancy"

Why?  Because I'm just such a sweetie?  Of course not. :) 

It was because my bottom line depended on it.  The tips I would receive would be paying my bills, putting food on the table and keeping me in craft supplies!

When you bring your biz, your product or service . . . you are bringing YOURSELF to the table.   You will want to start out by bringing your "A" game.  Your diamonds and pearls.  

"Why would you ever bring less?"

I am going to use an example from about a month ago.  My friend Dana, of Dapoppins and also the co-founder of #bonafidebosslady and I went out to lunch after a lovely afternoon of craft supply organization.  My studio/home was a wreck, a true 

"big pile of craft!"

We went to a little Mediterranean restaurant in a little tiny strip mall that included a 7-11 and another shop that I don't even recall what it was.  

Apparently this restaurant, called Baba Fresh, has been in this location for 14 years and I had never tried it, despite many Mt.Dews from 7-11.  (I know, I know, very bad for me, working on it.)

So Baba Fresh is a cute, very low key, nothing schmancy kind of establishment.  We went in, the place was empty of customers and I remember thinking, 

"hmmm, where is everyone?" 

And then I thought, no matter, it's gotta kick McDonald's butt easily.  And, boy oh boy, did it ever!!

The food was awesome!  But you know what?  They would have got a stellar review from me, even if there food was just okay, even ho-hummish.  WHY?

Because they over delivered!  They made Dana and I feel special.  They attended to our every need with friendliness and true caring. 

We didn't order big, in fact we shared an appetizer and split a Gyro and each of us had a beverage.  Not exactly big spenders, right?  But they made us feel like we were!  

And by "they"  I mean the guy who waited on us, 'cause he was the only one there.  So, in essence, he "was" the restaurant.  He was Baba Fresh.  

"And that's how it is for all small businesses, we are the business!"

Now the meal is over, and we are about to pay our check and head back home, when the waiter saunters (Yes, he was so cool, that now in my imagination, he saunters!) over with two containers of hummus.  To gift us with! WHAT? Yes . . .  

"over delivering and making us fall in love with him, with his business, with Baba Fresh!"

I know Dana's face said "Sweet!"  and my probably said "Score!" :)

He said that they make it fresh right here at the restaurant and sell it to places like Whole Foods and that he would like for us to have them and try them out.  Listen ladies, these were not baby samples!  They were 16 oz. $4.99 a pop, full size puppies!!

What I'm trying to say is: (Just in case I've made you too hungry to think straight!)  

"Over delivering got him a big tip AND our repeat business AND word of mouth advertising all over the place!"

Now in this blog post too and I'm totally going to show it to them!

The same thing goes for your creative business!  Over delivering will get you the same results in your biz.  Whatever your business is.   It's really that simple.  That is my "tip" to you!

I would love to hear what YOU do to over deliver. . . in your business or in your every day life.


xoxoxo
Nancy