Ask Rezzz

Today is going to be all about a process that I put into my business years ago that I reap the benefits from over and over again. That's onboarding for new clients.If you want to get my own Onboarding Email Sequence which is 8 emails with the delays I put in between. Along with instructions on how to use them too, head to rezzz.com/a263 and pick them up.What is onboardingOnboarding is a term that's thrown around quite often and it has a few different meanings. In the context of this show I'm referring to when a client becomes a client, how are you bringing them into your world.What sort of process to you have that helps that client understand what this engagement is going to look like.When you open up any box, there's a quick start guide right?Even for things that are commonplace like a TV, headphones, or even a mug that I got from my wife as a gift.That's what an onboarding sequence is for you and your business.I've heard it as a "Welcome Package." Whatever you want to call it, I want to share with you the 4 essential parts of it that you must include. Then share with you 2 other bonus tips that will help your marketing and sales.Go ahead and grab mine, the link is in the show notes or by heading to rezzz.com/a263.How to use your serviceThat's the first part, you want to explain all the ways that a customer can utilize your services. This means how they will communicate with you.Set the boundaries right here. If you want them to use a ticketing system, email, text messaging. This is how you tell them to do so.Also share with them what they can expect when they do communicate with you. Will you give them a response in 24 hours? Will there be an automated response? What can they expect during off-hours?Define that process right from the start so that there's no confusion along the way.What to expectThis maybe should've been the first since it's most important. If the client knows what to expect from you, then there's no way of misinterpreting anything.This can also be setting the tone. If you want the client to be open to your suggestions, then share that in a nice way. Be humble, but firm too.If you need the client to accomplish something by a certain date, share that with them.Don't assume anything. Even by spelling something out that they may know levels that fieldWhen to expectShare with them when they can expect certain things from you. If you send out weekly emails, then tell them when they can expect them. If you have a timeline of tasks, give them ample time to get the things you need but share with them a date when you need it.Open the line of communicationHaving something that immediately goes out to a new client in this way, allows you to open that line up. They feel comfortable because they know how to talk with you. You feel comfortable knowing that you have set the tone and boundaries.There is none of this awkwardness like it's the 7th grade winter dance and you are wondering who is going to start the conversation.Bonus TipsThis is your opportunity as the professional to position yourself here. By doing this you are driving the conversation and because of that, you then can ask questions along the way.Want to know how someone found you? Ask in the very first email.Want to know why they hired you? Ask while it's still fresh in their minds.These are opportunities that you can take advantage of get amazing information that you can then turn into your sales copy and conversations with leads.

As we embark on the second year of Ask Rezzz, the format will change up slightly.The reason for this is so that you can take action. I'm all about that action taking as you know. Having a show each and every single day without a doubt can be overwhelming. You may already have a backlog of shows that you want to listen to. Maybe there's a bunch that you don't have any interest in hearing as well.With that, the new format will be this.Every Friday, you'll be a fly on the wall for a one-on-one coaching session with someone. I will have a conversation with someone who's applied to be on the show. They have a specific problem or situation that they want to get some help on.The objective is for you to hear what they are going through and maybe it'll help you too if you are in a similar situation. As the saying goes "a rising tide raises all boats."The big benefit of this is you, the audience. You as a Feaster can help and support them through offering encouragement, advice, and accountability. You may even want to work with them if you have such a need.If you want to be on the show, it's easy, just apply here.Every Tuesday there will be an actionable show. It will either be what you are familiar with already from the previous 261 episodes where I answer a question. Or I'm going to be introducing a resource or strategy that you can walk away from the show and put right in your business.For example, how to use Advanced Search on Twitter to find local clients to work with.Another example could be that I bring on a lawyer to the show to talk about contracts.Doesn't mean that you may not see the podcast show up in your podcatcher on other days, but this is what I'm committing to you today and what you can expect from the show.I want to make Ask Rezzz as actionable and valuable to you as possible. If you have any ideas for the show, let me know through Twitter or email.The Ask Rezzz show is dedicated to being the most accessible and most valuable podcast for freelancers out there.You can come on and get one-on-one coaching from me along with the support of the audience. Also get resources, strategies, and expert answers to your questions.

Chris Bintliff from Not Really Rocket Science, is someone who I met through Twitter, but someone I consider a friend. Chris appeared on Live In The Feast and we geeked out about marketing and creating delight for clients.Not only that, but if you want to know anything about home automation, he's the guy to talk with.During a conversation one day, Chris mentioned that if there was ever an opportunity in which I myself could be interviewed, rather than me doing the interviewing, he wanted it.There's no better day than on this very special, milestone episode of Ask Rezzz.I'll be honest, I really had no idea what Chris was going to ask me. He could've asked me anything at all. The only constraint was to stay within a certain time, the rest was up to him.Chris rose above and beyond to the task and asked me 3 amazing questions that I know you'll enjoy.Are you a Freelancer? Do you identify with the Unemployable?What advice can you offer to someone to embrace where they are in their freelance career so that they can take that next step?Where do you see yourself in 2, 3, or 5 years?-------------------👉 For full show notes to this episode & more resources for you.-------------------

I was introduced to Chris Martin through a friend of mine Joe Workman.How do I know Chris?I've heard a few of his shows before in the past and when Joe mentioned that I should reach out to Chris to be on his podcast, Getting Work to Work, for me it was a no brainer.Chris was a great interviewer, genuinely curious, asking things that to be honest, I hadn't been asked about before.One topic that we talked about most was personalization and delight. I talk about personalization a lot, it is what I do for clients, right?In this episode, though, I talked about personalization in regards to leads and client interaction, not doing the wor-------------------👉 For full show notes to this episode & more resources for you.-------------------“Solve Problems by using communication and data.”In case you don’t want to read the rest of this, you can check out the full episode for all the details.In the episode, I shared a variety of things including:How I manage to stay ahead of communication with leads and clientsHow I create the unexpected delightThe one thing that I realized I was doing wrong in my marketingLast year I was talking with a coaching client of mine and shared some of the simple things that I do specifically to delight clients.He sent me this email "I finished a large project with a client and sent a small gift to them based on something you said in the conversation we had a couple week ago. The response I got was insane! I received a message from them thanking me for the gift card. They then followed it up with 'no one ever does that for me, so I really really appreciated it.'"That small gift was a $10 Starbucks card.What is one small way you can delight your leads and clients?Definitely go checkout Getting Work to Work Episode 227.If you have a chance too, check out a few of the other episodes as well.I’d like to thank Chris for being a part of it and including me along amazing folks like Liston Witherill, Tim Kelley, and Ilise Benun

Janelle Allen of zencourses.co is an Instructional Designer who specialized in custom online course that improve student results invited me to her podcast.I thought that I'd share an answer to a question that she asked me on the show.-------------------👉 For full show notes to this episode & more resources for you.-------------------She asks all her guests this question."The zombie apocalypse has hit. You have 6 minutes to grab 3 essential items and your family is fine. What do you grab?As someone who's watched many zombie movies from a very young age all the way to today with The Walking Dead, this was a welcomed and fun question.Since I've actually thought about this over the years I had my answer at the ready.My winter coat, a broom, and my skis.A broom because you can carve the handle into a point and use it to defend yourself with some level of distance.That's the obvious item in this list.Like Janelle, you may be scratching your head a bit at the winter coat and skis.It's simple, first of all, there's never been a movie, tv show, or anything zombie related where it's taking place in the snow.So I'm going north when the zombie apocalypse hits.If you are thinking, "Jason, but you are basing your logic off of movies." Of course, I am, this whole scenario is predicated on a hypothetical movie scenario.But I'm open to the conversation, so let's look at it this way.Zombies aren't exactly fleet of foot. They often get caught up on branches, stuck in mud, and even caught up on fences.It stands to reason that in waist deep snow, they wouldn't fare too well either.Additionally, snowy regions tend to be less populated which reduces the number of potential zombies.If I can find a mountainous area, then there could be a natural way in which to protect myself and family as well.I pose this question to you. If your family is good, and you have 6 minutes to grab 3 items in the zombie apocalypse, what would you grab? Shoot me a tweet and let me know.If you are wondering how all this relates to your business, it doesn't. I just though that I would have some fun today in answering an oddball question so that you can maybe get a glimpse into other parts of my head.If you absolutely need it to relate to business, the one thing I can say is to put yourself in a position where the odds swing in your favor.