James Pollard’s Post

Can't get clients to trust you? This is the raw truth you need to hear today. 👇 It's the fastest way to boost confidence in yourself... And what you offer. The truth is: confidence isn't magic. It's a combination of self-belief and evidence. Don't "Build Confidence" - "Build Evidence" Confidence can't be forced. It comes by building strong evidence. Instead of pretending, I focus on delivering work that I'm proud of. Valuable work that shows my abilities. With each project, I provide "not just good service"... But also remarkable experiences. I go the extra mile and aim to exceed expectations. Gradually, evidence grows through: - Positive feedback - Referrals - Repeat business

Are you a client's ally or their nightmare?  The line between diligent follow-ups and harassment is razor-thin. Ever felt like you're walking a tightrope?  That's how it feels when you're trying to maintain a healthy client relationship.  Let's dive into this: 1. Understand their communication preferences. Some clients prefer emails, others calls. Some clients reply only on certain days, others will do it daily. Tailoring your approach to their preference shows respect. 2. Set clear expectations. When will you follow up?  How often?  Discuss this upfront to avoid misunderstandings. Trust me, don't sleep on this. 3. Be concise and purposeful. Every interaction should add value, not steal time. No one likes to feel like their time is wasted. 4. Show empathy. Remember, they're human too.  90% of the time, if they don't respond to you, it's because they're absorbed by their tasks. Who wants to be bothered wen you're already overwhelmed? Understand their pressures and help alleviate them. 5. Be patient. Good things take time.  Rushing a client may push them away instead of bringing them closer. Navigating this tightrope isn't easy, but with the right balance, you can turn potential nightmares into dream partnerships. Have you found your balance or still panicking every time you have to click the "send" button?

Want to find your next consulting client? You have to be willing to do what others won't. It's simple, but it's not easy. Because it requires risk. Risk of failure. Risk of rejection. You have to be willing to make the phone call that might result in a "no." You have to be willing to post on LinkedIn and get no engagement. You have to be willing to send 100 LinkedIn connections with the risk that someone might tell you to leave them alone. Those that are having success getting clients - they're doing these things. They're taking the risks, and they know they'll be okay when they get rejected. Yes, "when," not "if." The question is: how badly do you want what you're saying you want? Are you willing to overcome your fears and put yourself out there anyway, get told "no" a number of times, so you can eventually get that yes?

What are some effective ways to build strong relationships with clients? ✏️ We all have a NICE version of ourselves living deep inside. Unfortunately, sometimes we choose not to utilize it, and clients get a bad taste of what we represent. Developing awareness of our communication style and professional performance will help us make sensitive decisions that will provide us with a better opportunity to create a strong alliance with clients. Here are 5 tips to be effective in building strong relationships with clients: 1- Be the "best possible" version of yourself. It is such a hard job to fix our stupid tantrums or try to be others who are famous, smarter, or can use a more sophisticated vocabulary. Clients will feel more comfortable when the real you can show up before them with acceptance and patience. They will notice when you treat them with respect and appreciate your attempt to truly devote yourself to helping them reach their goals. 2- Slow down and listen attentively. In this era of fast-paced life, clients notice when you can stay with them longer than that 5-minute-limit doctor's visit. Time is money, but trusting relationships are priceless. Building trust takes time. 3- Be curious. How will they know that you do care unless they are given a chance to be heard? Ask for more details. Try to understand their struggles from their perspective, but allow room for a safe atmosphere. When we feel safe, we can communicate our needs with ease. 4- Be a translator of intentions or emotions. That's right. Translate what you hear into some significant information for your client. Sometimes clients do not know how to voice what they need. They may get frustrated if your face shows intolerance or your words discredit the power of the message they are trying to convey. When they feel understood, they will also believe in other benefits of working with you. 5- Help clients expand their territory. Actions need to follow your words. Clients need to feel that what they are paying you is far less than the value of what you have brought into their toolkit. If you helped them build self-confidence, grow personally or professionally, advance their investments, or create strategies to overcome long-time struggles, now encourage them to do the same for others. A person's successful story can always be a good seed to be cast into someone else's plowed soil.

The mistake I made cost me losing clients. (Focusing on just one client) Six months ago, I stepped into LinkedIn. With no connections, seeking a job. Closed my first client, but imposter syndrome haunted me. Desperate for answers, I asked my client what made them the best. Their silence echoed louder than any response. Doubt crept in. After four months, I made a tough decision. I fired the toxic client. Liberation and clarity followed.  I learned three critical lessons: -Clarity in Offer: Define what you bring to the table -Scope of Results: Set realistic expectations -Terms and Conditions: Establish boundaries P.S. What’s your golden rule for client relationships? 

A tough lesson about client misunderstandings—and how I handled it professionally. Recently, I faced a situation that cost me time, money, and a bit of sanity. A client approached me for LinkedIn services, and we discussed the scope clearly—or so I thought. After I delivered everything as agreed, they suddenly asked about an ATS-friendly resume. This was never part of our original discussion, but they insisted it was “interconnected” with LinkedIn optimization. I had two choices: 1️⃣ Push back and risk damaging the relationship. 2️⃣ Maintain my professionalism and go the extra mile. I chose option two. Even though the resume wasn’t part of the deal, I created it as a goodwill gesture. It wasn’t easy, but here’s why I did it: → Professionalism matters more than being “right.” → How you handle challenges says a lot about your brand. → It’s an opportunity to turn a tough moment into a learning experience. Here’s the takeaway I’d like to share with you: Always set clear boundaries. → Be specific about what your services include (and don’t include). → Put everything in writing to avoid surprises down the line. Misunderstandings happen, but with clear communication, you can minimize the impact on your time, energy, and wallet. Have you faced something like this? How did you handle it? Drop your thoughts below 👇 ♻️ Reshare to help others avoid similar pitfalls.

How to turn strangers into clients: But first, you’ve got to start a conversation. Begin by identifying something they care about. Then, provide them with something relevant to that interest - a resource, an insight, or even an opportunity to share their perspective. It might sound like: “I thought you might find this interesting because..." But here's the kicker - expect nothing in return. Now, you might be thinking, "What's the point if there's no immediate payoff?" Once upon a time... I got a random email four years in the making. It was from a prospect I'd nurtured for years, sending articles and coffee cups. She wrote:  "You've been dropping off articles and coffee cups to me for years. I was never ready until now. I'd like to schedule a meeting." This experience taught me a profound truth: In business and life, patience isn’t just a virtue - it's a strategy. With a long enough list and consistency, these strangers will become clients. "With people, slow is fast and fast is slow." – Stephen Covey

Close high-paying clients, get your dream job and network with industry leaders. How?  ↳ By sending personalized connection requests   I've sent over 35,000+ personalized connection requests, With 30-65% acceptance rate! Here’s how to master it to get a better acceptance rate: 3. ‘About’ & ‘Experience’ Sections → I never overlook these sections because they are great for finding ice-breakers such as: + company name + their vision & purpose + years of industry experience 2. Appreciation Everyone likes to be appreciated, so make sure to commend them for their work or a recent post that you found interesting. 1. Name It might sound strange, but I’ve seen people send connection requests without a name, or they add the wrong name or misspell it. Pro tip: Make sure you send requests to those who are active on LinkedIn, or else your efforts will be in vain.

Letting clients down is hard. Throughout my career, I've dealt with lots of tough client situations. I've made mistakes and delivered bad news. Here is my 3 step process I use to diffuse difficult interactions: 1)  Say "Forgive Me" -Taking full ownership of what happened. (its freeing trust me) -It allows you to be honest and maintain integrity, regardless of the outcome. 2) Let Them Vent -Allow your client express their frustration fully. -Listen without interrupting. -This shows empathy and validates their feelings. 3) Have Alternative Solutions Ready -Reach out to a competitor -Find a solution beyond your your scope, -Caring about your client's best interests builds trust and loyalty. These moments have taught me the most. Many business owners on LinkedIn are scared to share their struggles. Worried it might hurt their credibility. The truth? You become more credible by being honest. You are the real champions.

Turned down a client recently, and it felt great. We’d had 3 calls, agreed on a plan, and settled on the amount. The project was clear: LinkedIn engagement to boost visibility. But then, things changed. When he sent the contract, he suddenly added a list of other roles, tasks that would require a full team, not just one VA. Here’s the thing: being a Virtual assistant doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. It means understanding your limits and setting clear boundaries. So, I turned him down. Why? Because honesty and transparency are crucial for any working relationship. If we can’t be upfront about what’s needed from the start, it’s a red flag. Here’s what I’ve learned from this experience and how you can avoid similar situations: 1. Be clear about your needs from the start. ↳ Transparency ensures the right fit. If you’re not upfront about what you need, the relationship won’t work in the long run. 2. Respect the scope of work. ↳ Cramming more responsibilities into a contract without proper discussion doesn’t benefit anyone. Be clear about what each role entails. 3. Understand your VA is not a team of six. ↳ One person can’t handle the work of an entire team. Know the limits and plan accordingly for effective support. I advised him on what would work better, a clear roadmap to what he truly needed, and to hire a team for the additional responsibilities. Saying no wasn’t just about protecting my time, it was about protecting the quality of the work and the integrity of the relationship. Sometimes, saying no is the best decision you can make. What’s your experience with setting boundaries in your business? P.S. I'm a foodie and so is my husband, this is a snippet of how we celebrated his birthday 😃