If you’re a solo computer consultant like me, you may often find yourself face-to-face with clients in their personal office or home. It’s best not to take for granted that these folks are inviting you into their private spaces. It helps to be prepared with certain things, both tangible and intangible, that will help make the experience go more smoothly for both you and your customer.
I put together a video in which I walk through the five things that I make sure to do every time I visit someone for an on-site job. It’s easy to forget one or more of these things, but each one is a valuable piece to making your computer business a great one.
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Here’s a summary of the video for those who prefer reading:
5 Things To Do During an On-Site Repair
1. Smile!
Start your visit off on the right foot with a little smile. It doesn’t take much effort, but can make all the difference in the world to your customer. I can’t tell you the number of service professionals I’ve had come over to my house that looked grumpy or annoyed and it immediately put me on the defensive. Show that you’re happy to be there, and the customer will treat you the same way.
2. Take Notes
It’s easy to forget little details about your visit to your client. I always make sure to take a small notebook with me to every service call. I’ll jot everything down in the notebook, what I did, any problems that I encountered, and even details about the customer (kids? pets? weird quirks?). I’ll then save all of this stuff on my computer and file it with my client’s files so I can always go back to it if I visit that person again.
3. Use a Carbon Copy Invoice Form
It wasn’t until after I shot the video that I realized “carbon copy” is a pretty outdated term. In fact, the forms I use are known as carbonless, or simply 2-part forms. I get mine from Print Runner and they come in handy when on-site with a client. You can easily write up an invoice or receipt and have two copies for both you and the client. They always appreciate it.
4. Leave the Area Cleaner Than When You Arrived
This goes a long way in making a good first impression. Make sure to put everything back where you found it, clean up and debris you may have left behind, and even consider wiping down keyboards, mice, and desk surfaces with a disinfectant wipe. It’s a simple yet powerful way to show your customer you care.
5. Leave a Business Card
Since you made such a great first impression, be sure to leave a business card or two behind so the customer can contact you easier and even refer you to a friend if needed.
What are some things that you make sure to do every time you service a customer in their home or office? Let me know in the comments below!
This is a post from the blog Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy. Visit YFNCG.com for more computer business tips and resources.
