The Art of Being a Good Customer

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🌏 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 '𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫' This week, I was pleased to support a client in China on a fascinating project. It’s been an exciting process, and we’ve just completed the final round of interviews with two shortlisted marcom agencies identified for this initiative.

During both calls, I asked the agencies why they were genuinely interested in working with us. Both agencies mentioned that the way the Request for Proposal (RFP) was outlined was a critical factor in piquing their interest. Specifically, they appreciated how the document was clear, structured, and tailored to guide them through what we were looking for, while still leaving them enough room to showcase their own expertise and creativity.

This really struck a chord with me. It reminded me of something someone once told me: "Not all customers are good customers." Too often, we expect service providers to jump through hoops to meet our demands without providing them with clear guidelines, expectations, and requirements. We forget just how important it is to create a foundation of trust, mutual respect, and solid preparation from both parties.

By preparing a thoughtful and detailed RFP, my intention was to present us (my client and me) as reliable and organized partners, someone these agencies could work 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ, rather than 𝑓𝑜𝑟. After all, strong partnerships are built on a two-way street where both parties feel valued and empowered to bring their best to the table.

This experience reaffirmed an important perspective for me as a professional: being a "good customer" is not just about the financial investment we bring to the table but also about how prepared, respectful, and collaborative we are throughout the process. For these agencies, knowing they had a counterpart willing to guide them while respecting their expertise was essential in building mutual trust from the outset.

Ultimately, partnerships that start on this strong foundation not only lead to better results but also to a more rewarding and enjoyable collaboration for everyone involved.

#trust #collaboration #marcom #partnerships #china #globalprojects #rfp