Hey ,

let's get this out of the way right upfront: 'client' and 'customer' are not the same thing.

We'll explore the WHY in this email...

Here's a simple question for you: Have you ever sold something?

It doesn't matter what or to whom -- reselling concert tickets to an acquaintance, selling lemonade on the sidewalk to people who pass by or even selling thousands of dollars' worth of consulting services to a 7-figure company.

Whatever it is, you probably have sold something in your life, right?

Even if you didn't, maybe you will in the future -- and this sales lesson is crucial:

Treat your buyers (even potential buyers and everyone you encounter in your profession) like clients, not like customers.

"But wait... how isn't that the same thing, Filip?"

Customers are people who buy from you. You don't really care about them. It's a simple transaction -- you provide a product or a service and they pay you. That's it.

But treating people like clients, on the other hand, is completely different. A client is someone who is using your professional services. You will do what's best for them -- even if the outcome is not best for you .

The word comes from ancient Rome, where it meant: "a plebeian under the protection of a patrician". (Sidenote: Patricians were a 'higher' class than plebeians in Rome.)

Of course, you still provide a product or a service and the client pays you. But it's a much deeper connection than with a customer.

With a customer, it's a simple transaction.

With a client, it's a transaction + a relationship.

And the more you interact with a client that way, the stronger the connection becomes.

Which means they'll stay with you even if a competitor offers them a 10% lower rate or even more value for the same price.

This works whether you're selling physical products, info products, software or services of any kind.

In short, it's important to treat people like clients -- instead of like customers -- because it pays off in the long run (yes, financially too).

Plus, it's fun and you'll feel better too!

That's the short piece of wisdom for this week.

If you don't agree -- hit 'reply' and tell me why. (I won't get mad, I promise!)

See you around,

Filip