Trellis Coaching - Trellis News Garden Design Newsletter & Attraction Marketing Coaching

Trellis News

Welcome to March's edition of Trellis News. I appreciate that this is the beginning of the busy season for many of you, so we'll keep things brief! And if you really haven't got time to read all the way through this edition right now, you can read all the back editions of Trellis News on our website, www.trelliscoaching.com.

Hopefully, you will have time to drop us a quick email letter about an issue of importance to you, or to comment on the correspondence below - can you help our troubled young designer, Tom Wishart?

Finally, who else do you know who might like to read a copy of Trellis News? Do please forward this email to them and help us keep expanding the circulation figures.

Letters Page -
Your opportunity to have your say, to ask questions, look for resources.

Joan Edlis added this important point to Adam Bailey's views on communication:
May I just add that documentation is critical; I follow up every meeting with a summary of points discussed which is faxed to the client, closing with the phrase "If you have any questions, please do not hestitate to contact me. If any of the above is not correct, please advise". So far, not one has done so.

But it came in very handy when a client developed selective memory about certain aspects of the design (This is not a Japanese Zen garden! why are there grasses in the border? You never told me about that.) I had my copies of emails (I save those as well) confirming our meeting reviewing images of all the selected plants.

Sadly this put the relationship on a slighty more hostile level as it turned into a situation where the client was under pressure from her husband and her interior designer (who wanted to do the garden herself!) and would not take responsibility for previously approved plans. To make herself feel better she then stooped to character asassination (mine!).

Documentation is time consuming and space greedy, but I find it a valuble tool to protect myself from the oddball from left field.

Thanks Joan and sympathies for the unpleasant situation you found yourself in. One of the steps in our Attracting Clients eprogramme (available from the website www.trelliscoaching.com at no charge) is identifying the qualities you want your perfect clients to have (on the basis that, if you know how to attract clients to you, why not decide exactly which ones you want to work with - this means you can choose not to attract any more of those 'oddballs from left field').

The next letter is from Tom Wishart who would appreciate some advice:
Last summer I was asked to design a garden in a Mediterranean style, which seemed suitable as the soil seemed very dry and free draining, and the whole garden seem parched. The client assured me that they never had any problems in the winter with standing water. They have now asked me to proceed with building the garden, and to my horror their garden now looks like a paddy field. The budget did not include anything for drainage as it did not seem necessary at that time, and I'm wondering how I can give them what they want without the plants rotting next winter? Are there any practical options or have I got to confront them about giving me inadequate information?

Can you help Tom? Please send your email to for immediate forwarding to Tom and then for publication in the next edition of Trellis News.

Article

Get clear about what you're offering!
by Annie Meachem

(This article forms step 1 of the 30 steps involved in our Attraction Marketing programme)

Step 1. I am very clear about the benefits I offer my clients
When someone asks you what you do, what they actually are asking is "I wonder how what you do can be of help to me?" The natural answer, especially for people who are uncomfortable with marketing, is to say "I'm a ..... (insert your profession here)" and then, if the other person's still listening, to go on to explain how you do it, how you were trained, how much you enjoy it, how it works - by which time the average listener has glazed over and is working out how to escape! They do not want to know anything about how you do what you do, they purely what to know what's in it for them.

The action required is to turn the focus away from you and onto the client, whether you're talking to them personally or through your writings.

Attraction in Action step 1:

1. Make list 1 - Write down what you do and all the features of your service.

2. Make list 2 - Consider each feature and work out the various ways in which that benefits your clients.

3. Keep list 2 in a prominent place, become really familiar with it and refer to it as the basis for all your marketing materials.

To learn more of the steps involved in being able to attract all the clients that you want (and only the ones you want!), visit our website www.trelliscoaching.com and sign up for the no charge Attracting Clients eprogramme.

End Piece

I'm off to Portugal next week, where I'm delighted to say a promising builder has materialised to start on the renovation of our mud house there. I'm really looking forward to going there, as all the spring flowers will be out - it is fantastic seeing so many of the Mediterranean plants simply growing wild. Our valley is full of cistus, a lovely green flowered lavender, and everlasting sweet pea, to name but a few. Can't wait!

Until next month,

Best Wishes

Annie Meachem, ACC

Trellis Coaching
0845 456 9382
+44 (0) 1243 545010 (from outside UK)
email

"I help designers and entrepreneurs grow their success - who do you know who's serious about being effortlessly successful, and is willing to invest in themselves to achieve their dreams?"

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Copyright © Annie Meachem 2003/4. Copyright in this document is owned by Annie Meachem. All rights are reserved. This document may not be copied or distributed without the prior written consent of the Copyright owner.