The Bermuda effect: why clients mysteriously disappear?

Why clients misteriously disappear? Discover whyelement in your marketing strategy
considering the point of no return can be vital in yourFinding out the “point of no return”,
marketing strategy.investigating, dissecting it into its details in order to
You know the story: from the 70s onwards in theunderstand which elements caused the client to back
triangle of sea defined by Bermuda, Bahamas andoff from the transaction is one of every
Puerto Rico planes and big ships have inexplicablyentrepreneur’s duties.
disappeared together with their crews.Fantasizing on the causes leading to the point of no
What does the Bermuda triangle have to do withreturn is an ineffective strategy.
your company?Did it ever happen to you? You areClients silently walking away are a priceless resource
talking with a client who is showing interest in yourto understand how we can improve our marketing
products or services and, suddenly, she mysteriouslyand selling strategies.
disappears without a trace. Vanished.Trying to understand why a client pulls away can be
Or the client seems interested, you knowuseful or not, why?
you’ve done a good job and thinkThe client abandons the dialogue for her reasons, not
you’ve won her over. You have anfor ours.
agreement and your client has promised to call youA client who reached the point of no return and who
back. Days go by and the client has disappeared;is willing to discuss the reasons for her withdrawal is
phone calls, emails, faxes seems to have no otheran opportunity we cannot miss.
result than pushing her further away.Why is it necessary to investigate on our point of no
Why do clients disappear without a trace? The pointreturn?If, in the marketing strategy you are using,
of no return.The point of no return is when yourthere is one (or more) point in which your clients
client stops talking with you and abandons theshow an inclination to hide or abandon the dialogue,
marketing dialogue. She backs off in order to carrythis element, this part of the dialogue is probably in
out her decision process.need of special attention.
There are many reasons for last-minute clientHow can we avoid the point of no return?Try to
disappearance and they vary with the kind of activityspend some time analyzing the marketing structure
performed. Some of the elements can be:of your company. Split each element into various
• Fear to buy the wrong product/serviceparts, trace and separate single passages and
• A pushy salesman. This element too can be putorganize them into phases. Find elements that enable
down to fear. The client experiences unpleasantyou to use precise, reproducible and reliable
feelings during her interaction with the seller and tomeasurement systems.
flee is one way to get relief from the psychologicalFind the point of no return in each phase and highlight
pressure of selling.strategies to prevent the prospective client from
• Insufficient trust in the product or servicereaching that area.
offered (or in the seller who is offering it).Ask clients for a feedback exactly in the moment of
• Opportunism: the client has enough informationtheir withdrawal, you will find out that they are happy
to decide and prefers carrying out the process aloneto help you understand how you can improve
or with others.communication with them.
Investigating on the point of no return can be a vitalTry it: you will be astonished by the results!