I had a client say to me recently, as we were in the process of signing contracts: “It’s really crazy that you don’t hold people
to longer terms on your contracts, you know. Everything people sign up for has a 3,6, or even 12 month contract, so I’d be fine with that if you need to do that.”
Though he was appreciative of my company’s policy of month-to-month contracts, he didn’t understand why we would do such a thing. It gave no benefit to us. After all, isn’t that why most companies do long term contracts? To hold their customers in with “golden handcuffs” whether happy or not with the service they’re being provided with.
He was right. This policy doesn’t benefit my company. At least not on the surface. Allowing our clients to opt-out of our services at any time with our month-to-month contracts, helps to hold us accountable as service providers, to help our clients become more successful in their businesses. This allows no margin for error and causes customer service to be a premium within our company. The benefit to us, is, we perform and our clients are happy to refer us to new clients. If a client is struggling or doesn’t feel our service is best for them, they are able to make an honorable exit that leaves them still happy to send others our way due to the great treatment they received.
Try giving all of the benefit to your customers and below the surface, you will be the true beneficiary.
