If you read blogs, then you know that everyone loves to write how-to articles  And, to be blunt, a great many of these articles are rip-offs or compilations of the millions that came before them (yes, I’m guilty of this too).  After a while, they start failing to offer new ideas, hold your attention, and even start to look like each other.  But personally, I realized that  I’ve learned a lot from watching people do things the wrong way, so sometimes it’s easier (and more entertaining) to write about those things.  So, here it is:

The NOT Top-5 ways to make and/or keep customers!

• Make it difficult to find or get in touch with you

  Nobody likes having to work in order to give you their business and quite frankly you should be making it impossible for them to not find your info.  Not having a website or a poorly designed website lacking a contact page (or any contact info for that matter) is a great way to accomplish this.  So is having a generic free email address that has nothing to do with the business which makes it more difficult to remember or associate with you.  Not having a fax is understandable, but not having a cell phone is inexcusable.  Plus these days, every business needs a social media presence, if for nothing else, simply to make your presence known to the world and make it increasingly easier for others to find you.

• If someone does contact you, take forever to respond

  People don’t like to feel as if they don’t matter or ignored and by doing this, you are putting that very assumption into their heads.  All it takes is a minute or two to respond.  An email saying something like “Hi.  I got your message, but things are crazy right now.  I’ll get back to you by the end of the week.” shouldn’t be such a hindrance as many people make it out to be.   Simply responding even if time is short or you don’t have an answer will let them know you haven’t forgotten or aren’t neglecting them.  And remember, these are people who want to give you their money.

• Lie

  Give them some song and dance about why you didn’t take their numerous calls.  Try to sell them on the reasoning behind your inability to do something as simple as answer their e-mails.  Try to put yourself over as something you aren’t.  Just don’t take responsibility for your actions (or lack there of), be transparent, or most of all be up front.  That’s a sure way to drive away business.  In this day and age, virtually anything can be found about anybody, so keep things shady if you really want to drive people away.

• Fail to deliver

  Did you promise the world to that last potential client even though you know for a fact that you would have a hard time backing up those claims?  How about ever telling someone that you could do the job for them, but not on their timetable?  Coming up short on guarantees, overreaching on promises of service, not meeting deadlines (some people just cannot work within a timetable, and you know who you are), providing less than quality work, all of these are failures to deliver on your end.  Broken promises lead to angry customers.  Angry customers become former customers.  That should accomplish your goal nicely.

• Steal

  Waste their time.  Take their money.  Just remember to under-perform, fail to provide any value, or heck, don’t do anything at all.  No further explanation needed here!

The bottom line here is quite simple.  Follow these 5 rules of thumb, and you will be guaranteed to not only lose you current customers, but potential clients as well.  People do talk and word of mouth is a strong way to affect business, whether in a positive or a negative manner.

This article, Piss People Off and Lose Their Business in 5 Easy Steps was originally published by DollarVersity, and may have been used without the owner's permission.