I spent part of my Christmas afternoon out at my ex-mother-in-law’s place learning how to shoot. My oldest son’s father was my instructor. First time I’d ever held a gun in my hands and not only did I not hurt myself or anyone else, I hit the target….multiple times!

Before the afternoon was over, I’d shot a .22 handgun, a 9mm automatic and a 30/30 rifle. I did the best with the .22, not surprisingly. It was much smaller and easier to handle than the other two, though still new to me.

I had many realizations as I fired off each shot:

Fear can be overcome with information, preparation and support. I won’t say I’ve been afraid of guns all these years…maybe it was more that I was afraid of that kind of power. Ironic, given that I think that’s what’s been my lesson in 2008: overcoming my fear of my own power.

Support comes from unexpected corners. Allow it. Never in a million years would I have believed that one day my first husband would be teaching me how to shoot. (There was a time that would not have been the smartest of moves on his part.) But that’s exactly who did and there’s a part of me that is both surprised and humbled by the idea that he genuinely wanted to share a skill he has to help me feel safer, more assured and protected. Twenty years later, that man still has my back. Who’d a-thunk it?

Nothing happens until you pull the trigger. I have many goals for the coming year, but the most important one is to consistently practice taking aim and firing at my target(s). In other words…taking action.

I’m pretty sure you’re not setting out to lose clients and prospects, but what if you’re doing it without knowing it?

Here are two ways others have lost me as a visitor or prospect in the last month or so and why. I’ll bet they won’t notice that I’m gone, but if too many others feel the way I do, they’ll notice eventually. The only question is how many will they have to run off before they notice? Worse, what if they’ve just started their business and are already thinking about giving up?

Have a look and make sure you aren’t making these same mistakes.

#1: Don’t Keep Your Promises; More Importantly, Don’t Communicate

This is the most recent thing that really yanked my chain. I signed up for a membership site for, among many other things, a monthly calendar of blogging prompts, one a day. The membership price was low, so I thought, why not? I joined late in the month last month, so the monthly calendar for November was already there and in place. I took a look at it, and was pleased to see that it was timely, meaning the topics turned toward gratitude, etc., as it grew nearer to Thanksgiving, for example.

Well, guess what…it’s December 4th, and the December calendar is still not up. Not good, when that’s the main reason I joined and paid for a membership. So far, no explanation has been given, nor an estimate of when the sucker will be up.

This site’s stated purpose in life is to help bloggers easily come up with new content to blog about every day. The main benefit they waved in our faces on the membership signup page was the Monthly Blogging Prompts Calendar. The new month is here but the calendar is not. So, I’ve spent money and yet I have the same “problem” I had before I spent money. Definitely not leaving a good taste in my mouth.

Yes, I know things happen, and yes, last week was a major holiday here in the U.S. and yes, I hope everyone was enjoying the day with family and friends. Not the point.

The point is you don’t make promises and then not keep them. And if something happens to prevent you from keeping them, you let your clients and prospects know. Online, just as in life, we all want to feel valued and taking your customers’ money, not delivering what they paid for and keeping them in the dark throughout is NOT the way to show you value your customers.

#2: Make People Jump Through Hoops For No Good Reason

A couple months ago, I signed up for a free teleclass series that was supposed to have one call per month for six consecutive months. I had to register with my name and email address, which I had no problem with. After all, he was going to give me 6 hours of time, attention and information – the least I could do was cough up my name and email address. Besides, I figured I’d get the dial-in information via email and probably some reminders each month. Maybe, if I was lucky, I’d get a recording of each call afterward, in case life got in the way and I missed attending one. But I’ve been online since there’s been an ‘online’ to be on, so I knew registering was the bare minimum required. He’s doing this to build his list, after all. I’m cool with that. Build your list, dude!

The first call occurred, and it was a good call. Afterward, I got an email reminding me of the ‘homework’ for the next month’s call. Handy…thanks dude. (I use my email inbox(es) as to-do lists, so it would stay in there until I completed the homework for the next call.)

Life goes on…before I know it, it’s time for the 2nd month’s call. I know it’s the 3rd Thursday of the month, so I start watching for an email. Nothing comes. I’m assuming it’ll be at the same time and at the same number as the previous month’s call. I try to call in – get told there is no such conference.

Huh?!!??

So I email the guy and you know what he tells me? That I didn’t register for the 2nd month’s call! Can you believe that mess? He seriously expected me to go back to his site and register FIVE MORE TIMES for the same 6-month teleclass series I had already said “Yes” to! For what?!! “Oh no, dude, I don’t roll like that. I said yes once, that ought to be enough for you,” I think to myself as I delete the remaining 4 call reminders from my calendar.

Try as I might, I cannot imagine a good enough reason to make people register 6 times for the same damn thing. I mean, seriously! It was almost like this guy didn’t really want anyone participating for the whole six months, making us jump through 5 extra hoops like that. So, I responded to the message he sent (whether it was the one he intended, or not) and did not register again or attend any call but that first one.

The Fix For Both

The easiest way to avoid mistakes like these is to put yourself in the shoes of the person you’re trying to attract. View what you do through their eyes. Is what you’re doing making sense to them? Are you honoring them? Are you putting your best foot forward and investing in them and the relationship you’re trying to build?

Every last one of us makes mistakes. That’s forgivable. What’s not forgivable is not recognizing that your visitors and prospects don’t HAVE to deal with you. They’ve got options. Act accordingly.

Have you run into this kind of nonsense? Leave a comment and tell us what happened, how it made you feel, and how it affected your view of that person or site.