Tip me!

In an industry that is tip driven... I am still shocked at the amount of people who ask whether or not they should tip!
It is such an awkward situation to be asked by a client "How much should I tip?"
I like to answer with "It is the same as restaurant or food service tips." But then I get the question, "How much is that?" Come on people!
I figure if the service is good, you tip accordingly. Your client should leave more than satisfied, they should be happy... even thrilled!

I am a firm believer that your tip is based on the clients 'experience'... not the actual service performed. Meaning, how the client feels is actually more important than how they look.
Call me crazy, but a tip is based much more on emotions than anything else.
When you are dining out... you tip the waiter/waitress... not the cook. If the food taste great, but you don't get it in a timely manner and can't get your drink refilled, you will not leave a good tip. HOWEVER, if the food is mediocre and the service is fantastic, you will leave a good tip! Right?!

Ask a few simple questions to find out what interests you client (ex: what do you do for a living? what's your favorite Prime Time show? etc) Focus your talk on something about THEM. Make your client the expert on the subject. Even if YOU are the expert on the topic... engage the conversation as if they are educating you. This makes them feel smart, valued, and wanted in your chair. They are in your domain, you are already the master, and they are at your mercy. Give them back the sense of control. They have made an appointment and awaited this moment, it is an important moment in their day, week, month and maybe year. Help them feel as important in YOUR day!

Here's another simple tip (no pun intended)...
Offer your client magazines and drinks. A Diet Coke may cost you 50 cents... but the tip will be 10 times the cost of the drink!

{$} simple cents of the day {$}

Service your clients emotions for a good tip