Under Promise, Over Deliver

The basic and classic success rule for business is simple, yet often being overlooked – under promise, over deliver.

The rule is straightforward. Always try to deliver your products or services faster and better than what you have promised.

Your promise is key, and keeping your promise is paramount. Consider the following example.

You promise to deliver in 2 days. However, for whatever reason, your products are arriving after 3 days. Promise is not being kept, and your lose reputation.
The under-promise-over-deliver way – You expect the product will be received within 2 days, but you give 1 more days for the unexpected. You promise your customer that the product will be received within the next 4 days. Everybody happy – when the customer received your product in 3 days, you receive a good reputation for keeping up your promise.

Simple, yet powerful.

I have experienced this many times, but to highlight: I am supposedly to receive the goods I ordered today at 11 o’clock. The goods arrived at 10 o’clock. Everybody happy – the seller receive a buzz and good rep from me for being more than punctual.

Many expert says there is no need for being under promise, over deliver – the customer want what they expected. If the customer wants the good to be received at 12 o’clock today, then it’s better to stick to it.

Good concept, but in my humble opinion, I believe people appreciate good surprises – and good surprises stick in the subconscious better than the as-expected things.

And I believe that something sticks in the subconscious is also sticks in the long term memory, so you always remember and being reminded by the subconscious mind about the ‘surprises’ – no businesses expect more than this of their marketing campaign.

Just give it a shot – I’ve been practicing it in my business, and the buzz and reputation my business received are all awesome. Happy day!

Ivan Widjaya
Buzzed and reputed biz