Customer: Someone who buys goods or services.
Client:One who is under the care, guidance, and protection of an expert in a particular field.
I over heard a conversation between 2 providers and they both were referring to their guys as customers. The discussion was about how they didn't get a very good repeat "customer" rate. I've learned to NOT throw my hat in a ring I wasn't dragged to so I'll give my thoughts on it here and open the floor for debate.
In any business, you had better be an expert or you will get washed away. Being an expert in this field means you have great empathy for the plight of a horny, rejected at home, man. If you don't take care for your guy, that puts you in a huge lake of "normal" providers that go out of business pretty quickly (they won't be your guy for long.)
More often than not he will ask you what you think or know about X provider. If you can offer him true guidance on who he sees, what do you think that does for brand loyalty? You will be building a solid relationship with your client and he will grow to trust you.
Protecting your client can be as simple as talking to the provider that's asking for a ref and say something like " I really like this client, please treat him well. He's Alot of fun." girls think about it, when you get a glowing ref you are automatically in that receptive state and EAGER to visit with the new client. He gets a better session simply because you sent out that little note of "he's a good one. Treat him like you would your favorite client."
The debate question is: Would you rather have customers or clients? Or: Would you rather be a customer or a client?
Either is fine but I'm curious about your thinking on either one. Some people might rather being a customer instead. There wouldn't be near as much personal connect which could be appealing to a certain type of guy.