Making Your First Impression Last
lemaster • November 10, 2017
It used to be that you had 7 seconds to create a good
first impression. This has changed. Now, if you impress someone, you
must back it up with a strong online presence. Similarly, without a
robust online presence, you may not get a chance to make that impression
in person. Your brand, whether you or your business, must be conveyed
clearly in face to face meetings and across all media platforms.
Here are some tips that we often hear - and are relevant to all industries
- The In-Person Meet and Greet
- Dress appropriately for the audience. This could be conservative or a bit edgier depending on your industry.
- Know your elevator speech inside and out. Practice with friends and ask for feedback from trusted sources.
- Understand how what you do benefits or impacts your audience - so your meeting is meaningful for them.
- Dress appropriately for the audience. This could be conservative or a bit edgier depending on your industry.
- Digital Identity
- Develop
social media profiles that are appropriate (for you and your business)
such as LinkedIn to help maintain professional contacts and Facebook or
Instagram to help showcase your products or services.
- Have a great headshot (no selfies) to use for your personal branding on professional platforms.
- Post regularly from your platforms, keeping your brand identity and strategy in mind.
- Check in with yourself regularly; ask others what their perceptions are, and Google yourself to see what shows up.
- Develop
social media profiles that are appropriate (for you and your business)
such as LinkedIn to help maintain professional contacts and Facebook or
Instagram to help showcase your products or services.
Marketing your brand is not easy – but over time you can develop a brand that instills confidence in others, and leaves the impression you want.
Uncoordinated and fragmented efforts are inefficient and ineffective
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. No longer just a retailer's game, the weekend after Thanksgiving is a time of heightened consumer demand, in stores and online.
You may find business communication stressful lately. The costs of goods are rising, materials continue to be scarce and hiring is a challenge.
It's no secret that marketing is an essential part of any successful business strategy. However, with the lazy days of summer, many businesses tend to slow down or, worse yet, stop marketing altogether.
A missing puzzle piece is annoying. And while you may think, "Well, it is only one piece," it could wreck the whole picture.
You may be worried about a lot these days. How is your business going to get through this? How can you keep your employees employed? How are you going to pay your bills? These are all normal concerns to have but there is some good news that will help keep money coming in now and the future. Read on for a few ideas. If you are a business that can offer gift cards, this is one thing you should act on now. When your customer purchases a gift card, that is immediate cash going into your business. Your customers and the community WANT to support you at this time and this is a great way to do that. Maybe offer them at a discount too. If you run a business that offers a service you may be closed due to Coronavirus. Set up a video system. This has become extremely popular in the past several weeks. It’s a great way to stay in touch with your clients but from a distance. If you are a gym or yoga studio, offer online classes. If you are a restaurant, offer a cooking class. If you are a professional organizer you too can do this virtually. If your business is centered around learning and education, offer classes online. Use your imagination. Another way to keep in touch with your customers and to remain top of mind is to reward them with a special offer when they refer your business. Just because you may not be able to get out and perform the service now, you will be able to when things settle down and become more normal. It will be great to have some new customers in the pipeline and your existing customers will really appreciate the special offer. Have you ever thought about partnering with another small business in your area? Now may be the perfect time to explore this idea. There are many benefits to a partnership. Probably the number one benefit is it allows you the opportunity to grow your customer base. But a partnership could also mean your business will have access to new products, reach a new market, block a competitor (through an exclusive contract), or increase customer loyalty. A partnership is also a great way to strengthen a weak aspect of your business. To get started simply map out a plan. Determine prospective partners and then pitch your idea to the prospects you have identified. Don’t be afraid. You will get some no’s but you may also get a yes. You won’t know until you try. This is a time to think outside of the box and do some calculated risk-taking. You know this is a time when many if not all of your competitors are taking their foot off the marketing pedal. If you are able to, this is a time where YOU can blow right past them. Of course, not all small businesses will be able to do this, but if you do have the resources, invest in your marketing. This is how you can gain a competitive advantage over the next few months and when this crisis is all over you will be in a better position. Good luck!