As businesses begin to open up again, it's time to make sure that we've done everything we can to polish our image and make some changes to the way we present ourselves to our customers and clients.
With that in mind, did you ever stop to think that almost everything that you do during the course of the business day has some impact on your marketing?
The way you answer the phone – that’s often someone’s first impression of the company.
If you blog/tweet/post/publish or have any kind of written communication from you as a representative of your company, are you presenting yourself as a professional with good grammar, spelling and the ability to put together a cohesive message?
Going to networking events? Are you dressed for success or for a party? How many “adult beverages” did you have? You might act sober, but if you don’t smell sober, people will notice.
Are your public areas (restrooms included) neat and clean? I know more than one person who will not go back to a restaurant if the bathrooms are dirty, no matter how good the food was.
If you have a storefront or office, is there always someone in the customer service or reception area to greet people as they come in or are people left to wonder if you’re still in business? If you operate a restaurant, is your hostess stand empty more often than not? On the flip side, do you have multiple people standing behind it and no one is actually interacting with the guests?
Yes, these are all fairly small things and many would never be directly linked to your marketing efforts. Nevertheless, marketing is about people knowing you exist, understanding your branded image and wanting to do business with you because of that image.
If you customers and prospects perceive you as lazy, unprofessional, unclean, or unfriendly, that will become your branded image, no matter how much money and resources you pour into your “official” marketing.
Take the time to polish up the face you present to the public. Remember to act professionally, dress professionally, and to keep your work area and public areas pleasant to be in for your customers and employees. It can make the difference between a one-time customer and a loyal client.