In
just 60-seconds, we’ll show you how to make a first impression to get the
business you’re waiting for.
0:60 Business Image
is Important
In business, image is crucial to success and as a small-business
owner, everything from the way you greet clients to your style of dress reflects
directly on your company. If this seems unfair, consider for a moment how closely
people identify themselves with life’s smallest details. What about the car
we drive? The paper we use for correspondence? And, the way we decorate our office?
0:46
Take a Moment to Assess Yourself and Analyze Your Image
Take a minute to
assess yourself. Do you dress according to the standards of your industry? Are
your clothes professional? Is your hair neat? What about your car? Are you in
a field where you’re likely to be judged by what you drive? A realtor wouldn’t
want to ferry clients around in a ‘72 Ford pickup with torn seats and a broken
muffler, but a landscape artist could drive it to a work site and nobody would
bat an eye.
0:20 Make Sure Marketing Materials Reflect
Your Image
When you assess yourself, take a look at your marketing materials
as well. In fact, you should put marketing materials on the front lines of your
image-building efforts because they often serve as your prospects’ first
introduction to you. Obviously you want to use high-quality paper, but have you
considered using gold or silver embossing on your letterhead or business cards?
Treat everything you do as gold, and your clients will, too.
0:11
Project a Professional Image
Of course, there’s no substitute for
true professionalism. Treat the following suggestions as a code of behavior. Have
someone proofread every piece of written material before it leaves your office.
This means correspondence, proposals and marketing pieces. Always be pleasant
and helpful when answering the phone. People like to do business with happy, positive
people.
0:03 Position Yourself for Success
Give
referrals when you can’t handle a job. People will respect your honesty and
consideration. Offer a high quality of service and/or product. Do the job you
promised and don’t let your customer down. Never disparage the competition.
It doesn’t look good and it could backfire. When a client or colleague runs
into a snag, assist them. Heroes are not forgotten.
Brought
to you by SCORE, America's small business mentors, at www.score.org.
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Credit:
SCORE Association "Counselors to America's Small Business"
SCORE
is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation,
growth and success of small businesses nationwide. Through a partnership with
the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE's volunteer business counselors
have been helping small businesses succeed and grow since 1964. SCORE's 10,500
volunteers provide free counseling and low-cost educational training workshops
to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners from 389 office locations
across the country. All of SCORE's business counseling services are available
to U.S. citizens or resident aliens.
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