The importance of first impressions cannot be stressed enough in the world of business, with 13 percent of consumers reportedly being willing to pay 50 percent more to companies that they have a positive impression of, according to Customer Thermometer. The first impressions you create will be one of the most definitive factors to your business’ trajectory, and is something that any business would do well to pay extra attention to, especially newly established ones.
It’s arguably just as crucial for a startup to cover your bases when it comes to worker’s comp and other employee benefits. Whether you’re new to the world of commerce or could use some brushing up, these tactics are sure to give your business that extra impact it needs to put itself on the map.
Maximize Your Visibility.
A good first impression is only going to be worth making if people are there to see it. That’s why the most important part of setting up a good first impression is to make sure that you’ll be able to reach as large an audience as possible. After all, who’s going to pay any mind to a company with very few followers?
Back in the days of purely brick-and-mortar enterprises, businesses would sometimes commission a commercial to generate buzz. In this day and age however, many are skeptical of promotions, be it buying ad space on social media feeds or sponsoring influencers. The best way to make sure that people get a good impression of you is by using trusted avenues of communication. That means word of mouth, establishing yourself as an authoritative figure in your niche, and other organic ways to make your company more prominent.
Project an Air of Quality.
The key to first impressions is consistency. You have to make sure that the quality you present at the very first moment a person hears about your company carries all throughout their experience with you. At the same time, you also need to see to it that that quality encompasses all aspects of your business.
This mostly pertains to how you present yourself. Everything from the clothes you wear, designs you choose, and even your company car will affect people’s perception of you. This extends even deeper, right down to the appearance of your physical branches and the steps you take to be more sustainable and helpful towards the communities you’ve established yourself in. Sometimes all you need to do is update your business aesthetics, dress smartly, and give your building a good pressure washing. Other times, you may need to plan out a sustainability drive and other social programs to ensure that your image is immaculate inside and out.
Engage Your Audience Effectively.
People want to do business with businesses that they can interact with easily. This is why companies with good customer service ultimately triumph over ones that don’t. But more than meeting problems when they arise, you’ll also have to proactively converse with your client base at every opportunity. This will let you hone in on what truly needs to be done for your business to best serve its clientele, and you won’t even have to do any investigating to do it. Given an easy channel to communicate with you, your customers will tell you that themselves. Try and think of other creative ways to engage with your clientele.
The more you engage with your customers, the more you present yourself as a put-together company that can handle its business. Moreover, maintaining the image of a business ready to extend a helping hand rather than another corporation that only wants to sell things goes over incredibly well with today’s consumers.
The key takeaway from all of this is that today’s customers want you to deliver quality service, but they also need to see you display authenticity, passion, and commitment. After decades of the public being inundated with disingenuous marketing ploys, the best marketing in this day and age is honesty and transparency.
