Personal branding is equally important as business branding- YOU ARE THE BUSINESS!
Why Image Matters
" You have 30 seconds to make a first impression, which can last up to 15 years"
Think how quick we are to judge people we meet in business or social situations.
Do you remember what they were saying? Do you recall the tone of their voice?
or do you remember what they wore and how confident they looked ?
Meeting new or potential customers can be a daunting experience, but if you look the part and feel confident that your appearance and grooming meets the customers expectations, it immediately gets their attention and meets their approval within those first few seconds.This creates the right impression and creates rapport that can win that important business, enabling you to make the sale, create the trust and establish a lasting relationship .
People buy people , so don't waste any opportunity to build your business brand, enhance your reputation and be remembered (for the right reasons) within your networks,business forums and the supply chain.
A memorable personal brand will no doubt generate repeat business with those business contacts, and encourage suppliers and customers to recommend your services and buy your products.
Whenever you make a 'public' appearance or have potential opportunities to influence your customers, do your research, find out as much as you can about the customer, the company and their working environment or sector. Then please consider:
- Does your image project your company values?
- Does your image reflect your ambition ?
- Do you want to be the preferred supplier?
- Does the customer have confidence in you and want to buy your services ?
- Does your image create rapport and mirror what the customer's sector, industry or profession may expect?
- Does your image meet or exceed the customers expectations?
If the answers to all these questions are all YES, then you are half way there!
by DRESSING TO IMPRESS, you are DRESSING FOR SUCCESS.
If in doubt, ask a friend, trusted business associate or colleague for feedback, and be strong enough to make changes that will create an effective first impression with those customers (who really do matter) ; valuable feedback can help you to create an appropriate first impression and develop a valuable and lasting business relationship with your customers.
Be true to yourself, but beware- you may have to 'conform' and leave the dramatic / creative look at home in the wardrobe.You may need to mirror what the customer wears and how they present themselves in their business environment.
Watch this space to Look good- feel good and be confident.
Next month the blog topic will continue with : Dress to Impress- 10 Top Tips for Business Success
Here is the Blog I prepared last month- long overdue due to technical hitches
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Pat.
ReplyDeleteFor business, I know that when I feel smart my self-confidence goes up.
But which comes first? Do we dress smartly because we feel confident or feel confident because we are dressed well?
Whichever way round it is, this is a straightforward way to boost one's confidence, and reduce anxiety and stress. I'm sure that most of us have moments when our self belief wobbles and we would rather stay at home and hide under the duvet or eat chocolate.
And most of us know the panic that sets in when we open the wardrobe and have "Nothing to wear!" Somewhere inside we are convinced that our social identity hangs on what we wear.
And we are right in a way: as Pat says, we have 30 seconds to make an impression. However, in a business setting, we now have practical guidance on how to turn this to our advantage.
Looking forward to your next post Pat, and many thanks for this one.
Jenny
this blog post is right on the nail for me this week. About three months ago, before I went on a big trip to New Zealand, I realised that my own business brand did not say that I want it to say about me. I had it designed three years ago – and three years is a long time in the growth of an infant business. Both me, and my business, are not the same as they were then.
ReplyDeleteSo I am working with a designer to create a brand that is much more authentic, and shows the world who I am now. Standby for more colour, vibrancy, energy and movement in the new brand. I want the first 30 seconds to count just as much in my brand as it does in my colourful, eccentric self.
Warmly
Tilla