For new business, nothing is more important than the first impression you give to clients and customers. People will return time and time again if they like the service and the results, but first impressions are crucial for getting new clients through the door. Many businesses rely on word of mouth to sustain their backlog, but they are relatively few. Most of us have to contend with the competition, need to market and to advertise. Nobody gets away with a shoddy first impression.
Business signs are a good example. Try embellishing your sign’s bland title with interesting graphics. Or you can go all-out with a full-size billboard or two. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say; you never know how many potential customers just keep on driving because they just don’t know where you are. But it’s not the billboard…it’s the message that impresses.
Of course, a sign is hardly the only method of reaching the public. Having memorable logos for your business and products goes a long way in promoting brand recognition. Such things are not limited to signs; you can put them on t-shirts and other promotional gifts that your company might give out at events. The 1st impression is largely psychological in that, usually obtained before you ever got to explain your products and services.
Look at the Nike swoosh or the Golden Arches – how many millions of people see those and instantly know what they are? Such a high level of brand recognition is probably out of reach for many business owners, but even if your logos never leave their hometown, they’ll still be of great use.
If you’re wondering just how to spread your logos around the community, don’t underestimate the potential of the internet and local inexpensive media. For some members of the younger set, if it’s not on the internet it may as well not exist. The local events newspaper gets passed around every coffeeshop in town. There are always opportunities to inject your first impression. Don’t miss out on the advantages of technology – get on that computer and make a business profile on every networking site you can name. LinkedIn, Facebook and Myspace are all good places to start. You can start with just a handful of friends and colleagues and quickly gain a huge following. If your business profile is half done on LinkedIn, what kind of first impression does that leave. Take 10 minutes and fix it!
And when someone does show up at your business, one of the things they’ll see is your business sign. Signs are important. They let casual passersby know where you are and what you do. For a retail or restaurant business, where large portions of the clientele are walk-ins, easily read signs are crucial. Would you be so quick to stop at a place with run-down, unattractive signs if you knew nothing else about the establishment? Business signs lend an air of professionalism to any sort of endeavor. Make sure your sign delivers a good first impression.