For the self employed professional, nothing is more important than the image you project to your clients and potential clients. Napoleon Hill put it best when he said, "People buy your personality and ideas long before they buy your products and services."
Your image may be projected by the clothes you wear, the car you drive, and your posture. But, your image is also projected by the marketing contact points you make. What does your website say about you? What do your brochures or office sign say about you? Are you communicating the image you want to communicate?
I worked with one self employed professional whose target market was other small business owners. Yet his website had a very corporate feel about it. It wasn't designed to attract the kinds of customers he was interested in attracting. The language he used on the website was formal and stripped of all "person-ality". But in talking to him, I really "got" how much he loved working with small business owners and helping them become more successful.
Statistics overwhelmingly support that when people are shopping for a professional they buy the person first, the company second, the product or service third, and the price last. Your personality is a major competitive advantage. It's what sets you apart from all the other people who do the same work you do.
Think about you favorite professionals. Why do you like working with them? My dentist is always jovial, laughing and telling stories during my visits. His personality carries throughout his practice and makes going to the dentist actually enjoyable. If he stripped away the personality, he would be just another dentist.
Let's say you're a real estate agent who loves golf and you communicate that to potential customers. You'll find that you attract customers who also enjoy golf. It establishes a point of connection between the two of you. Your potential client starts out feeling like they know something about you. You're not a stranger. You're a fellow golfer. That builds rapport and trust.
Don't be shy about letting people know who you are and what you stand for. If you're an eye doctor who travels to Guatemala once a year to provide eye care for children, post a picture on your website or in your office. Send a press release to the local paper about your trip. Not only does it encourage others to support worthy causes, it establishes you as a caring person and a dedicated professional.
Give clients and potential clients multiple opportunities to get to know you by carrying your image and personality throughout your business.
Caroline Jordan, MBA helps self employed professionals who struggle to build their businesses, attract clients they enjoy, improve cash flow, and find additional revenue streams. For more success tips and strategies visit http://www.TheJordanResult.com
What has networking got to do with joint ventures? "PLENTY"... Read More
If you have been in business for any amount of... Read More
What's a gift mean? If you're like me, you probably... Read More
Network marketing is the ordinary person's best opportunity to make... Read More
One out of every ten Americans has a fear of... Read More
Defining your purpose for joining a group.When you make the... Read More
What is "the top" anyway? According to society, "top" has... Read More
As a small business owner you may find yourself in... Read More
"Hey Scott, would you like to go to a Bad... Read More
Why business relationships are formed with certain people?If you go... Read More
A day in the life of every businessperson is made... Read More
You already know that uncomfortable feeling, that knot in your... Read More
"What me? Sell myself? You have to be joking!"This was... Read More
What is the biggest advantage of forming an alliance?Everyone has... Read More
A few years ago, I was attending a family function... Read More
My husband and I tried an experiment one night. We... Read More
You only have three seconds?Connect in under a minute?People decide... Read More
The most important reasons people exhibit at a trade show?... Read More
The StoryWhen attending conferences, conventions, or private events, it's guaranteed... Read More
The most successful organizations have good communication skills. Survey after... Read More
Real networking isn't about handing out business cards at a... Read More
Ever use someone else to get your message out?For example,... Read More
Ever wonder if networking, referral groups, and conferences are a... Read More
Some of the most successful businesses in existence today started... Read More
People wear nametags more often than you think. The majority... Read More
Let's face it, when most people think of IT professionals,... Read More
Do you ever wonder why single people give flowers, wine,... Read More
As a Young Professional (YP) in the up-and-coming city of... Read More
What is "the top" anyway? According to society, "top" has... Read More
Online networking has opened up some fantastic business opportunities for... Read More
Many workers think that their hard work will speak for... Read More
June is reality check month. Lots of the resolutions have... Read More
"Fear not to entertain strangers for by so doing some... Read More
"Hey Scott, would you like to go to a Bad... Read More
Networking is often identified as a key business building activity... Read More
Hospitality relates to the Latin term philoxenia, or "the love... Read More
Before we talk about specific networking tips I want to... Read More
I bet you have not thought about it much, but... Read More
How many leads do you pass on?As a reminder, you... Read More
When I walked into Dallas's famous Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, all... Read More
If you own a franchise you should be in contact... Read More
Jean de la Bruyere said, "The great gift of conversation... Read More
One of my clients shared a story with me from... Read More
If you're fond of a good debate, you know how... Read More
Sigmund Freud says "a person's name is the single context... Read More
Let's test your knowledge on networking:1)The best definition of networking... Read More
Quote of the week"The answer is always no...unless you ask."... Read More
Successful networking requires the understanding from the get-go that it... Read More
One of the most cost effective ways of generating leads... Read More
You see him from across the room. You know him,... Read More
Networking Networking |