|
|
Keeping It Personable in an Impersonal World
by Mari Peckham
I'm not a compulsive shopper. But I am very personable. As I
walk through the aisles looking at the little tables of
carefully handcrafted items lovingly created by the man or woman
sitting there, smiling at me from behind the table...well, I
have to buy their stuff.
I can't go to craft shows. I spend too much money.
"So what does this have to do with business?" you ask. It has EVERYTHING to do with business.
Because I DON'T LIKE CRAFTS. No matter how nicely crafted the work may
be, it's just not my thing. My decor is 40's and 50's, very neutral, with not a goose to be seen in my kitchen.
I'm not a compulsive shopper. But I am very personable. As I walk through the
aisles looking at the little tables of carefully handcrafted items lovingly created
by the man or woman sitting there, smiling at me from behind the table...well, I
have to buy their stuff. Not because I can't live without a hand-sewn pot holder with the dreaded goose on it.
I buy because I relate to the person sitting behind the table.
My hope is that the nice person WON'T be behind the table. Or, better yet, a rude person. Make it easy for me to walk away.
The same goes for the Internet. If I ask you a question and you respond with a
real answer, I'll appreciate that. If I can tell that you have put time and effort into
your website, and that you operate your business with a sense of pride, I'll
respect that. I'll WANT to do business with you, because I will feel
that you will give me the same attention and care.
Too many websites make it easy for potential customers to walk away.
Unprofessional "throw it together and stick 5 banners on it" type of sites show
lack of pride in their business and give the impression of a person who won't
take good care of you as a customer, either. Very professional "not a human to
be seen around here" type of sites can make customers feel as if they
are dealing with companies and not people, taking away that personal touch. We need to look for a happy median.
Work your very hardest to build a site that screams professionalism, but at the
same time, let your customers know that you are
a human being. There are too many options out there. Unless you can make your potential customer feel that
they are dealing with a REAL person who CARES about their situation, chances
are they will continue to surf until they find the same thing somewhere else.
Although the anonymity of the web has enticed so many people, we are all still
looking for that personal connection. Studies have shown that the number
one reason that a person returns to any
business is the connection that they feel with the people they deal with. The service itself comes in at number
five.
By showing your customers that you care about their opinions, their needs and
wants, their concerns, you are building relationships that will last the lifetime of
your business. I beseech you to keep quality above quantity. Five
good customers
today that will return tomorrow will be much more valuable than 100 customers that you will never see again.
Related Articles:
Organization
Does A Lot For You and Your Business
Do you feel busy, rushed, and sometimes discouraged at
the end of your day? Review these benefits and tips for
being organized.
Email
Etiquette
Email opened up for a
whole new form of communication. Almost like a letter,
but lacking in the personal feel of a hand-written
document, and transmitted in a matter of seconds.
5
Keys to Building Strong Families
When operating a home-based business, it can become
difficult maintaining a harmonious home and a successful
business under one roof...put your family first...
Putting
Theory Into Practice ... A Personal Perspective
Up until now, I've been preaching theory rather than
practice since all that time I was working full-time as
a corporate lawyer and running this business part-time
in my spare time...
Flipping
the Switch ... How to Turn Off Your Business and Turn On Your Life
Has your home business left you with no life and no time
for yourself?...
A
Fork in the Road
We got our education, got our jobs, and then, we had our
children. And many of us discovered that if this is what
Having It All is like, maybe we don't want It All, after
all...
|
|
