Customer Impressions are Brand Reality

Have you ever tried to develop your brand? It’s not easy, as mom always said; you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Your brand is the impression others see of you; it’s their perception of who you are and what you have to offer. So how do you make sure their perception and your reality are the same?

Tip #1: Discover your brand from your customer’s point of view.

Write down thoughts about your skills, services, products, offerings, etc. Talk to people or customers who know you and ask how they would describe your business. To brand yourself properly, you want your network to agree with you and vice versa. If you write down creative, you want customers to say your business is creative too.

What happens when what you’ve written doesn’t match up with their perception? That’s when confusion happens, customers are expecting one thing but you’re delivering something else. This leads to frustration, lack of customers, repeat business, sales, you get the picture. That’s why it’s so important to LISTEN to others and develop a brand that makes a great impression.

More tips to come next week. Until then don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis, as Nike says, Just Do It.