3 Ways to Make a Great Impression at Your Next Big Event
A great post from guest blogger Pamela Wilson…
Jane was mortified. This was an important occasion, and she needed to shine. But when she walked through the door at the reception, she looked across the room and saw someone else was wearing the exact same dress as she was.
Loretta was mortified, too, but for a different reason. She didn’t have time to dress up before the gathering, and when she arrived, she realized how terribly inappropriate she looked. Everyone else at the party seemed so polished and attractive, and she looked dreadful.
Allan was just plain embarrassed. He’d walked up to a group of people and started to make conversation, and apparently said the wrong thing. They’d all turned their backs to him!
Are You Well Groomed for your Marketing Event?
Want to get your business marketing right? Think of it like a big event you’re going to attend. If you were attending an important occasion next month, you would:
- Choose your outfit carefully
- Groom yourself properly
- Be attentive to how you spoke
If you can manage the list above, you can manage your marketing, too. Let’s see how these actions apply to promoting your business.
Be Original
In order to stand out in a crowded marketplace, your business needs to use a marketing strategy that makes it unique — and memorable — in the minds of the people you want to reach.
If your marketing materials look like your competitors’, you’re doing it wrong. Take the time to develop a distinctive visual style and copywriting “voice” so your business distinguishes itself.
If you do this, you’ll never have to worry about people confusing your company with someone else’s, because you won’t “show up at the party” with the same outfit on.
Polish It Up
Good design offers an important competitive advantage, especially now. We’re living in a time of heightened design sensibility. There are television shows on the topic, and even the most basic consumer products feature good design.
Standards are higher, and this means that you shouldn’t be using sub-par marketing materials to promote your business.
Having well-designed, polished marketing materials permits you to “sit at the grown up table” in the business world. Your target market will see you as a professional, trustworthy resource when your materials show that you are.
Speak Their Language
Remember Allan? He walked up to a group of teenagers at the event and started talking to them about retirement planning. It’s no wonder they turned their backs on him!
A crucial element to marketing strategy is understanding the target market you’re trying to reach. When you know their culture and influences, you can write with a “voice” that speaks directly to them.
Identifying their demographic information and understanding their challenges will allow you to build rapport — and a business — around their needs.
You Can Do This
Marketing your business is like prepping for an important event. It can be daunting, but it’s not impossible. Take these steps to make a great impression the next time you take your business out and about.
About the author: Pamela Wilson helps small business grow with great design and marketing at Big Brand System. Sign up for her free Solitary Marketer Success Series for a limited time here.
