It’s human nature and we all do it. Our first impressions of people and places, almost never leaves us. Sure, we all want to be individuals – but we want to look good. If people can see the best we have to offer, we’re good to go!
What kind of first impression does your business make?
If your business means your customers have to come to you, their first impression could be your ‘shop window’ whether that’s a retail shop, stall, garage or warehouse. If you’re doing business online – then it’s everywhere your business is seen.
But it could have happened before they found you online or arrived at your door.
It could have been an online ad, or social media post by someone else. Your business might have been mentioned over a coffee, or overheard on the bus. Your potential customer might know a lot about your business (hopefully all good), or they may have found you ‘organically’, by accident searching the web.
This doesn’t mean you need to know what everyone knows about you before they get to you! But it does mean that in those first few moments – you have to make a good impression.
No second chances
Very few consumers give second chances online. Do you? If you’ve found a site that you think will get you whatever it is you’re looking for, and you can’t see the evidence for that hope right there – you move on.
A quick test of your “first impression”
Take 30 minutes to carry out a quick test to check what your virtual visitors see. First, visit your website or Facebook page on your mobile phone. How does the page look?
Most people who shop online will see your website for the first time on their mobile phone. If it’s easy enough, some will buy online using their phone. Others prefer to use a tablet or computer. Your site needs to be optimised for mobile use so it can be viewed correctly on a mobile phone or tablet. Visitor expectations are high!
If you’re a Wix customer and you’re using a Wix template, then you need to manually configure your layout to fit mobile screens.
What do you want visitors to your website to do? If you want them to buy or book, can they do that easily and quickly?
What about the content? Is the information on your website up-to-date? Are there any promotions on the site? Are they current?
If you have pictures on your website, are they good quality? Do they reflect your business today? Do you have accurate pricing for all the goods or services? Or is your price information vague? Take a good look at your website and be honest? Is it a website you would shop on?
The one’s who get away with it
There’ll always be a really small number of businesses that don’t worry about how they look to customers.
It could be there’s not enough competition. Maybe they have been in a family business for two hundred years and their reputation means they just get away with it.
Most of the time though, for this group of people who go their own way, they survive on a good reputation for at least one key consumer need – the best possible price or a quality product, are the two most likely attributes.
These business owners probably don’t worry too much about the future or the competition. They should, because complacency is ultimately a business killer. Fast and sure. But, that’s for another blog!