Building Relationships By Design
Do you know why salespeople need to look polished at all times? Because people judge them within the first 30 seconds of meeting them.
We would all like it more if people were able to listen to what we have say, rather than focusing on how we look. It’s superficial. Shallow. And like it or not, people are going to judge you this way, too.
You have precious seconds, not minutes, to make or break your first impression.
The moment you walk in the door, your potential dream client is judging you based on how you look.
Today, your customer’s first impression happens online. They are typically 70%-80% into the buying process before they ever contact you. Those few seconds of attention they give your website can make all the difference.
Don’t Underestimate First Impressions
Relationships, in business and in life, are all about trust. We want to buy from people we know, like and trust enough to give us sound advice.
Your goal, then, is to reach out your hand to each potential customer and bring them into your world. Let them explore. Let them get to know you, and what you offer.
You can build trust with your customer through your consistency, your authority, and your service. But what about your first impression?
How are you conveying these ideals to build trust with your audience when they first visit your site? Or see your Twitter profile? Or look at your business card?
It starts with design.
The visual design of your brand is the most important tool you have to instantly make a positive impression on people. It should communicate who you are and what your story is to anyone who happens to visit. And that message should stay consistent throughout your online and offline presence.
Does your website do this for your brand?
Ask yourself:
- What is the most important thing I want my site to communicate?
- Does it show who I am and what I do within a few seconds?
- Can my visitors easily determine what the next steps are from the pages they land on?
- Do my social outposts share a common design that ties together my online presence?
If your site gives your visitors flashbacks to the nineties, or leaves them confused in any way, you’ve already lost credibility.
Thinking Through the Entire Customer Experience
Like it or not, your customers will be vetting you throughout their experience with you and your business. Every interaction you have with them is a chance to win them or lose them all over again.
After they buy from you, your customer service matters. During the sales process, what you say and how you act matters. And before they even talk to you, your appearance matters.
A professional, compelling design for your website may be the first thing people see. It can help
communicate your story to the viewer, draw them in, and begin to build trust. It’s the very first step in
the relationship building process.
People will do their research. They are probably out there right now, comparing you and your
competitors based on the first impressions they get from your website.
How will you win them over?
