Business Note: #3 - First & Last Impressions

ezra:

I have had some very interesting interactions this past week...so this topic is inspired by last week's experiences...

First & Last Impressions...make sure they're both good ones...

First Impressions:
The will make you or break you...instantly!
I see plenty of new photographers (I know...I'm one too) that are making a major mistake with their first impressions.

I see plenty of people who purchase an entry level Digital SLR (the camera with the interchangeable lenses)...shoot a family, a friend, their significant other or whoever....then they get a website...and place all those pictures of the same person on their portfolio...and the pictures typically aren't great...

Me, as a client would never hire that person...now or in the future...

This is about first impressions...make sure you're showing your best stuff...make sure it looks like you have some experience...make sure of these things, because you might ruin your business before it even gets going!

This goes for all services and products...make sure they are good...make sure that they work. If the product or services has problems, fix it first before you start advertising yourself!

Last Impressions:

These are just as significant with first impressions. If you blow your Last Impression, your business will cease...it won't grow...you'll lose that client and prospective clients...you're ruining your "Positive Word of Mouth" advertising campaign!

Real life example: I purchased new cards last week. This is how it went:
Three weeks ago, I went into a card shop I dealt with in the past (but now they have new owners)...I talked with them for about an hour regarding what fresh and unique things they could do to make my business cards stand out from the rest. See, I didn't want your typical 2x3 card...I wanted something more memorable...something more difficult to throw in the garbage!

So we talked...they discussed their capabilities...I liked what they offered...and the price was right...
The next time I saw them...about a week and half later...I had a design...I brought my laptop in to make sure I did the bleeds right (card talk)...and as it goes, the bleeds were wrong. The designer helped me out for about 15-20 minutes to correct the bleeds...then I burned the image on a cd and turned it in to them. The owner came out the charge me for a little "down payment" so they could go ahead and print the cards...in the payment, was a charge for $30 because of some design fee. I'm passive...so I said nothing....

After the long drive home, I kind of got really upset about this and e-mailed them...I expressed my concerns about this hidden fee. They responded that this was protocol because of the 1 and 15 minutes I spent with them discussing the cards...

That was the wrong answer! I printed my cards with them...but only those cards, because they already had my "down payment". But I had a second card...I wanted to do two cards. Needless to say, they're not printing my cards any longer...nor will they be printing the cards of a whole bunch of prospective clients, because I will never refer others to them...

This card company's Last Impression was awful. They had a chance to redeem themselves...to make a good Last Impression. They didn't. They lost business.

Everyone out there...make sure your First & Last Impressions are good...great...awesome...it's the only way your business will survive!

And if you're a single man, it's the only way you might get married??? Sorry...had to throw that out there...