Marketing: not only for businesses

Marketing is a buzzword that relates to elements of image and advertising. But it isn't just for businesses. Self marketing is important too. No matter what you do in life, job, career or running a business there are elements of you that make a difference in your image and your opportunities. Everything you do is connected ever so slightly to your work. How you make money is just the means to the end, but managing your marketing relating to that can make a huge difference.

A long time ago I was a sales rep for a professional shampoo company. I drove around all day and met women in salons to offer them the product line. It was a good gig. everyone smelled nice, the places were pleasant and we all dressed well. This is when I learned that my job was closely related to who I am. You see I had developed a reputation as a certain kind of person among my clients. I talked, acted and dressed a certain way and that was my identity and credibility with my clients. That means on any given Sunday no matter how tired, hungover, or dirty Iw as at the moment, whether just back from camping or working on the house I had to manage my marketing before appearing in public. The day you decide sweat pants and a ball cap to stop at the grocery store is the day one of your most important clients runs into you. It's odd, and awkward. for both of you. If you manage a ball team this still may be appropriate but you get the point. Mange the identitiy. The client has always pictured you as a certain type of person and you have now decended to a lower level. This is never something you want. It is important to maintain or rise in the eyes of your clients. That is the same if you are a welder, truck driver or a mechanic and a stock broker, banker or car salesman.

Think about how your personal impression in any public setting might impact your best client or business contact. Are you certain the you aren't going to negatively effect your business in some way by the way you may be acting, or dressed?  Isn't it always better to know that you are having a positive effect on your business even when you aren't at work?

 Personal credibility is a part of marketing as much as the name of the company, your business cards and the language you use. Think about a loud, perhaps impaired person at a sports event. Think about how they make an impression. Now think about how you respond to them if they show up to work for you, or hire you for your next job. What they have done is impacted their own marketing.

This doesn't mean I believe a mechanic should pop home to change into a tux before going to a movie, just that the clothes should be clean and well put together enough that you know you look fine even if you meet your best or even worst client. It maintains or improves thier impression of you.

Impressions matter, mange yours even a little and things will improve.

All the best.

L