Has the whole world gone mat? It may seem that way with our 3rd office mat related post this year. But we have a special guest blogger to thank for this one. Jo Lynas shares her thoughts about why it’s important to make sure your business entryway sets the tone for visitors. She’s writing on behalf of Ginger Mats Limited, a UK based company that specializes in the supply of personalized business mats.
You only get one chance at a first impression. There are too many people that never seem to understand just how important this really is. In today’s fast paced business world, that first impression is even more valuable. People don’t have much free time on their hands. You only have a very short period of time to capture a customer’s attention. Once that step is accomplished, you must still somehow lure them in. None of this can happen if your business is making a lousy first impression. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes, and start trying to look at your business with a new set of eyes.
Getting An Outside Opinion
In order to get a fresh look at your business, you may need to actually bring a fresh set of eyes along with you. It would be a good idea to bring a friend who does not have anything invested in the business. Ask them their honest opinion, but don’t be upset if you get any harsh criticisms. This is what you want! These are the areas that you can work on to create an excellent first impression.
The First Impression Begins Outside!
Take this fresh set of eyes on a business tour – starting outside. How does the parking lot of your business look? Could it use some improvement? What about the outside of your business? Does it make you want to go inside? These are the types of things that you need to address. There are a lot of rather simple updates that can give the outside of your building a facelift. Fresh paint, a little landscaping or regular cleaning are just a few great ideas.
Entering the Building
The next thing you need to look at is the entrance to your building. Consider the very first thing people see when they walk in. This is where you can start creating brand awareness, and one of the best ways to do this is with some bright custom logo mats. These types of mats not only help to protect the floor, but can be an excellent way to grab someone’s attention and reel them in as they come through the front door. The mats don’t always have to be bright and colourful if that doesn’t suit your branding. Just think of a nice way to welcome people into your business. Perhaps a short phrase from your company’s mission statement would work.
What About the Employees?
Your employees are part of your business, and they are also part of making that first impression. They need to be bright, cheerful and upbeat if you want to be able to keep the attention of the customers that walk through your front door. It doesn’t matter if you are selling a product or a service. Those first few people that your customer sees are very important.
These are just a few great ways to help make a great first impression. You may be able to think of a few more ways to capture and keep a customer’s attention. Please share your ideas in the comments.
