Starting a Reputation Through Your Brand’s First Impression

I always say that I’m not a fan of people who generalize.  In fact, I remember in my Logic class in college learning about statements that you can prove to be fallacies by (among other criteria) an appeal to large numbers.

You come to this blog every week because, like me, you’re always looking to gain more knowledge.  An argument could be made that reading blogs is a form of professional development.

Can you ever do enough to safeguard your brand’s image?  Whether you’re – to use various categories of Now Hear This clients as examples – a performer, an author, an athlete, or a small business, you’ve got to always be aware of the message that behaviors can send to various constituents.

To that end, I don’t want to generalize, but, there is that old saying, after all, that you only get one chance to make a good first impression.  If you blow it, you might get painted with a brush that you might feel is inaccurate.  And you might be right.  But now you’re in damage control mode.

Here’s the scenario.

I was registered for a webinar last week.  Right, more professional development.  The session was being put on by a major social media outlet.  Understand that presenter.  It wasn’t a webinar about a certain social media outlet.  That platform themselves is who was doing it.

I expected them to start on-time and for the technology to be first class.  Instead, 20 minutes after the scheduled start time, I finally terminated my session.  It still hadn’t started.  One of the hosts kept reporting that they were having technical difficulties.  Making matters worse was that the lines were open, so callers could be heard voicing their frustration, confusion, and displeasure.

How likely will I be to register for future webinars that they put on?

Now apply this to your own situation.  Maybe your business is going to host an event and there will be a video shown or a PowerPoint used, both of which would warrant testing everything in advance.  It’s the very reason why musicians need to arrive early to anywhere and everywhere that they’re booked.  That good ol’ sound check.  Even if you’ve played at a venue countless times, you never want to take resources for granted.  What if the only power outlet that you always use is blown?  Do you have extra guitar strings in your case for that time when one breaks (hopefully during sound check)?  If you’re an author doing a book signing and are asked to bring your own books, did you bring (more than) enough?

Imagine being an attendee at any of the scenarios in the paragraph above and witnessing something failing, as described.  The likelihood is that next time you’re exposed to that brand you’ll remember the snafu.  Don’t risk them generalizing and saying, “Every time I’ve gone to (venue, event, business location), something has gone wrong.”

Test, 1, 2, and then testing, testing, 1, 2, 3 again.