How do you think people feel about you and your business, when they discover you online?
The reason this matters to small business owners, is that feelings are the key factor in whether someone buys from you or not. We do business with people we feel good about and avoid people we have a bad feeling about. We buy things that feel just right and avoid buying things that feel wrong. In fact, it’s often said that the decision to buy a new house, the biggest single purchase most people will ever make, is based on the way they feel about the house in the first 60 seconds!
Online profiles and the feelings they create
In my experience, small business owners tend to have 1 of the following 2 broad approaches to what they share with the world on their blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin etc:
- The first group writes in positive terms about their business and the marketplace. Even if times are challenging for them, we wouldn’t know because they talk about what they want, rather than what they fear. Of course, their enthusiasm builds confidence in them and their business, which creates a positive circle of events, as people are attracted to them – Giving them even more to be positive about.
- The second group write in largely neutral terms about their business and the marketplace. However, their lack of enthusiasm fails to inspire confidence in them or their business. Some seem to confuse being confident, with being boastful. Others fail to share their positive news, for fear that it may make people resent them for what they have achieved.
6 things to think about
I strongly believe you should be confident enough to get your stars out and show the world your brilliant self. Here are 6 suggestions, to help your prospective clients get a glimpse of the REAL YOU and how amazing you truly are, when they check you out online. Use your blog and social media accounts to:
- Talk (and write) about what you want, not what you fear. Prospective clients might not want to do business with someone, if they think that person may be about to go out of business, after reading how bad things are.
- Share your successes.
- Show your gratitude. Be fast to thank. Be first to thank.
- Show your willingness to contribute.
- Share your uniqueness. It’s hard to get noticed unless you are willing to step out of the crowd. Don’t be a human RT / “like” machine for the gurus!
- Showcase other great people.
Never confuse confidence with arrogance. Have the confidence to share your successes, but also the humility to readily celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of others.
IMPORTANT: If you want to make more sales, boost your profits and grow an amazing business, this will help you!