Should we get personal in business?
It’s often said that we shouldn’t mix our business lives with our personal lives. After all, our customers want to maintain a level of professionalism so they can feel confident and secure when working with us. However, they also want a personalized level of service – and that comes from maintaining a good relationship.
Yet, how can we expect to maintain a good relationship with our customers if we don’t know each other personally on at least some level? More specifically, how can we know our customers’ wants and needs if we don’t get to know them…and they, us. Any good relationship is a give and take and in business it’s no different.
Let me share a little story…
Recently, I sent out an email to my subscribers. I got a little personal in this one. I rarely get personal. I’m not talking about airing my dirty laundry, I don’t even do that in my personal life. I’m talking about showing customers my more personal side. I’m not typically a person who puts myself out there. Promoting Sofydoll Designs is one thing, but putting the face behind the ‘brand’ (ie, me) is something different. Perhaps it’s because I don’t think my customers are interested (maybe some aren’t) but I have several customers who are and we chat on a regular basis.
Back to my story… I didn’t know how the email would be received and after all was said it and done, I did get about 10 unsubscribes and one marked as spam. The spam one surprised me as I send about two emails a month, which is hardly spamming – but hey, to each his/her own. You always lose a few, then gain a few.
However, I was pretty satisfied overall. I took the risk of getting personal (albeit a small risk) and I feel it was worth it. Why? Because I want customers to gain trust in Sofydoll Designs and the products/services I offer. And after all, I’m the one who represents the business. If my customers get to know me, they will feel even all the more confident in product/service I am offering.
You see, my goal is to help others in their own creative endeavors through advice and (someday soon) education. I have many years expertise in the graphics industry. I also have the experience of starting my own online business (during the pandemic, no less). So yes, I do have something to offer, and the more I let my customers know about me, the better I’m able serve them.
How about you?
Are you in a similar situation? Perhaps you want to start a new business. You’ve got an idea, and the skills, but you don’t know how to market yourself. Or maybe you’ve already taken that leap but don’t know the next step?
One bit of advice I have is to get a little personal. Tell your story. Help your customers relate to you by getting to know you. They’ll see you are sincere and serious about helping them with their own needs. You’ll be relatable, you’ll come across as authentic…neither which is a bad thing.
Sure, you may lose a few along the way, but they’re probably not the type of customer you want to begin with. As long as you’re not airing your dirty laundry (I NEVER recommend that) and aren’t being annoying, it shouldn’t be an issue. If a customer does take issue with a little personability, it says more about them than it does about you. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you (and only you) should set the tone of your business, and that means not letting your customers put you in the category of ‘job shop’.
In the end, the best way to a successful business is being professional, authentic and a little personable. You need o stay true to you. And the base you want will support that. It may take a little longer to grow your following, but as I always say…it’s quality, not quantity.
Have any similar stories? I’d love to hear about them in the comments?
Until next time…
