The call to action
Two business lessons I've learned from my friend Phil McColeman are: always put your best foot forward, and don't forget to ask for the business. These can be the makings of a New Year's resolution you won't regret!
Often in business I’m reminded of a friend Phil McColeman. Currently the MP for Brant, Phil used to sell corporate apparel, and before that ran a highly successful construction company that specialized in high-end home renovations.
Brantford’s economy in those days was pretty bad, yet Phil’s business thrived — for two reasons. First, his product was excellent — every project he did was an ad for his next job, and he worked hard to make sure his clients were happy. Secondly, and no less important, he knew how to ask for the business. In fact, Phil was a natural salesman; he could sell ice cubes to Eskimos! He knew that many business deals failed simply because the seller didn’t know how to ask for the work!
The same two principles apply to websites as marketing tools. Good websites put their best feet forward — they show the best of what the company or organization has to offer. This may sound self-evident, but I’ve seen too many stale websites with out-of-date information, or websites that look like they were designed by the owner’s nephew over a summer vacation, to know that some businesses don’t take their website seriously.
Your website is likely the first — and possibly the only — experience a prospective customer will have of your organization. So if someone visited your website RIGHT NOW, what would they learn about you? Go ahead — take a moment to look; I’ll wait here ’till you come back…
Well, did you like what you saw? Does a visitor get a good impression of who you are, what you do, and how you can help them? Equally as important, does the site invite and encourage visitors to take the next step — make a phone call, get a quote, make an appointment or become a member? Does it ask for the business?
Chances are there are some things about your website that need improving (My own website is a classic example of the ‘shoemaker’s children’ syndrome — we’re often so busy looking after others’ websites we neglect our own!) it could be that it needs a complete overhaul, but more than likely it just needs attention and some regular maintenance.
So why don’t you give us a call or send us an email to set up a time in the new year when we can review your website together with you, and make it the best it can be!
Think of it as a New Year’s resolution — but don’t wait until the new year — call or write today, so 2011 will start on a positive note.
And as the end of 2010 approaches, I and all of us at the Dunham Group wish you a happy holiday season and a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Leave a Comment