E-commerce, as a 'business frame', is growing by leaps and bounds and yet one can go on for days without seeing or talking to an actual, real live person. Many situations still arise however, where customers want to know the people they will be doing business with. In these cases, the best tool in your marketing arsenal is the old fashioned, face to face approach. Opportunities are always presenting themselves in regular, day to day life, at special events, trade shows and meetings. Hone in on your own social skills and begin building a good rapport with your potential customers all while maintaining your established relationship with current customers.
I personally love a challenge and there is nothing like interacting with potential customers face to face, especially when a crucial sale is about to be made. Utilitizing your face to face interactions and keeping them positive creates a solid base for future endeavours, online and off. Consumers are riveted with face to face marketing techniques, many times without even realizing it. The lady who made your coffee, the receptionist who greeted you, the valet who parked your car and the doorman who said 'good mornng'. They all speak volumes for their employers and that business while leaving a lasting impression with you.
A unique example of an old fashioned, not so recommed, face to face interaction takes place at the carnival. There are hoards of people, hundreds even thousands all with money to spend. They are just trickling past booth after booth of games, food, sunglasses, junk and more junk dying to spend their money. By the end of the day they will most likely be flat busted, have upset stomachs and the proud owner of a cheesy pair of faux Crocs or an undersized stuffed animal. In a situation like the carnival you know the consumer is going to spend their money, it's just a matter of where. Down the game aisle carnival workers use an in your face, loud, harsh approach to lure you. Often embarassing, and sometimes even bordering on insulting you as a form of encouraging you to spend your money. Would this face to face sales approach be acceptable when shopping at the jewellery store?
Face to face interactions occur in our daily life and in business, and can happen at any time of day in any location. Which do you prefer, a smile and friendly welcome or a boistrous, heckling shoutfrom ten feet away? Both work, however the lasting impression you create will haver a much sweater effect after the fact.
Just remember that regardless of whom you are speaking with, they may already be your customer or they are a potential customer so treat them as such. Try not to be a canary, stay professional, polite and sincere all while developing your listening skills. You may meet someone today who ten years down the road is giving you a job interview. Will he remember you? When he does,will he wish he hadn't? This goes beyond first impressions to lasting impressions. I don't even go down the game aisles anymore but I sure pay repeat visits to the cutie who smiles all the time and doesn't even say a word other than 'thank you'.
Body Language
Para-verbal
Para-verbal is not what you say but how you say it. It is the tone, pace, tempo, speed, and/or volume of your voice. People listen then create impressions based on what they hear and how they hear it.
Non-verbal
Judging by appearance, we are all guilty of it. Dress for success is truely a meaningful statement. It needn't be designer brands but clean, polished and reflective of the enviroment. A tux at a bqq is a little much.
Para-verbal and non-verbal traits will need to be adjusted to match the person you are with but never change your level of enthusiasm for your product or service. If a customer approaches and their body language says 'tired and irritable', you need to adjust your para-verbal and non-verbal to closely reflect theirs while still remaining passionate and enthusiastic. This does take practise but certainly worth the effort, just rememer it's not just what you say, or how you say it but also how look saying it!
