I am aware that many people are guilty of taking advantage
of the proximity of these spaces to the shops, but most people are protected
from consequences by their anonymity – unless of course a very harassed parent
is up for a fight on a carpark (one should never entirely discount this possibility).
Now, most business owners I know are keen to present
themselves well when put in front of potential customers. After all, people buy from people or, more
specifically, people buy from people they like, all other things being equal.
But when are you representing your business and when is it
OK to behave in a less professional manner?
I am a member of various networking groups where everyone is on their
best behaviour, but would I find people equally as courteous and professional if
I ran into them in the pub after a tough day?
The truth is that you are always representing your business. Even if no-one in the vicinity is ever likely
to purchase your product or service, they may know someone else who is. Or they may be a keen Facebook contributor
whose friends are potential customers – I’m not sure that bad publicity is
worse than no publicity at all.
For every interaction you have, you have no idea where it
will end up. The number of times I have
come across people in the course of my business who I have had a previous,
completely unrelated, connection to is amazing.
It truly is a small world. But
the impression you made first time around still counts, and will influence a
potential customer’s decision to buy from you. This may be worth remembering next time
someone cuts you up while driving – what image do you want to portray?
So it’s important to remember that you are always representing
your business – in every photo on Facebook, while driving your car, in every
social setting. Make sure you represent
your business well.
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