First Impressions Count With Envelopes
Posted: Friday, October 02, 2009
by Mark Bartley
It's a commonly used expression first impressions count a bit of a clich perhaps; but then common
These saying's innate logic has stood the test of time and here they all still are, bandied about freely, the wisdom of choice for many. In the case of first impressions... well there's no two ways about it - they do count. And in the ultra-competitive world we live in where fortunes are won and lost on only the minutest of differentiations or competitive angles, first impressions probably count far more than they ever have.
As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression so do yourself a favour and make every effort to make it as positive as possible. In a commercial context, why hand over any competitive advantage to your rivals through shoddy or ill-applied preparation? Every aspect of your organisation works furiously to make your products and your messages a positive, as influential and as profitable as possible. R&D innovates, manufacturing creates, sales and marketing promotes and converts all energies are focused in realising the company ambition. There really are no excuses for failing to take the time and trouble to make sure that your commitment and your organisation's commitment to the commercial battle is firm. Don't sleepwalk your way to business defeat.
A thorough and professional industry leading organisation is exactly that, thorough and professional. Don't run into battle still pulling up your trousers or scrambling around in the bottom of the stationery cupboard for the right tool to do the job. Be sure that you avoid undermining every single ounce of effort that has contributed in you getting as far as you have being invited to submit a proposal, a quote, expensive marketing literature, or whatever stage the evolution of your relationship with your client has reached, only for it to blow up in your faces by using shoddy, cheap looking or inappropriate stationery - in particular envelopes.
Don't use a large envelope when you need a small envelope. Why use a small envelope when you need a large envelope? You wouldn't go to a Royal garden party wearing jeans, or to Ascot wearing a t-shirt. Show that degree of respect to your own company too. It might only seem like a little thing to you, but people notice and it's the little things that add up. When hard-nosed business decisions are being taken in a hugely competitive corporate environment you want to be confident that you have done absolutely everything in your power to win that deal and to make that sale yours.
It's highly unlikely whether you are either successful or unsuccessful that clients and potential clients are going to cite the envelopes or the stationary that you use as the deal breaking or deal making aspect of your proposition, It doesn't work like that. Often people aggregate an opinion starting with the all-important first impressions and that sets the tone. They'll build an opinion of you over time. Make sure that you use the right stationery from the off to get your relationship up and running from as positive a starting point as possible.
Selecting the correct large envelopes can mean a lot more that just saving time and money. Mark Bartley suggests that winning business is much more important. For further advice read more of Mark's office strategy reviews.
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