What a Five Dollar Gift Can Teach You about Your Business

I’d been gone from my office at work for only a few minutes, but when I returned I found someone had left a little surprise for me. There sat a little gift bag on my desk with handles tied neatly together with a bow. When I peeked inside I found a lavender mesh nylon scrub and two small bottles of bath wash and lotion. Tucked inside too was a handwritten note from a co-worker thanking me for my work on a recent organization event.

I was delighted. How fun to get a thank-you gift, and honestly the woman spearheading the event didn’t have to do anything at all. All those involved had expected to volunteer their services. Still, it put a smile on my face and reminded me of just how much can be learned from a little bag of bath items.

The Gift
It’s not the price that matters. The gift I received probably cost only about $5.00, but the thoughtfulness was priceless. Taking the time to do something extra, no matter how seemingly small never goes unnoticed. If you sell a tangible product, you can easily send an extra something in an order. Think of an item that will complement your product, like bookmarks for a book, or a soft cleaning cloth for jewelry. If you sell a service, a coupon might be a good choice, or a payment for a referral. Now days more than ever, a handwritten note is a great way to stand out from the crowd. Small gestures like these can buy a priceless amount of appreciation and loyalty from your customers.

The Words
Moonlight Path body lotion contains the fragrances of lavender and musk. The name immediately created an association in my brain. Whenever I use the products I see moonlight spilling across a flower-lined path that I envision myself walking on at night. Sound corny? Maybe so, but I can’t get that image out of my. The words you use on your web site, in blogs, articles and in your print materials can create a powerful positive or negative impact. Even grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes and misspellings will influence potential customers. Make sure your “voice” fits your company image. Even if your voice is a casual one, make sure you don’t make mistakes with grammar or typos that could give the impression you’re less than professional. Your content has the power to convince, intrigue, enchant, entice and impress. Graphic designers cross-proof materials with each other whenever possible, and finding a proofing partner might be a good solution. Outsourcing your writing is an option if writing isn’t tops in your skill set. Then again, keeping a bottle of Moonlight Path lotion nearby may be all the inspiration you need.

Packaging
When I first saw that gift on my office desk there sat a little lavender-grey paper bag with light beige stripes, which was lined inside with a transparent cellophane bag stamped with a bronze colored ornamental pattern. The raffia handles of the gift bag were tied together with a wide, soft fabric bow in a coordinating bronze color. If content is king, than “packaging” is queen. Whether your design is packaging like the gift I received, or a web site, it’s the presentation that makes the first and greatest impact on others. Good design will mean your web site is easy to navigate, your copy is easy to read, and your graphics are professionally done.

I like to purchase gifts online, especially from small businesses and work-at-home moms. I’ll browse through a number of web sites when I’m on a gift quest. However, if a web site doesn’t have a quality look, I’ll immediately leave. I can’t trust a business is professional if I don’t see evidence of it when I land on their site. Good design matters. It implies trustworthiness and credibility and can connect with your customers emotionally. Make sure all of your over-all “packaging” of design, graphics and writing accurately portrays just how professional you are.

Anne Goodrich has been a graphic designer for over 20 years. Her passion is designing for small business owners, work-at-home moms and those in ministry at her business web sites - www.goodrichdesign.net and www.pearlsandgrace.net

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com