Business cards are good as well but unless there’s a real memorable moment that transpires at the time you are exchanging information chances are that business card will just go in the wallet or purse until it’s needed.
I’ve never been one to force my products, ideas and services on anyone. I’m the type that just lets my work speak for itself. 85% of my clients came from recommendations not direct advertising.
A couple years ago I used to be in telecommunications business. Running cables, setting up networks, VoIPs and CCTV.
When other people are spending their money on your services they want to know and feel confident in two things.
1. That you’re knowledgeable about your field
2. Your professional in your approach and appearance
There are a lot of businesses offering the same services. So when an individual or a company runs into such a professional they want to hold on to them because your service(s) limits their risk.
I remember when I first got my branded shirts for my business, I only ordered 5 as I wasn't sure of the quality I would be receiving from the screen-printing company. But I was excited and wore them proudly Sunday to Saturday.
You never know who’s watching and brand recognition goes a long way when people can actually see your work, putting a face to a company and those ethics to a brand.
I worked a job one day for some lobbyist. The work was sub-contracted out to my company. The brief was they just needed me to extend VoIP and Internet services to a new office (simple job) in the same building but on a different floor. The job took less than 2 hrs to complete. After completion I tested out the lines, cleaned up the work area and hung out for an hour in case anyone had questions about the service. No questions, they just wanted to know it worked.
The following week I was contacted by a representative from that office that had some connections with BestBuy and AT&T. BestBuy was going thru an upgrade where they were upgrading their phone systems from analog to VoIP and needed a tech for one of their locations and my company came highly recommended.
Long story short I accepted the contract and completed it successfully. But how did this come about?
I didn't speak to anyone, I didn't trade any contact information. It had to be "The Shirt".
Think outside the box for a second. What are some key factors in wearing a company branded shirt.
One is indirect advertising. You can pass out 10 business cards and not get one call back. Reason behind this I believe is because those people are not primarily interested or not in the position to request your services. Versus people that do want your services, have it in the back of their minds and then jogs their memory when they actually see an advertisement that's relative to the services.
I was a one-man show but wearing the company branded shirt made me appear like a larger more sophisticated organization.
It also gave me an opportunity for more people to see what my company is about. Often i'm in and out of commercial properties carrying cables, ladders and testers. However what they see is a man that's prepared for the job and works early.
When putting a brand on a shirt, regardless of your field of expertise there are a few things you want to incorporate.
1. Logo (make this clear and easily visible)
2. Tagline (legible and very informative)
3. Contact information (web, phone or both) primarily on the back of your shirt with nothing to obscure the information
4. An object(s) that anyone can easily identify with what you do
5. Stylish (you want something eye catching that will compliment your business and everyday attire)
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