First Impressions

You can't judge a book by its cover?  Maybe not, but it’s a rare dog (or human), who can disregard that first impression. 

Successful entrepreneurs are extremely aware of this principle and use it to their advantage.  A friend, who started her own financial planning firm, lived in her parents’ basement, so she could afford a classy looking office in a good section of the city.   “My office is the first thing that clients see.” she explained. “If it doesn’t look successful, why should they trust me with their money?”  Her strategy worked and today she has an impressive home as well as a successful office.

The first impression approach is evident in real estate too.     Many of the changes recommended by professionals are cosmetic.  It’s the premise behind many home sale shows.  “Clean, declutter and stage” is their mantra for interiors.  Curb Appeal demonstrated how elbow grease and small monetary investments in a home’s exterior could provide huge returns at sale time.   I remember a section of Atlanta, which abounded with multi-million dollar homes.  Every one of them had driveway gates at the entrance.   As much as the home itself, these gates gave the property a regal and exclusive appearance.

Have you ever tried to sell a car?      Buyers are often swayed by cosmetics rather than regular maintenance or repairs.  You may have recently changed the oil and replaced the CV joints, but they will be sold by the spotless interior or the shining finish.  

When it comes to websites, first impressions are just as important.   Quality content may be overlooked, if the design is poor or the visitor has seen the same cookie-cutter template on dozens of sites.  A small investment in quality design can provide a big return, providing, of course, that you also get enough visitors to view it.  If you need help with that, check out the services of Online Advertising NZ.