Most tips read like they are prepping you for a first date. Smile. Make engaging small talk. Watch your body language and posture.

So, how does this relate to our name, First Impressions Marketing? It’s got nothing to do with dating, yet everything to do with relationships…business ones that is.

Making a good first impression in marketing your business sets the tone for your company. People make judgements very quickly –  in just two seconds – according to Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink (see sidebar below).

Here’s 5 tips – and how to apply it to your marketing campaigns.

1. Smile and laugh

What? How do you do that in marketing? The advice implies that you should have an open and welcoming way about you. Translate that into marketing tactics…it means using images, design and language in a way that breaks down barriers to would-be customers getting to know you.

2. Hold eye contact

That’s another way of saying keep your audience’s attention.

3. Maintain physical proximity

Well, this can be really dicey advice. In marketing terms this generally means knowing where your audience might be in the buying process. Are they aware that they need you? How close are they to buying? And why should they cozy up to your company and do business with you? It means tay relevant and keep in touch.

4. Start a new conversation

When you begin any marketing campaign it’s important to center key messages on what people find relevant and interesting – not boring or self-serving. You know who we mean…you’ve met these types of people on the dating scene. It doesn’t work in business either.

5. Mimic non-verbal expressions

This is a doozy to translate in marketing terms, but follow along. Mimicking expressions is another way of saying show – don’t tell. Use communication tactics that reflect an audience’s sensitivities and interests – don’t beat them over the head with it. Writing that gets to the heart of the matter, images or videos that illustrate your ideal client’s pain points are tactics that work to endear and engage with your audience.

Making a good first impression in marketing your business sets the tone for your company. After all, just like dating, the goal is to make the kind of first impression that will lead to healthy long-term relationships with your customers.

When businesses get overwhelmed with their growth, they often put the brakes on marketing because they run out of capacity. But halting or fracturing marketing operations can cause long term damages to the future health of your organization.

By using a “fractional” or part-time chief marketing officer, you can keep and improve marketing team’s focus, as well as onboard new employees effectively. Since they are part time, fractional CMOs can deliver in the time you give them.

Here are 7 signs your business could use the help of a fractional CMO.

1. No Marketing Leadership

Yes, you may have a social media person, a graphic designer and an administrator keeping your marketing alive, but they have no leadership. Without that leadership, marketing practices tend to become a whack-a-mole approach rather than a cohesive brand strategy.

2. No Sales Team Support

If there is no consistent marketing support, your business development staff may be forced to create their own promotional flyers or even emails to keep in touch with clients and prospects. If your teams are not using consistent and approved marketing materials, the end result could be weak, scattered, incorrect and confusing information.

3. No Direction

Having a cohesive vision for marketing objectives is critical to success. Being able to stay the course of that vision is where many marketing efforts fail.

Fractional CMOs can lead, organize, and streamline marketing efforts. They can manage your marketing budget, create effective strategies and manage marketing employees to make sure your vision stays on track.

4. Lacking Insights

CMO’s are trained to understand how to collect and analyze data. By understanding key performance indicators (KPIs), your fractional CMO can measure results that drive sales and make necessary adjustments to achieve company goals.

5. Business is not ready for a full time CMO

Full time CMOs can be expensive, so many small businesses cannot justify that cost. But a fractional CMO can keep your marketing dollars spent in the right place and can help keep your in-house teams productive and well informed.

6. Marketing Failures

If your campaigns are not achieving its goals, a fresh set of eyes can help.

A fractional CMO can work with your existing team to bring new ideas or help develop a new strategy that can better achieve your goals.

7. You Need an Independent Voice

Because CMO’s may have worked in a variety of industries and are constantly updating their skills, they can bring a fresh perspective to your branding needs.

Is your marketing showing any of these signs of being overwhelmed? Contact us today for a consultation. First Impressions Marketing provides expert services to a variety of industries. Our breadth of experience enables usto bring you a unique perspective on how your marketing efforts could be more effective.

Pictured L to R: Steve Cooper, Nancy Sipera,
Emidio ‘Mid’ Mariani, and Tyler Adron.