So many businesses advertise "integrity" these days that we no longer
pay much attention to it. It is an overused word. When we read it, we
don't know if we can trust it; it is unlikely that we will go ahead and
purchase a product or service because of a company's claimed
"integrity". YET, most of us do exactly the same: promote our integrity
as a key reason to do business with us. There is a solution at the end
of this article, but first let's examine TRUE integrity.
Who we are in life is who we are in business. There really is no
getting away from that. We must closely examine ourselves and know that
if we do not have core values then we will not run our businesses with
true integrity, and we will be found out. Integrity must be present
throughout the deepest layers of our company, and not just at its
surface, so it becomes the heart and soul of our company culture.
Clients will sense this and it is very attractive!
However we want to get there quickly. We want to impact
our clients with our integrity. So start with a promise and then
deliver on that promise to perfection. Make it something that your
competitors don't usually do, even if it is as simple as notifying the
client of interim progress. Put the promise in writing. For most clients
"integrity" is at the top of the list, so we do want them to recognize
it in us early. Share information with clients from day one, ask them
questions to show you want to help them make the best and wisest use of
your services. Let them know you are available to them when they need
you, and then be available! Invite their opinions and feedback. All of
this conveys you sincerely care and you want to give them the best
possible experience. If you don't let your clients down, your identity
of integrity is your basis for success and growth.
If we make mistakes, we don't lose our integrity if we take full
responsibility and offer immediate solutions or options. If we attempt
to cover up or deny our mistakes, we damage our integrity. Also, we
should never succumb to the temptation to misrepresent our capabilities
or offers. That loses us our integrity.
If advertising our integrity to
potential clients does not count for much, how do we get the message
out? The answer is via existing clients. Ask them for testimonials you
can publish and place them on your website home page, in your
newsletters, and in all promotional material. Make sure they feature
prominently - the more you have the better. Some of your clients may
even allow you to offer up their phone number. If you are starting out,
you have to rely on great text and work the phones with passion.
I love to help people and I hope it shines through in my writing. I
love finding the right words and expressions to suit the reader I am
targeting. I can do this for you. I conduct my business with the utmost
integrity ... but you don't have to take my word for it, just go to my website and read "What People Are Saying"!
*If you like this article, please visit my blog for similar topics.
