What happens when someone contacts you?

This giraffe is watching you. He is judging you. And he is keeping that judgment for a very long time.

Every time someone comes into contact with you in anyway, you are making an impression. In business, this can make or break you as one impression may be all you get before they decide whether or not to work with you! While not every question below will apply to you, each question reflects something about your brand and who you are as a business. The answers you choose may vary from time to time, and that is perfectly fine. What is important to think about is how you react, what you say or do, and how others will feel about your behavior.

What happens when someone emails you?

• Where does the email go?
• How quickly do you respond?
• What type of responses do you send?
• Are their emails you ignore (other than spam)?
• What is your email signature like?

What happens when someone calls?

• Is your phone number available?
• Do they reach a real person or a recording?
• What about after hours?
• What does your voice-mail say?
• How long do you give someone on the phone?

What happens when someone sends you a tweet?

• How quickly do you respond?
• What tone of voice do you use?
• Do you respond via reply or DM?
• Do you follow people who tweet you?
• How do you monitor your twitter stream?

What happens when someone visits your office?

• Who greets them first?
• What are they wearing?
• What does your office look like?
• How long do they have to wait to talk to you if they have an appointment?
• What if they don’t have an appointment?
• What is the temperature like?
• What music is playing?

What happens when you meet someone randomly?

• Do you great everyone in a welcoming tone?
• Do you have your business cards on hand?
• Do you stay and talk with people or brush them off?
• How long will you give a stranger to talk?

What happens with you meet someone at a networking event?

• Do you immediately hand then your card or wait to be asked?
• Do you have a nametag?
• What do you ask them first?
• How do you end a conversation?
• Are you drinking or eating?

Are you making the right impression?

*image courtesy of recursion_see_recursion on flickr

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