Let’s Talk Business: Once Upon a Time

In life and business, timing is everything. You arrive at the station at 8:10 instead of 8:08 and your train will leave without you. You miss a phone call, you could lose the deal. You hesitate on a contract and a competitor can beat you to the punch. Timing even affects professional ball players- swing too early or too late and you strike out. Performing actions, however minute, at the proper point in time has a major impact on their level of success.�
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It’s all about the timing.�
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Research has shown that the best time to send e-mails, make phone calls, and get in touch with your clients and customers is midweek and mid- afternoon, when your customers’ responsibilities are fewer and they welcome diversions from their work.�
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Whenever deciding to launch a product, market a service, or even send an e-mail, put yourself in your customer’s shoes to be sure you time it right.
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1. Seasonal Marketing: Everything in life has a season. Fans and cooling systems are needed in the summer; toys and personal gadgets should be featured around the holidays. If you focus on your customer’s needs, then your marketing timeline will naturally follow.�
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2. Punctuality: Arriving on time for meetings and interviews makes a favorable impression. If you’re late, you’ll need to work harder to gain favor and recover lost ground that you’ve relinquished to competing individuals or businesses.
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3. ‘Now’ Technology: Technology changes rapidly. Keep your business, computers and phone systems in the ‘now’- updated and modernized- in order to maintain your competitive edge.
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4. Apparel Time: Be sure to dress right for each occasion. Tuxes are for weddings, shorts for the beach. Each item has a place and time. You need to dress to impress at some points in time; at others, you may need to tone down your garb in order to put your customers and clients at ease.
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How do you determine proper timing in marketing? There are many factors that affect this decision, but a lot has to do with your client relationship. If you have a solid connection with your customers and have your finger on the pulse of your target market, you’ll know what they want and need- now.Last month, something may have been vital- this month, it’s old news. Don’t miss your chance. Keep in touch with your clients, find out about their requirements and figure out a way to fill them with your products and services.�
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Remember, too early or too late, you strike out- no matter how great and how strong a swing you have. Timing is everything: your creative ideas and inspiration are vital to success, but employed at the improper time, they’re just a useless waste of energy. Utilize the gift of time to open your world to priceless, once-upon-a-time opportunities.�
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Onward & Upward,