Our first blog rant…

Work is nuts today, so instead of trying to layout some enlightening, amazing bit of marketing or design wisdom, we’re going to derail for a brief rant.

A professional (P, hereafter) came by Emogen one day to inquire about our services. Amazingly, we had just been talking about contacting someone to provide the same services P does, so we asked a few questions about his work.

That evening Brian and I discussed P’s services and realized that we required his services for both the office and our home. He was supposed to return to Emogen the next day to discuss the work he wanted us to do for his business, so we decided to ask for an official quote for both jobs.

But no luck… P did not return.

Seriously in need of P’s services, I emailed to request a quote for the job we need him to do at our house. No reply.

About a week later P returned to Emogen to discuss the work he needed us to do for him. At that time, Brian asked P for a quote on the work we need done at the office. P left saying he would return the next day to gather the details necessary to provide said quote.

Do you think P came back? Nope, sure hasn’t, and that’s been about a month ago now.

So, if P should ever return with either quote, do you think P will be rewarded with our business? Heck no! If it’s this difficult getting him to sell something to us, how much more wonderful is his service going to be when we actually order the work?

Maybe what we’re asking for is insignificant in relation to his other customers; but, if so, the appropriate response is to pass on the job instead of offering to quote it and then not following through.

Today’s lesson: Please realize that first impressions really do count! Respond to emails, follow through, and do what you say you’re going to do… your reputation depends on it.

-Sarah, Emogen marketer