Show Me The COLOR!!
By: Mike Lipshultz
Mike@biznetonline.com
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Show Me The COLOR!! |
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In this ever-increasing competitive world, every business needs a competitive edge. In this article BizNet will give you several real-life examples of how color can bring you more business. With a budget of as low as $500 you can bring a Color Printer, Color Flat Bed Scanner, and Digital Cameras into you business. No, you’re not going to get he best of the best for $500, but it is a starting place. Increase your budget and you can really blow your clients away.
Rather than concentrating on which Digital camera, scanner, and printer to use (see upcoming reviews for more information), we intend to explain how to use these products to bring in more business.
Most Digital cameras are as easy to use as any "point and shoot" film camera. Digital cameras do not use film. The images are stored electronically. Some Cameras use a removable media, others store the pictures on internal memory. All of the cameras give you the ability to "down load" the picture to a computer. All digital cameras will have a preview screen built into them for viewing the image (like a small T.V. screen). Unfortunately digital cameras still can’t replace high resolution professional photography.
Color flat bed scanners are like using a copy machine: lift the lid, put the object to be copied face down, and make a color copy of it. Instead of printing out the image like a copier would do, the scanner sends the image to your computer. A flat bed scanner lets you copy from books and magazines. Flat bed scanners won’t jam like a sheet fed scanner. Use the scanner to make a copy of any picture or item you wish.
A color printer lets you take the images you put in the computer (using the color printer) and print them out in color. Once the image is in your computer you can do all sorts of thing with it. You can change the shape or size, adjust the color, move and rotate. All kinds of things.
Now lets look at how to make some money...
Example number one: The Body Shop. Body shops go though Polaroid film like crazy. Think of the money on film that could be saved by going digital. In addition to the savings on film, with a digital camera, the body shop could expand its use of photos. In supplying the customer an estimate, photos of the damage could be incorporated into the estimate. Here’s a real marketing opportunity: after the repair work has been completed, give the customer a folder with a color printout of pictures of his car. Include instructions to save the file as proof of condition of their car. The photos could include all four sides of the car, and some inside shots. Now the customer leaves the shop thinking, "boy, this is a first class operation." Should the customer ever need more work, you know who they will call.
Example number two: The roofer. It’s not unusual for some roofers to take photos of a really bad roof. But with no film to buy, why not take photos of every roof? Give all your prospects an estimate that includes photos of the roof. This will help point out any problem area. Using the scanner you can add information from industry publications on the material you recommend using. After the job is completed, you can present the customer a folder with the original estimate, your guarantee paperwork, and photos showing before, during the work, and after. Now you have a customer that will not only tell their friends about the wonderful roofer they found, they will show them the folder. Good thing you put extra business cards in it.
Example number three: The Alarm company. Talk about stiff competition. You’re out there competing with every guy looking to make a fast sales on a $99 alarm to a consumer that doesn’t know any better. With a digital camera, you can show the customer where the contacts and other equipment is going to be placed. Using the scanner, you can also show the customer photos of the recommended equipment. Put that together in a folder with letters of recommendation, and photos of past work, and who do you think is going to get the job?
Example number four: The contractor. Now you’re getting the idea. Put together an estimate with the area to be remodeled, etc. After the job is over you give your customer a folder with before, during and after photos. You now have a customer for life. When friends come over to see the new look, out comes the folder with your company name and phone number on it.
You know your business better then I do. Think about how you can use color in your business. How would your customers react to receiving your bid or other information, customized with color photos, and handed to them in a binder with protective plastic sleeves. Will they think: "This company is going to do a lousy job" or will they think: "Wow, this is great! This company really has it together." Make the best impression.
In closing, let me ask you: If you started using color in your work a year ago, can you think of some jobs you might have gotten? Can you think of other jobs that might have produced bigger orders? If you said yes, then what are you waiting for? Go with color and get the MONEY.