For example, the owner of a bakery introducing her business may start, “I am Samantha Jones, and I am the owner and operator of Good Cakes. ” If you’re sending a physical letter, write it on your company letterhead.
For example, the letter may go on to say, “Good Cakes specializes in gluten-free baked goods, with a specific emphasis on cakes. In 2015, Good Cakes was founded with the goal of providing a healthy alternative to high-fat cakes for the people of Springfield. ”
If you’re writing to introduce yourself, say, “I am writing to inform you that we have opened a new location on Main street. We’d love to have you stop by some time and check our operation out. ” If you’re writing a potential investor, say, “We are seeking additional financial support as we expand through the region. Our profits were up 40% last quarter, and the word-of-mouth customer base is loyal. ” If you’re writing a potential partner, say, “We are seeking a high-quality flour distributor to work with. We believe that you may be a phenomenal partner, and I would love to sit down and find a way to work together. ” Don’t get too detailed here. This is your first time interacting with the reader and if you go into too much detail, they may be turned off and simply stop reading.
For example, you could say, “If you’d like to sit down and discuss this further, contact my office and let me know what time works best for you. I can be reached at 555-5555. I hope to hear from you soon. ” Include your title, name, and a formal salutation, like “sincerely. ” Proofread your introduction before sending it. If you have any typos or errors, your reader may catch them and assume you aren’t worth working with.
On Facebook, click the “Create a Page” button in the top right corner from your personal account. Select “Local Business” and sign up to link it with your personal profile. There are no special business accounts on Twitter—they’re the same as regular profiles. If your company is trying to develop a youth-oriented brand, sign up for an Instagram account as well. Register your company on Yelp and Google to make it easier for people to find your business. These aren’t great social media sites for marketing though, since users can’t “follow” specific businesses and you can’t post anything.
For example, a bakery’s profile description might read, “Springfield’s most delicious bakery! Brownies, strudels, cookies, and muffins! Come get your favorite treat at Good Cakes with half of the calories!” If you don’t have a logo, use a photo of one of your products, your storefront, or a smiling employee as your profile photo.
On Twitter, playfully commenting on the Tweets posted by your competitors is a common way to build your company’s profile. This can be a pretty time-consuming process, but waiting for your company to grow on social media on its own is a bad strategy.
Special deals could include a free tote bag, buy 2 get 1 free, raffles, or a reduced price on a specialized service. Include a photo of your product or service alongside your first post. For a bakery, this could be a close-up photo of a delicious, frosted cake. An announcement may read, “Come one! Come all! Follow our Twitter or Facebook page and get a free cupcake with any purchase. Come on down to Good Cakes and show us that you’ve followed our account to claim your bonus treat!”
Don’t be uptight. When people post jokes or funny comments, respond with a joke of your own or a simple “That’s hilarious!” This will give your company the image that it’s responsive and operated by real people with a sense of humor.
Don’t overdo it by posting more than twice a day. If you’re popping up too often on your followers’ feeds and timelines, viewers may grow tired of seeing your posts. Posting once every other day is a good way to be consistent online.
For example, a short story about your father inspiring you to start a design firm is totally appropriate for an “About Us” page, since your reader is likely seeking background information. It won’t be the right move in a brochure you’re designing to appeal to clients, though.
Unless you’re operating a family business or really want to emphasize the personal touch that your company has, avoid using the pronoun “I. ” Instead, speak in the third person from the company’s perspective. If you’re creating an “About Us” page for a bakery, start with something like, “Good Cakes is a modern bakery that makes delicious cakes, cupcakes, and strudels!” If you’re creating marketing materials, you might say, “Good Cakes is a modern bakery specializing in high-end baked goods. ”
If you’re creating an “About Us” page, you could say, “Back in 2015, Samantha Jones was looking for a bakery that made gluten-free cakes. Seeing the lack of healthier options in the area, she saw an opportunity. ” If you’re introducing marketing materials, say, “Good Cakes was created in 2015 with the goal of bringing gluten-free cakes to the public. ”
For the bakery business, this might be, “While most bakeries look to cut corners and hook customers by using lower-quality ingredients and too much sugar, Good Cakes believes that cake can be both delicious and healthy. ”
You may be able to get away with a longer introduction if your company has a really fascinating story. It better involve some really fascinating details if you’re going over a paragraph though!
For the owner of a bakery, this is as simple as saying, “Hello! I’m Samantha Jones, owner and operator of Good Cakes in Springfield. ” Creating a personal connection to the other person is always helpful. [18] X Expert Source Madison BoehmBusiness Advisor, Jaxson Maximus Expert Interview. 24 August 2021.
Treat the conversation like a normal chat. If you act like you’re not speaking to a real person, you’ll come off as rigid and distant. Mentioning the positive elements of your business is as easy as saying, “Business has been really good over the past year. Our numbers are up and we’re thinking about expanding. ”
Don’t go over the top and ask deeply personal questions or anything relating to finance. Even if you’re talking money, asking questions like, “What is your company worth?” is inappropriate during an introduction.
For example, an elevator pitch for a bakery that focuses on healthier baked goods might start, “Have you ever had a piece of cake and immediately felt like you did something wrong?” This emphasizes the problem presented by most baked goods (they’re unhealthy for you) by making the problem specific and personal. You can add a second sentence to add some detail if you’d like. For the baked goods pitch, this might sound like, “There’s no denying that cake is delicious, but we all know that it’s bad for you. ”
For example, you may say, “At Good Cakes, we use a gluten-free flour blend and pure granulated sugar to cut back on the carbs and saturated fat. We use high-end ingredients sourced locally to ensure that each bite is savory and delicious. ” This is a good demonstration because it’s clear, but evocative. A few powerful words, like “savory” and “high-end,” help the listener form an emotional connection to your company.
Get a business card so that you can just hand out your contact information in a professional manner. For the bakery pitch, it might end with, “So the next time that you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to raise your cholesterol, think of Good Cakes! You can find us online or on the corner of Main street and Pine road. ”
