A funny thing happened to me this morning and got me thinking. I was waiting for the great parting of the traffic so I could pull out of a parking lot. Many passed me by. Then, a van stopped, the driver smiled and waved and let me pull out. A nice thing to do! But, what the driver of that van didn’t realize was that I need my house painted. Badly. And, when I saw the logo on his van, I was painfully reminded of this fact. But, more importantly, when I saw this Painting Company’s logo painted brightly on the side of the white Painter’s van, I immediately made a positive mental note about that company. Based on one act of kindness, this company has a pretty good chance of being remembered when I’m ready to start getting quotes from local painters in the area. Unfortunately, RAFFI‘S Painting and Pressure Cleaning doesn’t have a business website to link you to but I was able to find the business listed when I did a search and I am making a mental note. (Perhaps I can help him with setting up his website and social networking sites for a painting discount?! Ahhh, that would be nice!)
So, what happens if the same van (or another of course) is the jerk that cuts me off or the fool that speeds by me in a no passing zone? You can bet that THAT company won’t get my call when I’m ready to paint my house or need plumbing or furnace work. For me, a bargain is great. But, I learned my lesson quite expensively when it comes to hiring contractors with good deals and fancy websites. Duped out of $9,000 when my Husband and I paid up front for 21 windows and an entry door and the guy disappeared, later claiming bankruptcy and ending our chances of ever recouping the money! So, you could say I’m forevermore overly cautious when it comes to handing money over to anyone! But, I digress!
The point here is that when you brand your personal or company vehicles with your logo to gain exposure and generate new leads, keep in mind that this practice can work both ways. You can put a smile on someone’s face or leave a bad taste in their mouth depending on your, or your employees’ actions. The same, of course, can be said for how you act online when tied to your company’s brand. People notice. You might realize it right away, but your actions, whether good or bad, intended or not, will come around. Call it Karma, call it marketing, call it what you want but if you are wearing your brand in some capacity, be respectful of it. And, it doesn’t hurt to do something just out of the kindness of your heart and without ties to the bottom line.