I saw this sign as I drove back from vacation this weekend. It was in a fairly rural area of Delaware, though not very far from a major highway. Look closely at the manually placed letters. What are they advertising? That’s right. They have BO at this motel.
I understand that these are very low-cost accommodations. I’m not sure there’s a price low enough to get me to stay in one of these places. And all along this road, the every motel was in just as much disrepair as the next. But that’s not the point.
This sign could be fixed in mere minutes. If they’re not willing to fix this one mistake, what does it mean for the rest of the motel’s accommodations? If I find another budget motel on that road (there were no less than 10) for the same price but with a sign that actually makes sense, I’ll choose them.
Instead, this motel is a joke.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, EVERYTHING is a presentation. Every customer interaction is a chance to impress—a chance to show that you care more than the other guy. Your phone calls, your website, how well your product does or doesn’t work—they’re all presentations.
People are judging you. They’re sizing you up. There may be a lot more on the line in one situation than there is in another, but they’re still all presentations. People are forming opinions of you, opinions that are hard to change.
- Peter Coughter, “The Art of the Pitch” (which I highly suggest)
Don’t think that presentations only happen when you’re face-to-face with your customers. They’re happening at every single customer touchpoint.
