First Impressions Matter in Business

Hearing that first impressions are extremely important is something that does not come as a surprise to anyone. From the time we are children we are taught that first impressions matter, and of course, we only get one shot at them. We are also taught not to be quick to judge, but the reality is, we are often judged based on the initial impression. When it comes to business, first impressions matter. 

Studies show that it only takes the average person 1/10 of a second to form a first impression. While that is an extremely short amount of time, that 1/10 of a second will shape a customer’s opinion of your brand.  While it is important to make sure we are making the right impression personally, it is also crucial to make sure your brand or company is making a positive first impression on customers and clients. 

Below are four ways you can use your marketing strategies to make sure your brand makes a great first impression:

  1. Focus on Appearance
  2. Create Relevant Content
  3. Know Your Audience
  4. Show Your Human Side

Focus on Appearance

When heading into an interview or important meeting, it’s common knowledge that dressing professionally and appropriately is necessary. Appearance is just as important when it comes to your business, ensuring you’re “dressed to the nines”. Your logo or website is often the first impression people have of your company, so taking a closer look at how it appears and comes across visually is very important. Ensure your logo, website, marketing materials, etc. all have a cohesive look and feel, and work together to strengthen one another. While they all don’t need to look exactly the same, it’s important to focus on using your brand’s colors, fonts, and imagery across all materials to maintain consistency, build recognition, and create a cohesive experience for your audience.

Not in love with the colors you chose for your logo ten years ago? 

Maybe it is time to consider working with our graphic designers and web development team at 898 Marketing. Fall back in love with your brand by refreshing your logo and website to put your best foot forward when making an impression. A brand refresh is very common, and does not have to be drastic. A few changes can modernize your brand and give off a great first impression.

Check out what our team can do for your appearance by viewing our work for Lowe Trial Lawyers. Their team approached ours, intending to rebrand, in which our team of graphic designers were able to create a fresh new look for them. This new look was implemented in a brand new website our web development team built and launched in July 2025.

View Our Work

Your logo, website, or a type of marketing material is often the first thing a prospective customer will see, so appealing to them visually is crucial to making a good first impression.

Create Relevant Content

Just creating content to say you have content is not enough to impress a potential customer, and you want to ensure you are creating content that people will actually want to read. The most successful brands create content that will leave a lasting impression on a client and keep them engaged with the brand. In a world dominated by the internet and social media, having interesting content that you share on your social media channels as well as on your website is key. 

Regularly posting to your blog is important and shows the effort you put into your content marketing strategy. Using social media as a platform to promote your blog or other marketing efforts can be a great way to attract readers to your blog or website. By prioritizing relevant and interesting content, you will encourage visitors to stay on your site engaging with content on various pages.

Take this blog for example, I’m going to make sure that this is blasted all over our 898 Marketing’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn channels, as well as my own personal Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn channels to maximize its reach. Promoting blog content on personal social media pages is also a great way to expand our audience and attract new customers. Creating interesting, valuable content not only strengthens your content marketing strategy but also helps make that strong first impression.

Know your Audience

Knowing and understanding your audience plays an important role in the success of any business. Researching and understanding the people who are likely to buy your product or use your service can give you a better sense of what type of marketing will work best. An effective marketing campaign can be virtually useless if it fails to appeal to the demographic your business is targeting. 

For example, one of our partners, Crowe’s Cabinets, is an established cabinet maker in Youngstown, Ohio. Since 1978 they have delivered custom cabinetry for both residential and commercial projects across Northeast Ohio. We determined the goal of increasing organic engagement time in the first 6 months of 2025 compared to the previous 6 months in 2024. After reviewing Google Analytics, our team concluded that there is an increase of 14.8% in engagement time. By updating the website, our web development team was able to increase the amount of time users spend on the page due to an increase in user experience.

If you want the first impression to be a good one, make sure that no matter how you are reaching that customer, it is relevant to them in some way.

Show Your Human Side

Behind every business are people just like you and me, but often companies come off as cold and a bit robotic. Humanizing your brand can help build lasting relationships with clients and create customer loyalty. Adding some personality into your marketing strategy can make your brand seem relatable, which customers will appreciate and remember. When a company’s marketing reflects the people behind the brand name, it is more likely to strike a chord with a customer than something boring and bland. Having a little fun can definitely help make that strong first impression.  Take our owner, Jeff Ryznar, and see how he spices up his videos with some of help from “The Empire.”

 

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

This popular quote should be considered by all marketers trying to create a successful strategy. Whether it is designing a website and marketing materials, or creating a strategy for your social media channels, first impressions matter in business and you want to make a memorable one. Attention spans are not as long as they used to be (thanks Mr. Internet), so make sure that every 1/10 of a second really counts!

About the Author

Cailyn_Chrystal_ProfileCailyn Chrystal is a Project Manager at 898 Marketing.  Cailyn develops strategies and manages implementation of content through social media channels for 898 Marketing and it’s clients, as well as optimization strategies for websites and content. Cailyn is a native of Youngstown, Ohio, and a graduate of Duquesne University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Communications.

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