Editorial
Greetings from the great state of Alabama! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
Anyone who owns a business spends a great deal of time branding not only their company name, but themselves as well. Considerable thought and revenue can go into developing the right logo, company name, letter head and business cards. Many hours and thousands of dollars are typically spent creating a brochure and other forms of advertising, with the expectation that the result will effectively convey to anyone what and who you are at a glance.
We go to these lengths to let the world know that we are experts in our chosen field, so that a client can enjoy a sense of comfort and security in entrusting us with their business. We happily spend all of this time and resources to share our pride in the level of success and knowledge we have achieved in our profession.
Some advance to the next level and join various trade associations within the industry for the opportunity to network and learn from others. Some professionals eventually rise to the top to become board members and advisors to these associations to help the industry brand itself.
I would like you to consider for a moment that your brand is not just a logo or a company name; it is YOU! And the brand follows you wherever you go, and whatever you do. In today’s marketplace, social media is the most cost-effective and perhaps the quickest way to build a following as well as a client base.
Nothing bothers me more than the shock that can follow meeting someone new, holding an engaging conversation and being duly impressed with every aspect of the individual only to find later that the email address on their business card reads something juvenile and ludicrous like hotstuf1978@email.
After spending all of those resources and revenue to build a sterling reputation within the industry, all credibility can vanish with an unprofessional email address, an inappropriate user name, or an ill-advised posting on Facebook. Anyone trying to build a brand could easily buy a simple, yet professional domain name for the few pennies it costs. Now your email can be johnsmith@john smith.com. Remember you are the brand, so you want your domain to reflect who you are and cement your name in the minds of the marketplace.
I love Social Media such as Facebook, Twitter, Google plus, and LinkedIn. I believe they have become an essential element in the promotion of a business, as well as a healthy setting for socialization and enjoyment. A wise business owner will understand the need for saving the pranks and inside jokes for his personal accounts. I have a Facebook account for business and one for personal use for this very reason. Be in control of the image that you want to share with the world and what the world thinks of you remember their perception is your reality.
Follow me down the path to better skip-tracing!
Be Blessed, Be Safe and Happy Hunting
Alex Price
Master Hunter
Alex Price is a nationally-recognized expert on the Art of Skip Tracing and author of Skip Tracers National Certification Program with over 25+ years of experience in skip-tracing, collections and public speaking. Alex began his career with Barnett Bank as a field representative collecting past-due accounts. He then moved to World Omni Finance, where over the next ten years he worked in all aspects of collections and handling the nationwide charge-off skip portfolio.
Contact Info: alex.price@masterfiles.com , Office: (972) 735-2353, Fax: (972) 735-2354
Alex,
You couldn’t be more right about email addresses. I cringe every time I see a fellow investigator working from a free email address like Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail, etc. It goes directly to credibility and you can almost hear the echoes of the clicks as hundreds of potential clients close their browsers and go look elsewhere for services.
T.J. Altman
Director of Operations
Thai-Spy Thailand Private Investigators
Alex,
Well done and great advice. To add to what you said, those among us who go to these lengths to let the world know who they are, also need to be sure to align themselves with their peers. Show me your friends and I’ll know who you are. And, those who advance to the next level by joining one or more of the various trade associations and other national repossession organizations should also be recognized as “Class A” agencies.
To quote Forrest Gump; Professionalism is as Professional does. In today’s competitive market place, the agencies who take the time and money to educate themselves and join one or more of the seven national repossession organizations are the best we have to offer and deserve to be recognized as such. Becoming a “Class A” agency separates the men from the boys. If you are reading this and have not joined one of the national repossession organizations, I highly recommend that you do today!!!
Art Christensen,
C.A.R.S. certified
and member of the American Recovery Association.