How To Use the Secrets of the Stars To Make Your Web Site Shine
by Tatiana Velitchkov

By Tatiana Velitchkov © 2001-2002

When you want a sweet, romantic comedy that you can watch with your kids, you pick a movie that stars Meg Ryan.

But if you want something with a bit more spunk and a dash of parental guidance, you go for Julia Roberts.

A family-centered movie with solid principles, lots of action, and a sprinkling of humor? Then Arnold Schwarzenneger is the guy for you.

But if you would prefer a rakish, romantic, dramatic / climactic adventure, then you go look for Tom Cruise.

Although it might seem limiting at first, creating a specific screen personality for actors or celebrities actually makes it easier for them to land big projects in succession.

Film makers have no problems casting them, and audiences know what to expect from them. Their presence in a film alone creates a strong message to the viewing public, telling them beforehand if they'll be crying, laughing, or falling in love in their seats.

And because many people want to cry, laugh, or fall in love with minimum risk & investment, this kind of guarantee often translates into box office dollars for the producer, and higher talent fees for the personality-branded actor.

But this article is NOT a pitch for you to join show business.

What this is is something more down-to-earth and encouraging. Because although not many of us have the looks of a star, we CAN make our business websites shine by following the examples of the stars.

All You Need Is "Personality" -----------------------------

The intimate nature of the Internet makes people look for personalities, not corporations.

Although big corporations remain popular on the web, small players who may not have years of track record behind them also stand a chance at online success -- as long as they create the same feeling of trust that a big name inspires.

And how do you build that trust on something as faceless as the internet?

The answer is as simple as the answer to "How do I make new friends?"

"Be yourself."

Show your personality. Reveal your strengths, as well as your weaknesses. Tell them what you stand for, what you believe in. Share them your vision for yourself, and your mission for your business.

But above all else, give people a clear idea of the kind of person they're doing business with... even if it's just through words over the web.

5 Steps To Shaping Your Own Online Personality ----------------------------------------------

Because the basis of good business relations is honesty, no one can really fabricate a totally new personality for himself and succeed.

The best thing we CAN do is determine what kind of business personality we already have, focus on our strengths, and build up on them to produce not just a better impression for our business, but also an improved version of ourselves.

And we can do this in 5 easy steps:

1) Determine Your Phone Personality

The next time you talk to a prospective client on the phone, get a tape recorder & record your end of the conversation.

Afterwards, play back the recording & listen.

If you were a stranger, what kind of conclusions would you make about the person you can hear speaking from your recorder?

2) Validate Your Email Personality

Get a sampling of business emails you've sent out from your "Sent" folder, and study the kind of words you use for new clients, old clients, and even friends-who-are-also-business- associates.

Imagine you are the recipient of these emails -- what would be your general impressions & reactions towards the sender?

3) Get Feedback.

Find out what people positively respond to about your personality.

Ask your friends, but more importantly ask your clients.

You can do this through friendly conversation, a feedback form, or even a survey.

As a guide, ask them which of these words they feel best describes your product/service, and discover what other words they think about whenever they think of you:

Affordable Environmentally Conscious Accessible Exciting
Assertive Expensive
Bold Family-Oriented Caring Fast
Civic Minded Friendly Comfortable For Adults Confident For Children Creative For Teens
Dynamic Fun

Glamorous Safe
Growing Service-Oriented High-Tech Spiritual
Homey State-Of-The-Art Intelligent Traditional Loving Trendy
Peaceful Warm
Powerful
Professional
Risk-Taking

4) Choose Your Words.

After receiving feedback, choose the spoken & written words that most often came up whenever people talked about you / your business.

Build up on the positive ones, and create a plan of action to improve your product/service to change the negative aspects.

Choose also the words that people strongly respond to when they talk to you, and incorporate them into the improved "business personality" that you now want to adopt for your website & yourself.

5) Finally: Be honest, be consistent.

Like I said before, "fabricating" a fake personality is the wrong way to go towards succeeding in business, or in life.

People respond best to sincerity, and this is as true in web marketing as in anywhere else.

So be consistent with your words, your actions, and your service.

Pretty soon you'll be creating not just a shining personality for your site, but a sparkling reputation for yourself... turning you & your business into box office hits.

© Tatiana Velitchkov

About the Author:

Tatiana is the publisher of: www.TheFortunesEzine.com , the FortunesEzineWeekly at www.TakeYourFortune.com, and owner of the traffic-solution slam advertising sites www.Guaranteed-Hits.com and www.Guaranteed-Hits.net

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