With Clarity Comes Customers

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With a population of around 1,000 people, La Conner is the 386th largest city in Washington. And located on Morris Street, right next door to the best Mexican food in Washington, sits Rowdy Dog Antique Lighting.

Even in a charming town, such as La Conner, it was hard for me to picture myself even entering an entire store committed to antique lighting. As it is when shopping (which is rare for me), I feel like a crotchety old man, calculating the rent and labor expenses, judging product displays, and evaluating employee performance. I just wander around muttering, “How do these guys stay in business???”

Yep, I am turning into my grandmother.

But the allure of Rowdy Dog’s beautiful lamps, flirting, twinkling their little lights through the shop window was too much to deny, even for me. I found myself actually waiting for them to open up shop one Thursday morning at 11. I practically camped in the parking lot, like it was an iPhone launch or something (do people still do that?).

Walking in, I was greeted by Paul and Jennifer, the owners that clearly love what they do. Paul enthusiastically shared that all lamps in the store are original antiques from the 1890’s to the 1930’s.

Wow, that’s pretty specific, I thought…out loud, apparently, because Paul answered, “yep.”

I was captivated. Not only is the store beautiful, packed with history, and obviously well-lit, but I just love this story. Paul turned his passion for antique lighting restoration into a business he loves. A business with clarity of purpose-antique lamps circa 1890’s-1930’s and open four days per week (three in the winter).

I am so clear on what he sells that I am finding places in my home to put more of his lamps.

Clarity brings customers.

We hear it all the time. I even teach it! Yet still, my online profiles, my website, my bio-not always clear.

Little did I know that a trip to an antique lighting store in small town Washington would be the catalyst for an updated homepage, and an avalanche of fresher, clearer, headlines and graphics.

What about your prospects? Are they clear on what you do and when you do it?

I know for me, as a solo-prenuer, I’ve learned that “done is better than perfect.” That’s how you gain momentum. So we put things out because we must get momentum and start making some money. But it’s also important to circle back and refine, refine, refine. That’s kaizen-constant, continuous improvement.

So maybe it’s time for you to circle back too. Look at your website, directory profiles, and social media presence. And do it from a customer or prospect’s perspective. Sometimes when we have our notary hat on, the words and phrases we use in our messaging makes total sense…to us. But to the everyday citizen, the layman, it might actually be confusing.

PS- The first lamp I bought from Rowdy Dog below...a 1930's era French lamp-Diana, Goddess of the Moon. 

I can't believe I am so excited about lamps! 

Bill Soroka is the founder of Notary Business Builder, an elite community of professional Notary entrepreneurs that are committed to building a successful business in any economy by leveraging authentic sharing technology and cultivating deeper relationships.