I recently met with someone who runs an event planning business. She was describing her services and asked if I'd watch a quick presentation. Although I wasn't thrilled about sitting through a PowerPoint, I said "sure" and sat in front of her monitor.

Rather than starting a PowerPoint, she opened a video and I heard soft music begin to play. Her logo appeared and transitioned into eight minutes of stunning photos showcasing events she'd planned. By the end, I felt relaxed and impressed by her talents. I'm sure many stressed-out meeting planners and brides felt the same way after watching her video.

When I told her how wonderful her presentation was, she said her goal was to engage the multiple senses of her audience. I hadn't thought about it, but that's exactly what happened - I was fully engaging my eyes, ears and emotions. Retailers engage multiple senses all the time, but service providers often don't think about it. While verbal and written communications are important, their effectiveness greatly increases when paired with other forms of interaction - like visuals, sounds, aromas, and textures.

Here's How You can Add Impact to Your Marketing by Engaging Multiple Senses:
 

Use Powerful Visuals:

• Include photos of your work.
• Show images of happy customers.
• Offer video testimonials.
• Keep yourself, your office and your website clean, crisp and clutter free.

Evoke Emotions with Sounds:

• Play music in your presentations (be careful not to go overboard).
• Include audio testimonials.
• Use soothing sounds like water fountains in your office or waiting areas.

 Entice with Aromas:

• If you sell something that smells good (candles, foods, etc.), let them get a whiff!
• Make sure your office or car doesn't have musty or stale odors if clients come by.

Let Them Touch Your Work:

• Give people a chance to test, touch and feel your product & services.
• If it makes sense, send them physical samples or copies of your work.
• Meet your clients in person and shake their hand - human contact builds bonds.