Details Matter!

It started with getting a simple glass of water....I filled up a large Tervis to work at my desk the rest of the afternoon, cause you know, New Year's resolution and all. Anyway, the combo of cup and lid from the cabinet was driving me crazy. Now, if you aren't from East Tennessee, you might not see the problem, but the orange lid and navy cup just could not co-exist!

I had to go back to the cabinet to find a lid that would match my blue and gold ETSU tumbler. I am sure this would not bother about 75% of you, but for me? It just wouldn't work. I knew to not even take it up to my home office, it would have been a distraction to my afternoon to do list.

But, is this really something to talk about? What does this say about me and my ability to do work for others? I hope it says a lot. I may have been accused of getting too bogged down in the details a time or two, but I think they matter. Attention to details are what sets a company or organization apart from its competitors.

For years, I have been planning special events. In fact my first, was just out of college, for one of Emory University's hospitals. The hospital had a partnership with the local ABC affiliate, WSB-TV. As the Community Relations Director for Crawford Long Hospital, I was asked to meet with the television staff to develop a community support program. The partners, which also included Home Depot, came up with a multi-day housing clean up program, where Atlanta residents could volunteer a Saturday to do work on seniors homes. The program, called Hand 2 Hand, was a large mobilization of volunteers, community organizations and corporate donors. I don't remember how many volunteers participated, how many homes were painted, cleaned up and landscaped, but I do remember the hours of logistical detail planning that went into the event. I learned quickly, that details do matter and that I loved them!

I believe in consistency within the details. In my role as a communicator, I have seen organizations and businesses use unclear messages because they don't know what their message truly is. As a CO.STARTER facilitator, one of the first questions we ask someone who wants to begin a business is, who is your customer and how do you solve their problem? As a public relations professional, I believe when a business uses any form of media, they need a clear message and it needs to be consistent across the board. Your brand is just not a logo, it isn't just a tag line, it is the image and personality of a product or service that a business provides.

And this is where details really matter. It is making sure everyone uses the same color, font and language. It is making sure the message that is on your social media matches your website and any other electronic media. And it is ensuring that any new ways to share your message with current and new customers, employees and partners isn't wasted. It can also help your brand make a stronger impression during each customer interaction.

Large corporations have it figured out, they have a team who is there to ensure that the brand is consistent and relevant. But what about the small to mid size business who doesn't have a public relations/marketing staff? How are the details handled? Maybe an outside partner who understands your goals and message can help.

So, do details matter to you?

Oh, BTW I would have been happy with a Tennessee orange cup or a blue lid, but just not at the same time!