Having a professional image in business can mean the difference between landing those tough sales and scaring off potential customers. Your professional reputation has a major effect on how people view your business and whether or not they choose your brand over the competition. Luckily, increasing the professionalism of your business is as easy as following these five tips. Keep reading to learn about five investments that will help make your company more professional.
1. Hire a Web Designer
If you used a website builder like Wix or Weebly for your company’s site, it probably looks good…but hiring a web designer can help your site look great. An amazing, responsive website is what truly separates professional and unprofessional businesses, allowing your customers to experience your brand online in a memorable and convenient way.
A web designer will have something that website builders simply don’t; the ability to fully customize your site. Sure, you can customize blocks, colors, fonts, and more within a site builder, but to truly customize the site and give it that nice professional look, you need a web designer.
The biggest hurdle for most businesses when designing a website is price. Web design can be expensive depending on the size and needs of your site, and whether or not you’re including e-commerce in your website. However, this investment can help boost the professionalism of your business and help you stand apart from your competition with a great website.
2. Conference Calling Services
If you’re racking up expensive phone bills or dropping calls while talking to clients or merchants, it’s time to upgrade your phone calls by utilizing a web-based conference calling service. You’ll want to get a number through a conference call service so you can pay one fixed rate for long-distance or conference calls, and you’ll be less likely to drop important phone calls with your clients.
Having a dedicated conference number helps your business stand out by providing a secure and stable platform that your clients can use to discuss important matters with you. You’ll also have access to some extra features such as video calling, for when you need a face-to-face meeting with someone halfway across the country.
Conference calling services are web-based, so there are no long-distance or multiple-caller charges. You’ll pay a fixed monthly or yearly rate for your services, so you’ll always be connected and never have to worry about an expensive phone bill again.
3. P.O. Boxes
A P.O. box is a simple investment, yet companies with P.O. boxes tend to feel more legitimate and professional than those without one. A P.O. box is a cost-effective way to give your business a boost in professionalism while providing a secure location to receive your mail.
This eliminates the need to give your home or business address to customers and suppliers, which can not only be risky but can also sound a bit strange (especially if you’re using your personal address). A P.O. box will help separate the business from the personal, and boost your professionalism quickly.
The best part about a P.O. box is the pricing is usually quite reasonable. The US Postal Service allows for P.O. box management directly from their website, so you can rent, renew, and manage your service from home.
4. Business Cards
Have you ever been explaining your business to a friend or someone you just met but didn’t have a business card with your contact information to give them? This can not only be frustrating but can potentially cost you a sale or new connection. A crisp, clean business card says “I’m serious about what I do”, and lets people know that you’re serious about having them follow up with your business.
A business card will usually contain the company logo and slogan, your name, and an email, phone, and physical (or P.O. BOX) address on it. You can design your own business cards at sites like VistaPrint, or you can hire someone on Fiverr to design one for you.
You don’t want your business card to be too flashy or filled with graphics and fancy fonts, however. These can quickly become distracting from the true purpose of the card; to provide a simple way for potential clients or partners to reach you.
5. Logos
Let’s be honest, you can tell when a logo was designed and created by an amateur graphic artist. The blurry lines, unprofessional look, and distracting color scheme can only serve to give your business an amateur look and even scare away potential clients.
A professional logo will have crisp, clean lines, matching colors, and a font style that matches the graphic. If your logo looks amateur, customers will think you don’t take your business seriously; and if you don’t take it seriously, why should they by doing business with you?
You have to remember that image is everything in business. With the right professional image, you’ll soon become an eye-catching brand in the industry, driving customers to your business and setting yourself well apart from your competitors.
Conclusion
Always remember that a professional-looking business will have a much easier time attracting clients than less than a professional one. Customers expect professionalism in all aspects of your business, from your phone lines to your website to your logo. Make an investment in a professional image and you’ll find customers are much more responsive to your brand than before.
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