Do you feel as though your start-up doesn’t look as professional as it could? If so then this is the guide for you. Here you will find out what steps you can take to boost your overall image while also taking your business to the next level.
Setup a Website
The first thing you need to do is set up a website. Your site doesn’t have to be fancy, but you do need to make sure that it has a professional edge. You need it to reflect your business and you also need it to contain the information your customers need to know. This could be how they can get in touch with you and what your business hours are. You also need to document a menu of your services, and if you’re opening a restaurant, your menu. While you are at it, resist the urge to put up a “coming soon” sign. Take the time to create a landing page that stands out from the crowd. If you can do this then you are bound to reap the benefits.
Create a Great Email Address
If you want your business to stand out then you need to make sure that you have a great email address. Nothing is more unprofessional than having a Gmail or Yahoo email address. On top of this, you need to make sure that it matches your domain name. Your website host may provide this as a service, but if they don’t then you will need to go through a third-party provider.
Get a Phone Number
Have you ever called a business, and noticed that they just didn’t answer the phone professionally? This could be because you are calling their personal number, which they also use for business use. Ideally, you need to have a separate phone that you can use to answer calls. If you can do this then you will soon find that you are able to take all of the calls you need, with ease.
Invoice Professionally
You won’t stay in business for long if you do not send out professional invoices. 70% of freelancers have said that they’ve had issues with clients not paying. One way for you to work around this would be for you to create a professional invoice. If you can do this then you will soon find that you make a good impression and that you can state your payment terms. Detail what happens when someone doesn’t pay you, to deter people from trying to do this. If you can take steps like this, it’ll help you out a lot in the future.
Establish a Social Media Presence
If you can, take the time to establish a solid social media presence. Your business doesn’t have to be on every single platform out there, but it does have to be on the most popular ones. If you can do this then you will soon find that you can take your business image to the next level.
Invest in Tech
Another thing you can do is use software. You need to be investing in tech because if you don’t then you may find that your operation grinds to a halt, and this is the last thing you want. If you work in construction then at a minimum, you’ll need to have to get a field service management program. This construction glossary may be helpful if you want to find out more about that. If you work in accounting then you’ll need software that helps you to track your clients and the jobs you have carried out for them. You can also set up alerts so you can be notified when someone is due a review. Little things like this can show initiative and they can also help you to make the most out of your operation as a whole.
Build Credit
Your suppliers, your vendors and even some lenders may be willing to advance you some goods or services, so you can pay for them later. Getting supplies like this can help your company with your cash flow, but to take advantage of this, you need to make sure that you have a solid credit history. You need a good business credit score and you also need to make sure that you have a business plan. This will show investors that you are serious and it will also give you the chance to really show that you know what you’re doing.
Prioritize Customer Service
If possible, you also need to make sure that you are prioritizing customer service. If you’re not putting your customers first then you may find that you end up losing them over time and this can put a dent in how professional you look. If you want to do something about this then make sure that you treat every interaction as being essential to your company’s success. If you don’t have time to respond to emails or if you don’t feel as though your phone manner is as good as it could be then one thing you can do is hire a virtual assistant. When you do, you can then feel confident knowing that your customers are getting five-star treatment and that you are doing everything you can to support them on their journey with you.
Focus on your Brand
Another thing you can do is focus on building a brand. You have to make sure that you are doing what you can to build a positive image and that you are taking your time to ensure consistency across all of your pages. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to make your site look more professional. If you are having a hard time knowing where to start with your brand then give some thought to hiring a graphic designer, or a brand consultant. They can then work with you to make sure that your brand and your website are cohesive, which will work in your favor overall.
BY TECHIE MAMMA