7 Ways to Make Your Small Business Look More Professional

[ad name=”Adsense3″]When you’re running a small business, it can pretty much take over your whole life. From screening and hiring employees, to making sure customers are satisfied, to checking on every shipment of new supplies, it can be easy to get completely lost in this thing you’ve created, to the extent that you can’t even picture it from the outside anymore. What’s more, with all this work being put in, how can you be sure that your business is being received as legitimate and professional while it’s still in its growing stages? If you want to make sure that all your work will lead to a successful venture, it’s important to double check that your small business looks as professional as possible to potential customers. To do so, sometimes it’s important to revisit the basics and check to see that you have them covered. Read on for some of the best ways to make sure your small business is in tip top shape:

1. Create a brand mission statement.

If you haven’t already done this, now is the time. To truly have a sense of direction for your business as a whole (and, by extension, the way your business looks to others), it’s important to define your brand. What are you trying to become? What do you offer, and what makes your business stand out? Try to carve out a way to make your business recognizable to consumers.

2. Clean up your website.

This is one of the first things modern consumers will check out upon hearing about your products or services. You website absolutely has to represent everything you want your business to be. It should look clean and well-designed. It should not be busy, look lazy or come off as behind the times. Place the information that consumers need most clearly on your home page.

3. Be clear about the services or products you offer.

Some business websites have got the wrong idea. They may be beautiful or interesting, but it is almost impossible to figure out what they are trying to sell. If you want to avoid consumer frustration, be as clear as possible about exactly what you offer, how you offer it, and how consumers can get it.

4. Avoid tacky marketing.

Many small start-ups feel the need to participate in scads of online marketing ploys, special deals, or contests. While these never hurt once in a while, they should only be used to further the purpose of your business, and they should never be used to the extent that they become annoying, confusing, and detrimental to profits.

5. Be open about who works for you.

Consumers want to know who, exactly, is behind the business that they are searching online. Without transparency, consumers may mistakenly feel that your business has something to hide. Make sure to create a part of your website that clearly details who runs your business, from the founder to the receptionist.

6. Share client testimonials.

Your business will also look more professional in seconds when potential customers can see that you actually have some clients. If you can make a list of current clients or get a few testimonials from past clients, it could go a long way toward strengthening consumer trust.

7. Get up to speed with the newest technology.

If your business does not allow customers to connect using the newest technology, you could be missing out on potential customers and run the risk of seeming behind the times. Make the effort to figure out what websites and applications consumers are beginning to use and instantly integrate them into your business model.

Alvina Lopez has freelanced about education throughout her career. As technology and education converge, Alvina hopes to guide her readers as they search for online college programs that have the potential to jumpstart their careers and change their lives. She welcomes feedback at alvina.lopez@gmail.com