How to Make Your Business Look Professional
If our business doesn’t make a great first impression, it can be difficult to reframe that perspective in a potential customer’s mind.
The following tips will help your business exude professionalism and contribute to a stellar first impression.
Watch the Reel!
Not on Instagram?
Business Name
Registering your business name with your state allows clients to write checks to your business, which is more professional than having checks written to your name. (Always keep your business and personal bank accounts separate.)
It also protects your business name from being registered by someone else.
You can register as a dba (doing business as) or an LLC (limited liability company). Here’s the difference.
Accepting Payments
If you accept payments via PayPal or Venmo, set-up a separate profile for your business and have these payments deposit into your business bank account.
Making Payments
Opening a separate bank account is essential. It makes accounting easier and provides extra security in the event of a tax audit or lawsuit.
And writing out a business check for payments is also more professional than writing a personal check!
Set-up an email address at your domain (like @missmegabug.com) instead of @gmail.com. This is my #1 hands down tip to making your business look legit.
If I come across a business that has an @gmail email address, which happens often, I immediately feel like they’re not taking their business seriously. Is this judgement accurate? Probably not, and I am able to overlook it. But that’s my first impression!
It costs $72/year on Google Workspace and makes your business look super professional! (You’ll be using the Gmail platform to access and send emails.)
Phone
If you’re a larger company, have a phone system with your own business phone number and extensions for employees.
If you’re a solopreneur, update your voicemail message to your name and your business name.
Hours & Contact Info
Verify that your contact information and business hours are accurate across all of your social media platforms, website, Google Business profile, business location signage, etc.
Add special hours to Google and make the appropriate posts if your hours are going to be different on a holiday, etc.
Website
Please, please, please do NOT use Facebook as a website.
I get it, websites are a lot of work to design and can be costly to hire out. But a website is your ultimate marketing tool that is waaaay more effective than social media alone.
Websites provide more in-depth information, market for you via search engine optimization (SEO), and 84% of people think a business with a website is more credible than one with a Facebook page.
Be Responsive
I can’t even tell you how many website clients have told me they chose to work with me because I was the only person to respond to their inquiry.
They’d list reputable website designers in my area who never responded or took a week to reply.
As soon as a potential client contacts you, respond. Even if to say, “I will get back to you ‘x’.”
And when working with clients, provide timely responses as well. Word-of-mouth is the most effective form of marketing and excellent customer service encourages it.
If you won’t be working during normal hours, set-up an autoresponder that notes when you’ll be back.
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Just getting started in business and looking for a roadmap? Check out my Begin Your Business online course. We’ll cover everything from pricing to forming an LLC, assembling your team to getting your first clients, and everything in between.
Been around the business block and looking to grow? My Self-Employed School online course provides a deep dive on topics including website SEO and design, e-newsletters, social media, public relations, and more. It all culminates in creating an easy and effective marketing strategy for your business.
Hey there! I’m Meg:
LOVER OF CATS, ROLLER SKATING, AND VW BUGS
I also love business and share all kinds of tips and resources to help you grow yours.
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