Starting a business is an incredible feat, especially in the current climate. Yes, the world has recovered since the economic meltdown of 2007, but people still remember it, and that can cause as much uncertainty as anything. Banks don’t loan as easily and people don’t spend as freely. It only takes one crash in a generation to put a niggling fear in the back of people’s minds. That’s why successfully starting a business doesn’t guarantee success; you now need people – clients, customers and investors – to take you seriously. But how do you make your small startup seem bigger and more professional than it is? Well, that is where we come in. We have compiled a list of advice that rotate around the idea of perspective being reality.
The Website
This is your first impression. When you go to a job interview, you wear your best three-piece suit with polished shoes and smart tie. When you go on a first date, you make sure your hair looks the part, your clothes are ironed and the cologne is heavy. The same goes for business, so make your website pop. Make sure it sell who you are as a company and as a brand. Make it easy to use and navigate, memorable and mobile-friendly. Too many people forget about making their websites mobile-friendly, which is a huge mistake because, well, the majority of people browse on their phones these days.
The Social Media
You have got to keep on top of your social media accounts. We know, we know; there are so many different social platforms these days that it can be a hard to remember which ones you have. So concentrate on the ones that will bring something to your brand. If you’re selling something visual or tangible, like a product, then make sure you have an Instagram account, and maybe even Pinterest. If you are offering businesses a service then get on LinkedIn. And start blogging. Not only will it improve your SEO but it will make you look like an expert in your field.
The Service
This is where your business can become undone. You can have the all-singing and all-dancing website and the up to date social media, but what about when some calls, or if you need to host a conference call with potential investors or clients. Exactly. That is why it is worth either having a professional looking location/office, or working alongside a company that can offer virtual office solutions; that latter being the more cost-effective of the two.
The Customer
If a customer calls you, or emails you, or leaves a comment on your Facebook page, then make sure you get back to them within a day or two. Any longer and it looks unprofessional. Building a bond with your customers is a great way to get them talking and a great way to get them coming back. How? Because customers like it when they feel valued. If you go to a bar or a club and the barman or bouncer knows your name and shakes your hand, you feel valued and you will definitely go back next time you’re out.
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