First impressions matter in business relationships. It will be difficult for people to take you seriously if your business doesn’t look the part. In order to garner the trust and support of customers, you need your business to look reputable and professional. These are just a few things you can do to polish your business’ image and exude an air of professionality:
Toll-free number
Getting a toll-free number allows customers to contact your business easily. Since these are free to call, customers will be more likely to reach out to you. Vanity numbers are also more recognizable than regular ones, and people are more likely to trust a toll-free number even if they haven’t heard about your business before.
Establishing a dedicated phone number is especially important for smaller businesses that are trying to make a name for themselves. In the beginning, you’ll want to connect and give out your number to as many people as possible. Rather than sharing your private phone number, you can offer your customers a professional-looking one. A communications service like Lingo Communications can streamline this process for you.
Business email
Using an email address from a free email provider like Yahoo! or Gmail is fine for personal use, but it’s absolutely unacceptable for professional use. Not investing money in buying your own branded email address with your business name on it looks incredibly unprofessional.
Using an email address from a provider other than your own business is giving them free advertising. You should be taking the liberty of linking back to your website and to your company as much as possible, and that includes using a professional business email with your company name on it. If you already have a website, you can set up a professional email through your web host. Your emails should also include a professional email signature which establishes your corporate identity and lists down other ways to contact you.
Professional website
A visible online presence is absolutely crucial if you want to build a solid and trustworthy relationship with your customers. The ultimate purpose of your website is to establish your company identity. You can add interesting features on your website like a blog and a news page, but not all businesses need this.
The first page you need to set up is an “About Me” page which introduces the company, its history, your services, and why your products and services might be valuable to the viewer. The second most essential page you need on your website is a Contact page which lists down all the ways your customers can reach you. This includes your email, address, social media profiles, phone number, email address.
Business cards
Business cards might seem antiquated now in the digital age, but the reality is they’re still quite a valuable resource that makes your business appear more professional. Business cards are an easily distributed and discreet method of sharing your information with other people. It also serves as a memorable reminder of your interaction with someone. It establishes your brand identity, so make sure to choose a good design that shows off your logo and represents your image well.
Making a great first impression is as important to business relationships as it is to social relationships. Build your audience and establish trust with them by ensuring that your business exudes professionality with these simple tips.
