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Appearance is everything in business. A company that looks professional will gain people’s trust. This is especially important for small companies wanting to compete with larger and more successful companies – even if you’re a one-man-business, looking professional will give you the edge over a large unprofessional looking company. Here are just a few ways to smarten up your business’s appearance.
Dress up for the job
Whether you’re a banker or a builder, there are ways that you can dress to impress. Keeping a tidy and clean appearance will help to gain people’s confidence. Psychological studies have found that looking good also makes your feel more confident whilst doing your job. For jobs that don’t require a certain dress code, a uniform can sometimes help to create a sense of identity. Small touches such as polishing shoes and wearing a watch meanwhile can convince people that you’re organised, whilst colours can also be used to match the formality.
Take pride in your premises
If you have an office or a shop, this needs to look professional to make clients feel welcome. Cleanliness is the most important factor – hiring a cleaning company on a regular basis will ensure that it is cleaned thoroughly. On top of this everything should be organised and there should be regular checks to ensure everything is in its right place. Branding around the premises can also provide a sense of identity.
Get your website professionally designed
Your website is your shopfront to the internet. Whilst there are sites out there that can enable you to build your own website for free, it could be worth hiring professionals that can provide creative website development, especially if you’re not too savvy with computers. This will ensure that the site looks fresh and is easy to navigate.
Ride the right vehicle
If you have a company vehicle and clients regularly see it, make sure that it’s appropriate for the job. If you’re turning up to a job in a rustbucket, this lack of maintenance may show clients that you don’t care for detail or that you’re financially struggling. A showy sports car meanwhile can suggest to clients that you overcharge. Find a vehicle that doesn’t meet either of these extremes. You can brand the vehicle to add an extra sense of professionalism.
Boost your brand
Branding gives your company a sense of identity. It also helps with marketing – exposing your brand to potentially new customers. Anything can be branded from the t-shirt that your employees wear to the vehicle you travel to work in. Don’t miss any opportunity to spread your brand’s awareness – if you’re making coffee for a client in your office, serve it to them in a branded mug. If a client needs to borrow a pen when signing a contract, hand them your branded pen. You can also help to make documents such letters or emails more official by adding a logo or signature to the bottom. All of this will show that you’re committed to your company and its brand.
