As a small business, it can be difficult for you to feel like you can compete with larger, more established businesses in your same field. From the money they have to spend to the years they have on you of building their brand and reputation, it can be very discouraging when you have to go up against some of these big dogs. And if you’re not doing everything you can to look as professional as the bigger businesses, you’re not doing yourself any favors either.
But if you truly have something that your big name competition doesn’t, you deserve to be in the market just as much as they do. The trick is showing that to your potential customers or clients. And to do this, you have to be taken seriously. So for those businesses struggling with being seen as equal or better than those bigger businesses, here are three ways you can make your small business look more professional.
Use Higher Quality Images
Whether you’re using images on a website, in flyers, TV spots or business cards, if your images aren’t a high quality, those who see those images will instantly think of you as unprofessional and amateurish. According to Ann Handley, a contributor to Entrepreneur.com, you employ marketing practice to “communicate your value” to your customers. But if that value isn’t being accurately communicated due to poorly taken photos or grainy images, you’re losing a battle that could be easily won. For this reason, take the extra time and effort necessary to make sure you’re portraying the value of your company and your products in the best way possible using your images.
Clean Up Your Establishment
If you have a brick and mortar location, it can be a big red flag to passersby if your establishment looks disheveled or otherwise unkempt. In fact, Stan Mack, a contributor to Chron Small Business, states that even if the look of your facilities has nothing to do with how great you are as a business, customers will still be given a negative and unprofessional impression if there’s something unappealing about your place of business.
To combat this, do everything in your power to make your store or office look as polished as possible, both inside and out. Don’t let clutter pile up around your workspace and ensure all areas are free of rubbish. If you have landscaping, keep your lawn mowed and your flowers alive as well as keeping your stoop as clean as possible. Showing you value your physical appearance will create more value for your brand in the eyes of your customers.
Take Your Internet Presence Seriously
With the amount of people using the Internet to shop and research, having an unprofessional Internet presence can really kill your sales. Because of this, Michael Ansaldo of Intuit QuickBooks suggests for business to make their online presence as professional as possible by having a well-designed website, creating a strong social media following, using an official company email address and more. The more trustworthy you appear to online visitors, the more professional your business will be.
You don’t have to have a multi-million dollar business in order to have a reputable and professional company. Use the tips mentioned above to better showcase your company’s value by giving off a more professional appearance.
