Starting a small business needs more than just setting up shop and expecting customers to come pouring in. It’s also about image and how you market yourself to your customers. Although you are providing professional work, your business may not look the part. Problems, such as a non-working phone, an unresponsive email, and not having an online presence, can put off your customers.
If your business is experiencing these setbacks, here are recommendations for getting rid of them.
Create a Professional Email Address
Whether you’re a B2C or B2B company, you don’t want to miss out on any potential leads because you forgot to reply to a customer enquiry, your email address looks dodgy, or you don’t have any means of contact at all. This is why you should create a business email that’s separate from your personal one.
If you can spare about 6 USD a month and you already have a website, you can use that site as a domain name for your email address by using Google’s G Suite. This platform provides you with a productivity suite and cloud storage that you can use for your business. If you’re on a budget, however, you can use [first name].[company name]@[email provider].com. By having an email address that shows your business’ name, you can let your customers know what company they’re communicating with and whom they should address in the shortest way possible.
Get a Business Phone Number
The phrase “first impressions last” also applies to phone calls. Like your email address, you must also have a separate phone or SIM card for business. You can’t always greet your customers the same way you’d welcome a friend or a stranger.
An easy way to do this is to create a free Google voice number that you can connect to all your devices. Set your incoming caller ID to display your Google Voice number, so you’d know the call is coming from the platform. It also helps to practice your greeting spiel so that you won’t end up fumbling every time a customer calls.
Get a Good-Looking and Content-Filled Website
According to the latest World Internet Project Report, over 94% of New Zealanders use the internet. If your business is not online, you’re missing out on potential engagements, and ultimately, sales. If you already have a website and it doesn’t drive profit to your company, update its design and create content that’s relevant to both your customers and your business. For example, if you have a pizza restaurant, you may want to create content about situations where your product can be used. You may create an article, “Last Minute Party Ideas,” or upload a media release of your latest promo on your blog.
Invest in Uniforms
Now that you’ve established a reputable website and means of contact, shift your focus to your staff. Apart from training them on best practices and basic customer service etiquette, you should also help them look the part. Ask a uniform supplier to create comfortable and brand-centric workwear (with logos and company colours) for your business. This way, your customers will immediately know who to approach and speak with when they come to your place of business.
Communication is vital when making your business look professional. Give your customers a convenient and legitimate way to connect with you through a proper email address and business phone number. Satisfy their need for information through your website. Make your branding consistent by giving your employees uniforms. These are difficult tasks to juggle when you’re also running your business, so take your time implementing them. As an owner, there’s no greater feeling than seeing your customers trust your business.