Projecting a professional image isn’t just about wearing a sharp suit and sporting a gold Rolex these days. Small businesses, entrepreneurship, and carrying out the dream of becoming self-employed are more prevalent than ever in today’s economic climate. Why build someone else’s dream when you can build your own? As many an entrepreneur before us has pondered the same question, there is proof that with determination a vision can and does build the foundation for start-ups and being in control of your own destiny.
How then does a first timer convert an idea into a masterpiece like Marini’s Branchout or Gary Vaynerchuk’s Vayner Media? In their early days, I can only assume that million dollars deals weren’t made in coffee shops and the big boys put on their big boy ‘panties’ and made their biz look a little bigger than they actually were.
As technology develops and automated systems are now at our disposal, small companies can give the illusion that they are bigger than they actually are. How can one make their small business look a little more impressive to the discerning eye?
Check out these 10 tips:
1. Dress Sharp.
Okay, we are talking 2014 just to be clear. Most entrepreneurs have ditched the ties and traded in briefcases for backpacks. We think of young Zuckerbergs and Larry Pages lounging around Stanford quads in sweat pants and a pair of Nikes, but the truth is just because you or your product is hip and cool doesn’t mean you should go around unshaven or sporting a casual Friday jean day. Dress to impress. Look sharp. When you look sharp, people take you seriously. Unless you truly think you have the next billion-dollar idea, leave the sneakers for the gym.
2. Have professional email addresses.
Get an appropriate domain name and email address for your biz. Josh8675309@gmail.com isn’t going to work. Yahoo.com, gmail.com, and aol.com email addresses aren’t designed for business and are sloppy at best. So register a domain that’s personalized to your business and get email address to match that. It doesn’t cost a lot but it makes a big impression.
3. Have a top quality business card.
Sorry, but printing your business cards on a box of OfficeMax, perforated, low-grade card stock is cheap and looks cheap. You don’t want your potential customers or investors thinking you are cheap. Enough said about that. Also, make sure your cards match your business. Do you make a lot of appointments? Maybe you want to order business cards potential clients can jot notes or times on, so you’ll need a finish to the card stock that’s compatible with writing notes on. Otherwise, get something sophisticated, like silk laminate business cards.
4. Use different email addresses.
If you want your business to look like you have a staff of highly trained and knowledgeable associates, create email addresses for those such departments. customerservice@mycompany.com, sales@mycompany.com, info@mycompany.com, etc.
5. Have an impressive website.
There is absolutely no excuse for not having a website in this day and age. Even just having a website isn’t enough. It has to be impressive. Yes, we have all heard about bootstrapping and pinching pennies, but this is the one area you don’t want to appear frugal. Initial investment? Anywhere from FREE (blogger.com, wordpress.com) where you can create your own website to somewhere in the ballpark of $25,000 for a web development team to get you the cream of the crop. Invest a couple thousand and hire a reputable web developer and get yourself a darn good-looking site that will impress potential clients and make a strong first impression. If you don’t have the cash to spare, ask some friends who may have experience in creating websites or have created their own and can give you some tips. You might even be able to work out a trade of some sort with friends, colleagues or a referral. It’s worth shopping around and being creative before going at it alone or if the budget warrants, sinking a load of cash into a web development firm.
6. Get a proper workspace.
If you are trying to pull off the airs of being larger than life, then saying, “Hey, let’s meet at the coffee shop” isn’t going to fly. Executive suites offer office space, conference rooms, business services, and even coffee for a fee. Arranging meetings in a business environment shows that you have it together and your business is prospering. Shop around, some spaces cost as little as $200 a month––depending on where you live.
7. Expand internationally (virtually).
Having an international office address suggests an operation possibly larger than what you have set up and that is smart, especially if global expansion is part of your long term plans.
8. Get a smartphone, current laptop and or tablet.
Showing up to a meeting expecting to give a presentation on a 20-pound laptop without retina display gives the impression that you are not technically in the know or just too darn cheap to invest the money for a kick ass laptop to give quality presentations. If you are budget conscious and can’t buy a Mac, then get yourself a tablet and know how to work it. Create a great visual presentation and know how to maneuver through the device for quick information.
iPad mini with Retina display:
9. Have A ‘Yes, We Can!’ Attitude.
When running a small business, you probably know the importance of having a dialed-in networking circle. When a potential customer asks for something or a particular service, the answer should always be “YES,” unless it’s completely outside of your scope of work. With a strong network, you should be able to find the solution and if the need should arise, be able to outsource a particular task to keep your customer satisfied and coming back.
10. Get a Virtual Phone System.
Sound professional and stay connected with a virtual phone system like grasshopper.com. Systems will forward a professional-sounding toll free number to your personal cell phone while giving you the option to set up multiple extensions for employees and departments. Just don’t get too carried away with too many departments ringing into your cell phone and confusing the caller on the other end.
There’s nothing dishonorable in embellishing the size of your business if you are a one-man or one-woman show. Setting up several emails and phone lines gives the impression of “faking” a bigger business, but it could be considered just another way to stay organized. Many businesses come across an opportunity to outgrow their current business levels. That’s a good thing as long as you can deliver on your commitments. There’s no reason to look small.
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