Sad as it might be, image is everything in business. Ultimately, if you have a choice between two companies offering similar services for the same price, you will always tend to go for the one that ‘looks’ best. There’s a lot of ground to cover, too. Dress codes, customer service, your premises, and your online presence all need to be addressed if you want to be seen and respected as the stellar business you know you are. In today’s guide, we’re going to go through a few ideas of how you can make sure your company image is razor sharp at all times – let’s get started with some of the basics.
People
While dress codes have become a little more relaxed in recent years, you need to be careful you are scaring customers away. In many industries – accounting and finance, for example – people may not take you seriously unless you are wearing a suit. Personality is important, too, so make sure you have a good customer service training program that gives every staff member who is in contact with the public all the tools they need.
Places
Wherever you are doing business from, you need to impress. Offices need to be tidy and uncluttered, and it’s also advisable to look for commercial cleaning services to keep things spic and span. Good quality signage is critical, too – is it easy to read, clean, and in perfect condition? Even if you work from home, it’s best to keep your office in tip top condition. You just don’t know when a client might decide to pay you a visit, and while working in your PJs might be comfortable, dressing like you are at work can help you get in the right mindset for the day ahead.
Online
Whether you believe in the power of online marketing or not, the reality is that the vast majority of customers who need your products or services will research them on the Internet. It’s vital that your website looks clean, fresh, and is regularly updated. It’s the same with your social media, too, except it’s important for you to remember that going social is a two-way process. Don’t expect customers to pay you any attention if you only post deals or business updates. Share meaningful content that your followers will get something from, and make sure you respond to comments and queries on all your channels. Ignoring people will show you off in a bad light – and everyone could see it.
Promises
Finally, the most important factor of all – honesty. Don’t make promises you know you can’t keep, or the customers you disappoint will never come back. Dishonesty is the best advert possible for your competitors, and once you start letting people, you will lose them forever. Word gets around, too – especially when you take social media into consideration – so be careful to avoid overhyping your products, services, and deals.
Image is such an important part of running a successful business, and it could be the difference between your company thriving and not surviving. Get the basics right, and you will stand a far greater chance of success.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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