During the initial stages of setting up your business, you have a tonne of different things to think about all at the same time. One of the top items on your priority list is to professionalize your startup. This means that your business will instantly give off a well-established vibe from the moment your clients come into contact with you. This will not only work wonders for your reputation, but it will also give you more overall confidence in your business.
If you want to give your startup the best possible start, you need to try and professionalize as much of your business as you can. This could look different for your company compared to others, so it’s important to stay focused on your priorities first and foremost. With this in mind, here are just some of the elements that could help you to add another level of professionalism to your business.
Personalized Business Cards
One of the clearest indicators that your business is the real deal is having your very own business cards to hand out to prospective clients. When you are in a business meeting or at a networking event, there is something so professional about handing out bespoke business cards containing all of the important information your prospective clients would need. Make sure to include your email address, business phone number, social media handles, and website so that they easily get in touch with you using their chosen method.
A Slick Website
Nowadays if your business doesn’t have a professional, slick, and easy-to-use website, your clients may look elsewhere. The internet is king when it comes to running a company in the digital age, so this should definitely be a focus if you’re hoping to smarten up the appearance of your business. In professionalizing your startup, hire a professional website designer or branding expert to help you create an appealing website for your business. Working alongside an experienced copywriter will also help you to get the tone and the language of your site on point.
Consistent Social Media
Nowadays, consumers flock to social media as their first port of call when they’re researching a business. If you don’t put plenty of time and effort into your content you may not receive all of the successes you deserve. Having a business that looks professional to an outsider is all about having consistent social media content that can inform, educate, and entertain your target demographic. Staying on top of social media content is a huge task, which is why you may want to work alongside a social media manager. In the short or long term they can work on your engagement levels, content strategies and so much more so that you are getting the most out of your chosen platforms.
Excellent Communication
When you’re running a startup your budget may be on the tighter side, which is why you need to invest all of your time and energy on the elements that are free of charge. Even if you don’t have the capital to stretch to a full-time social media manager or a website designer, you can communicate in a clear, concise, and professional manner so that your clients are impressed with your style. More often than not, clients simply want to know that their query is being dealt with, which is why communication is so key when you’re trying to get a startup off the ground. Impress your early clients with outstanding customer service and they are bound to recommend your business and keep coming back for more.
High-Quality Products and Services
If you’re promising the world with your products and services, you need to deliver from every single corner. Providing your clients with high-quality goods will help you gain their trust and bring a sense of professionalism to your business from the outset. Even if you don’t have the money to offer every single variety of products, spend time focusing on the small selection you do have on your storefront and make them the best they can possibly be.
A Personal Touch With Customers
Every customer or client wants to feel special when they part with their money and buy a product or service that is useful to them. Nobody wants to feel like just another person on your list, which is why it’s important to add that personal touch wherever possible. Whether you personally communicate with your client and keep them up to date with the progress of their order or you include a handwritten note in their package, there are so many effective ways to add a personal and professional touch to your startup.
Smart Personal Style
The truth is, when you dress for the role you want to play you will ultimately give off a professional vibe from the outset. Tweaking your personal style is a great way to professionalize your startup in a subtle way. You don’t need to change the way you dress completely; simply make a few simple tweaks so that you always feel confident in everything you wear. If you work in a client-facing business in which you regularly see and speak to clients, your sense of style and the way you dress is a part of your brand. If you want your customers and investors to trust you and spend their money on your products and services you need to exude a professional persona and look confident in the process.
As mentioned earlier, your idea of professionalism will look completely different to someone else in your industry. It’s important to focus on the areas that are most important to you and do what makes you and your clients the most happy. Whether you’re designing your very own bespoke business cards, or you’re improving your overall communication with your customers, there is so much you can do to professionalize your business right from the very beginning.
