Five tips for maintaining a professional image for your business
Maintaining a professional image is an essential criterion for the success of businesses in almost all sectors.
Business marketing
The area of marketing is enormous and covers a wide range of things. Get this wrong, and you are likely to be viewed in a way different from how you anticipated. Unfortunately, in the world of business, people remember mistakes for a significant period. Therefore, it is advisable to really analyze your marketing strategies before using them on members of the public.
Online advertising is massive. It can also be innovative, depending on the type you choose. For example, some advertising campaigns allow you to directly target your desired audience based on gender, age, location and even likes and dislikes. However, many people can be put off if the advertising is too spammy. Paper advertising still has a place, too, depending on the type of business you own. Rather than using Microsoft Word to create your marketing materials, invest a little time and money. This is to ensure you have something that is attractive and should lead to results. A hastily thrown together advert smacks of unprofessionalism and also a lack of thought, care, and attention to detail.
Although some people will insist that guest blogging serves no purpose, recent figures show that people do read articles. Additionally, they take note of which company or who has written them. If you are able to offer a reciprocal arrangement with other businesses in your local area or ones which would fit nicely with your niche, go for it. Be sure to make the blog not too salesy and focus on a problem that you might be able to solve in an informative way.
Communication
The way in which you respond to requests or queries from customers, potential or existing, can project a particular image. It does not matter whether this communication occurs face to face, over the phone, via email, or even through a live chat on a website. It is still imperative to communicate with professionalism.
From time to time, you will encounter people with a lack of manners. It would be easy to respond in a similar way. However, this is unlikely to win you any favors. In fact, with screenshots and public sharing of conversations from upset customers, the news of your rude and unpleasant dialogue will reach many. Go for a polite but assertive approach, supporting the company’s ethos at all times.
Business branding
Getting your name and image out there is essential to your success. Creative branding can make it possible. Ensure all correspondence contains your logo and the colors associated with your business.
If you employ staff, you could opt for a uniform of sorts with a fleece or polo shirt emblazoned with your logo. And don’t forget other items which could also be branded, such as corporate stationery, mugs, USB sticks, even your car. But if you are going to pair your company with your car, be sure that it is a sophisticated-looking vehicle, like one of these from Murdock Chevrolet Woods Cross, rather than one which seems as though it is not far-off heading to the scrapyard in the sky. Furthermore, ensure that your branding is consistent across all media.
For example, if you have recently replaced your old logo, make sure that your new one appears on your website, letterheads, promotional items, and, especially, on social media.
Social media
In addition to ensuring your branding is consistent across different social media platforms, your professionalism on social media is of paramount importance. As mentioned previously, responding to people in a polite manner, but remaining assertive is essential. However, there are also a number of additional things you ought to consider regarding social media.
First of all, the things you post must be of a certain standard. If you want to be perceived as a high-quality company, your content needs to be equal to this. For example, sharing a post that contains swear words or unsavory language could result in your reputation taking a nosedive.
Furthermore, posting regularly is vital. Sporadic sharing of information and images, for example, can be off-putting for potential customers. Engagement is vital. If someone makes the effort to comment on or reply to something you have posted, be sure to respond, even if it is just a little like or an emoji.
Staffing your business
The employees of a company represent it as a whole. If they act in an unprofessional way while at work, they risk ruining all of your hard work. Therefore, we strongly advise that you put a highly structured, well-thought-out induction program into place in order to train all members of staff to be singing from the hymn sheet right from the very start.
The very best leaders also realize that training is not over once an employee ends their trial period with you. They become a fully-fledged member of the team. In fact, to avoid complacency, regardless of one’s position and area of responsibility, some form of continued professional development is essential. It is easy to assume that your staff knows exactly what is expected of them, and perhaps, that was true for a while.
However, memories fade, and habits are formed. Invest in a program of training and development for all staff. This way, no one feels as though they are being picked on, and all members of the team will feel equally valued that they have the opportunity to develop and potentially move up the ladder onto a different position.
You may also feel the need to appoint a small legal team to look after your business from a judicial aspect, and ensure you are always compliant with regulations applicable to your specific industry. Legal entities such as Attorney Natalie Chase are always an asset to any business, seeing as their legal careers have been spanning for years and they possess all the knowledge required to ensure your business stays on the law-abiding side and can fight for you should you need legal representation somewhere down the line.
It is also imperative to ensure your staff all look the part. Depending on the industry, you may wish to consider a uniform, as mentioned earlier. This could differ for certain departments, perhaps. Furthermore, expectations of cleanliness are vital. Presenting as a scruffy, smelly team member will put off a large number of potential, and even existing, clients, as well as making the workplace unbearable for other staff.
